Comments on: Missing the Target

By: PETE

PETE — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 11:10:39 +0000

Guv, Please transfer to my force immediately!

During an appraisal a few years back I was given a ‘not acheived’ as I had not attended as many injury RTA’s as I had the previous year. I pointed out to my supervisor that the divisional objective was to reduce the number of injury RTA’s, therefore, there would be less per officer to deal with (which is good, yes?) I also pointed out that RTA’s happened or they didn’t. I could not drive out of the traffic base and think “right, let’s go and do an injury rta”.

My Sgt remained unimpressed and said “you can’t argue with the figures”.

I was also told that, as a family liaison officer, I was spending too much times with the families of victims from fatal crashes. This was reflected in a corresponding drop in the number of speeding tickets I’d issued.

It was the beginning of the end for me and I left the traffic division shortly afterwards.

By: Mad Mike the Dog Handler

Mad Mike the Dog Handler — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 19:03:40 +0000

Totally agree-all this performace measurement is designed by desk pilots with there heads up there a####. On the Dog Section we spend a massive amount of time searching buildings such as schools and factories after the have been burgled to try to find suspects and or evidence. Do we have any performance recognition for it? Strangely no! Arresting people and doing the job counts for nothing. I want to goout on patrol unhindered and nick bad people who are doing bad things-simple isnt it? And strangely its what the public want too!

By: slim

slim — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 22:57:09 +0000

You are a dying breed boss.
I am a bobby with 27 years service and on my patch the new breed of sergeants and inspectors generally talk the talk but for fear of jeopardising their promotion prospects inevitably cave in and tow the party line. At the end of the day, they NEED a decent write up for their next promotion outing….
Nevertheless,this link (from the Guardian) is very welcome and makes a refreshing change from the bullshit propoganda spouted by Force Press Offices aroung the country.

We all know,boys and girls, don’t we,that we’re tough on crime and the causes of crime …ha ha ha…

By: Bewildered at Dawn

Bewildered at Dawn — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 17:44:06 +0000

This is a shining example of how much utter nonsense we have to work with, sorry that should be against! 99% of our work is unmeasurable is the HO terms. How on earth can you measure gratitude, reassurance, crime prevention by simply beingseen. You cant, end of!

The culture that we all now work in is more suited to a board room and not the reality of policing our streets.

I feel sorry for Inspectors and above as their hands are often tied because they have us going on at them as well as their bosses. At least we can only be moaned at from above. It is a shame that once a person becomes and Inspector they seem to get ‘chipped’ and wear the company colours.

I know of only one inspector who fights for his troops and does a brilliant job. He is approachable in many ways but will also pull the party line if needed. This blog is refreshing in many ways. I wonder if the author is like this in ‘real life?’

By: ExtraSpecialCopper

ExtraSpecialCopper — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 17:33:39 +0000

Good old targets and figures hey

By: Dungeon Master

Dungeon Master — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 08:54:31 +0000

Why the hell haven’t we got more senior officers who think like you? Probably because they’re all too busy meeting Home Office targets to get their next promotion.

By: Frustrated

Frustrated — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 18:17:28 +0000

Just been directd here thanks to The Policemans blog and I love the common sense and straight talking from a boss!

Major coincidence but around the time this was posted and the date in question our division had a 5 yr old missing found in an hour! I followed the releif on lates but would be refreshing to think that you are one of my leaders!