Police officer/undercover cop

Ok, just a few questions as I couldn't find anything over the internet (just stupid answers over yahoo answers)

I know that the police aren't recruiting yet, but that's ok as I am only 16, so when I do get to around 20/21 they might be recruiting then, but is it hard to become a police officer ? Do you have to go to uni or anything ?

Ive heard that you have to become a police officer before you even think about becoming an undercover cop, and ive also heard its a lot of stress.

Also, are the wages good for a copper and an undercover one? im guessing its abit more for an undercover one tho

Any information would be nice, thanks.

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Reply 1

charrrrles

You don't need any qualifications to become a police officer. Just have to pass their fitness/entry exams, I know nothing about the undercover side though as I want to be a police officer in the military.

Reply 2

sam.hunton

Undercover is a nonsense term really. Plain Clothes? CID or similar in other forces. Some officers may go undercover for a period of time but its not an actual job being an "undercover job". Police pay scales work on time and rank, not moving sideways.

Reply 3

Jacktri

you need a full UK driving license the police in my area happened to be recruiting september last year and i ordered an application pack online where i found out........unfortunately i didn't have any money to get driving lessons and a driving license so my journey ended there

Reply 4

jb9191

You don't need qualifications.

You need to do standard academic tests - not really hard.
Scenario based tests to show your decision making when put in a certain situation.

Fitness test which includes a bleep test where you must get a score of 5.4 or higher and a weights test where you must push/pull 35kg.

dynamic strength - involves performing five seated chest pushes and five seated back pulls on the Dyno machine to measure your strength.
endurance - you will be asked to run to and fro along a 15 metre track in time with a series of bleeps, which become increasingly faster. << this is the bleep test.

If you pass then you have a medical assessment and then you will have background checks done on you to check for criminal record.
They can even send people to pubs to find out from people you know about your character.

They did it with my dads mate when he applied within the police for the role of a dog handler.

To be a police officer you must have a driving license or in the process of learning, to be a special constable you don't need one but will when going for promotion.

Its not that hard to be honest.

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 5

MissMoanie

don't do it - take it from an ex copper. please don't do it. it's a nightmare!

Reply 6

NyLonEd

Original post by Stev00

Ive heard that you have to become a police officer before you even think about becoming an undercover cop, and ive also heard its a lot of stress.

Why aim so low?
Go for National Security.

More chance of being 'undercover' as you say.
Although you would need a degree...most of the time.

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 7

lonelykatana

Original post by Stev00

Nope, you dont need a degree. It can help you a great deal to get into the force.
Some forces are fairly easy to get into.

But others are stupidly hard (not because they have different fitness needs ect, but because of their small budget, and large number of people applying. I live in north wales, and I know the last time they recruited was over 3 years ago!)

Information on the wages:
http://www.police-information.co.uk/Docs/careerinformation/wagesandpensions.html

(subject to change due to budget)

I doubt an undercover (which doesn't really exist, normal police officers do undercover work normally, unless its anti terror ect.) would get more pay.
I want to become an SFO (Specialist weapons officer) and I know for a fact they do not get any more pay than a 'normal' officer. (regardless of the increased danger.)

Bare in mind, if you got into the force, you have a 2 year probation period where you will have to do normal policing work (i.e. looking after drunken scumbags in the street) before you can do anything else.

Right now, getting into the police is stupidly hard.
Noone is recruiting, and it doesn't look like they will be for a good few years.

Good luck to you though, I hope we both become officers one day :tongue:

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 8

House of Jonny

Undercover police sometimes still maintain a visual presence. You do not need a degree. A normal cop first may even go undercover at times say during a sting. Degrees can help. The Assitant Commander of the Metropolitan Police has a degree from Kings College University of London though. History I think. I am not to sure

Reply 9

JohnC2211

Original post by NyLonEd

Why aim so low?
Go for National Security.

More chance of being 'undercover' as you say.
Although you would need a degree...most of the time.

By National Security, you mean MI5?

Reply 10

NyLonEd

Original post by JohnC2211

By National Security, you mean MI5?

MI5, MI6, SOCA maybe even GCHQ, yes.

Reply 11

JohnC2211

Original post by NyLonEd

MI5, MI6, SOCA maybe even GCHQ, yes.

Does the SOCA even still exist? I thought it was being closed down.

Reply 12

NyLonEd

Original post by JohnC2211

Does the SOCA even still exist? I thought it was being closed down.

Well right now it is still very much alive although there are talks of replacing it with the NCA. which isn't that much of a shock or a rarity seeing as SOCA was only formed in 2006 as the result of merging the NCIS and NCS.

Either way, still part of national security - good pay and plenty of 'undercover' opportunities which is what the OP wanted.

Reply 13

Dixon1

Original post by Stev00

Hay there, a few answers for you as you seem to have asked the question in the wrong place. There are lots of students here and very few cops! Perhaps questions like this should be posted on one of the police forums - ukpoliceonline, policeoracle etc. Althought this is a very secretive role and questions may be treated with suspicion.

There are numerous different types of undercover jobs you can go for within the police. Lots of “plain clothes” work, where you are fully kitted up under your civvi jacket, but not overtly a cop. The you have the real undercover. The sort of work where you get a new passport (A real one) with a different name and get put somewhere to infiltrate and report back on a certain group of people or a person. Say for example non peacefully direct action protesters, BNP, drug gangs, pedophile rings etc. You will not have any kit on you, or indeed a warrant card, you will BE that person. Have a look in to the life of ex PC Mark Kennedy for an example of that kind of life. From the press alone we know of at least 5 UC’s who have lived these undercover lives for years, just within the Direct Action green protest movement, some having relationships with their targets and even, in one case marrying and having kids with them.

They are paid more, a lot more. Not because of the pay increases with the role, but because of all sorts of extras that they are entitled to. They would be on basic PC or DC wage (after about 7 years that £30k-£38k, depending on which force, Met Police is the highest), but paid a ‘danger payment’ (firearms, negotiators and public order officers also get this extra pay - about a grand more a year), then they have unsociable house increment, work lots of overtime, often on days off, bank holidays etc, which work out at double time etc. PC Mark Kennedy was reported to be earning £50k a year and had £200k a year expenses. He’s now got Max Clifford as his publicist, so will, no doubt, earn a whole heap more telling his story.

To get in to this type of undercover work in the police, you first need to join, do the usual 2-3 years plodding and responding to 999 calls. Then, if you show you have the gift of the gap, can blag as well as act right under pressure, then you may be put in to an undercover role, but this will probably be a very short role as a tester, whilst still in your usual team (neighbourhood team/response team etc). You usually start off in the very unglamorous world of trying to buy drugs of local dealers. Its often Heroin, or Crack and it’s often been up their arse. Again, not glamorous. Then, if you’ve proved yourself you may be offered something more interesting, something that would require a change of identity, moving counties for a while and a very good story.

You’d never work in the County you policed (hence PC Mark Kennedy working for Met Police and UCing in Notts). This sort of thing requires a very good understanding of law - specifically RIPA. It also requires a very good acting ability and a strong personality. Physically and, most importantly, psychologically fit. There are very few ex UCs who come out the other end with out having some “issues”. You have to have the ability to up and leave with no notice and it’s almost impossible to have a proper relationship or family in this role.

That’s what it’s like for the police. Doing UC work for SOCA, NCS, Mi5 and Mi6 will be very different and i have no information on this.

There is also the possibility of working for private firms. Lots of the direct action protest movements against power stations etc., have non-police UCs feeding info back to the power stations and private company’s. This is both perfectly legal and rife at the moment. If it could cost big company’s hundreds of thousands of pounds, if not millions, sometimes, then you’d better believe they’d pay £30-50k for a UC to snoop around and feed info back to them. If you know the right people, then this is quite easy money, although it’s not heavily publicised for obvious reasons and UCs are normally poached form police forces and other security agencies and firms. You don’t really find them, they head-hunt you.

There are books out there written by ex UCs, most are late 80’s early 90’s, so wont be that relevant and accurate to today, but will give you a great idea of the stress and psychological torment of living a double life, and in such a dangerous environment. If, after reading that, you still want to be a UC, then id suggest joining the Met police, doing your time and make a few contacts. It might also be worth taking acting lessons and would be beneficial if you hand very few ties, no social life and no real desire to have a big, traditional, family.

Hope that helps.

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 14

Sterobinson

I'm a physically fit man and I think I could do whatever it takes my job is very physical and I lift a lot and cover miles every day

Reply 15

Sterobinson

I think I'm perfect to do the job I can basically do whatever it takes to go anywhere and I am the right man to make the best decision at the the best moment I'm what you need

Reply 16

Sterobinson

I really think I'm perfect I've got a background but clean record but I could definitely go undercover and I could definitely blend into any situation if you overlook me I think it's a mistake I'm perfect for this opportunity

Reply 17

Sterobinson

Original post by sam.hunton

I have lots of clothes and can blend in anywhere

Reply 18

Sterobinson

I've been all over the world and done everything I think I'm without doubt the best man ever to go undercover and do whatever it takes I'd do anything it takes and if you look into my background you'd realise you would be mad to ignore me please let me take the opportunity to do what it takes to excel in this field

Reply 19

Sterobinson

If you see my background you'll see why I'm perfect the job I have the entire qualifications for the job plus a great grade in maths physics and electronics