Security and Armed Forces www.connexions-direct.com/ wipolice Now on the internet on the Now police, fire & fire police, services rescue

firefighting communications HM Coastguard civilian

Working in investigation on the beat • • • • & Rescue Fire • • Police

G G studies covering: real-life case real-life Includes 24 Contents

What is this booklet about? 2 It is one of over 40 in a series covering many Police work sectors, subjects and careers. Each book contains a number of case studies showing young Detective Constable people in a variety of jobs. All telling you how it is – Traffic officer including the good things and the bad. Community safety officer Each job shows you what qualifications you will need, Beat officer what training you can get and how much you might be Police constable (probationer) paid. Also, you will see which route each person took in Custody sergeant getting that job. Police community support officer Public enquiry officer How can I find out more? Financial investigator Look on the website www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u which Force enquiry officer contains background information on these featured jobs plus many more. You can talk to your Connexions personal adviser who will help Crime scene investigator you research more details. Or you can contact one of the organisations Clerical officer listed at the back of the book. 17 How can I contact Connexions? Fire and Rescue Services In person through a Connexions personal adviser who might be based at your school, college or reached at your local Firefighter Connexions centre. By telephone, text, webchat or e-mail Community safety officer through Connexions Direct. Open seven days a week, Fire station manager between 8 a.m. and 2 a.m. Fire control operator (trainee) Check out www.connexions-direct.com or look in the Arson co-ordinator telephone book to find your local centre. Or ring ICT engineer 080 800 13219 or text on 07766 413219 for Equality adviser Connexions Direct. Administrative officer – property Other formats of this booklet are available – services for details see back cover. Recruitment officer Analyst Key to salary icons up to £12,000 30 HM Coastguard £12,001 to £17,000 Watch officer over £17,000 Sector manager This represents the typical starting salary for the job 33 featured in the case study. Useful addresses Working in police, fire and rescue services

So, you want to work for the emergency services?

Each day, you are likely to see many of the people doing the jobs featured in this booklet – police officers on the beat or in cars and fire officers travelling to an emergency. If you live near the sea, you may see coastguards staffing ships, lighthouses and co-ordinating coastal rescue operations.

However, behind the public face of these services there are Would I have to wear thousands of other people doing essential support jobs. They may a uniform? be in uniform and instantly recognisable or they may be civilians Personnel whose job brings working for the services in a variety of specialist roles. These them into contact with the include accountants, engineers, IT specialists, mechanics, human public are usually in the resources and recruitment specialists, medical staff and those in uniformed branch. This general administrative jobs. enables them to be easily The Police Service in England and Wales is made up of 43 police recognisable and provides forces. Similarly, there are 50 local fire and rescue services, each them with visual authority. under the command of a chief fire officer.The Maritime and In the police, some work in Coastguard Agency is one of many rescue services who safeguard plain clothes either as CID our wellbeing and deal with emergency situations. There are or special branch officers or similar services covering Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. when on special duties. Civilian employees do not How can I join one of these services? usually wear uniform. Simply contact your local police, fire or coastguard headquarters. Vacancies may also be advertised in the local press. You can How do I get a civilian job check out the vacancies list and careers details on the websites in one of these services? in the Useful addresses/Further information section at the back of The same way. Apply to your this booklet. You can apply at 18 for appointment at 18.5 years local police station, of age. coastguard station, fire station or regional authority I don’t have many GCSEs or other qualifications. Can I still join? or watch for advertisements Yes. There are no minimum educational standards specified for in the local press. Tell them many of the jobs beyond a reasonable standard of secondary what you would like to do education. This is to ensure that you can benefit from the training and what experience you and cope with the part of the job that requires writing reports have to offer. and understanding instructions.

What about training? Once you pass the initial assessment, which will include a medical for uniformed positions, you will undertake basic training. For instance, in the police, all entrants have to complete basic training at one of the training schools and pass their probationary period before they can start applying for specialist departments, such as in traffic or special investigation work.

I have a degree. Are there schemes for graduates? Yes. Graduates entering the emergency services are recruited and trained like all other officers. The police service operates a high potential development scheme to fast track suitable applicants. Specialist staff such as accountants, engineers or forensic experts are recruited at any age and do not have to undergo basic training. Other administrative jobs are available where a degree might be useful, or even essential. 1 Police service

As a police officer you will gain a range of highly valued and transferable skills to enable you to do the job. Other police staff play a vital role as well – working in partnership with police officers and special constables to ensure the service runs efficiently and effectively

Detective constable Detective

Robert Cox completed a degree in music before deciding on a career in the police. In the eight years since he joined Kent Police, Robert has faced more variety and challenges than most of us experience in a lifetime. He is about to be promoted to detective sergeant.

What does a detective do? How did you progress? Do you have a typical day? As a detective, you could be called in to I spent four years as a patrol officer Currently, I work mainly behind a desk attend the scenes of crimes – everything from before moving into a Beat Crime unit. from 7.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m., Monday to murders to armed robberies. I’ve interviewed Things have changed now as new Friday. When I get promoted, though, I’ll serious criminals and travelled all over the recruits only need to do 12 months of be back on a shift pattern. The country to talk to, and arrest, suspects. training before choosing a career path opportunity to change jobs and roles is in either the uniformed or CID branch. one of the big advantages of my job. Are there different types of detective? Before my current post, I spent a year with What kind of training have you received? What are your long-term career goals? Tactical Criminal Investigation Department After my probationary training I My recent post helped me to develop skills (CID). This is a proactive crime investigation completed a Higher Education in managing a team and dealing with unit, targeting specific criminals and crimes. Certificate in Policing Studies. I have other departments within the organisation. The job involves working closely with an regularly attended training courses such This was an excellent development intelligence unit which does the actual as crime investigation, interview platform for further promotion to senior hidden surveillance and checks out training, advanced driving and scene officer specialising in the investigation of information from informants, for instance. and incident management. major and serious crime. I sometimes appear on the BBC’s More recently, I went through a rigorous Crimewatch programme, appealing to the selection process to win a place on an public for information. advanced detective training programme. This is a combination of academic study Robert’s route What is your current post? and practical training, leading to a At the moment, I am an acting detective degree in Applied Criminal Investigation. • A Levels. sergeant in the crime management unit. • Degree in music. This unit is responsible for assessing What do you enjoy about the work? some of the crime reports that come in, • Police probationer training. I enjoy investigating and finding out and allocating who should respond and • BSc Applied Criminal Investigation. what has happened. The work is mentally carry out the subsequent investigations. challenging and, at times, physically I supervise 10 members of staff. It’s an Robert’s tip demanding. I get a real sense of interesting combination of crime achievement from taking an initial call investigation and human resource • Go out, live life and get some from a member of the public through to management. experience of the world first – it will a successful conviction at court. There is make you a more effective police a lot of team work in this environment officer when you join. and that really suits me.

2 Working in police, fire and rescue services

Traffic officer Police officer

Shane Schucroft used to work in the motor industry. In his spare time he swapped his suit for a police Related jobs uniform, patrolling the streets of Diss in Norfolk as a special constable. Civil Service executive officer Crime scene investigator/scenes of After realising that policing was the crime officer (SOCO) Private investigator career for him he applied to join the Security officer/manager Norfolk Constabulary. Three years Store detective ago, he became a road policing Salary information officer or traffic officer. Detectives are paid on the police salary scale according to rank and What is your current role? Shane’s route time served. Bonuses linked to job role My main role is helping to reduce deaths, and location vary from force to force. injuries and collisions on the roads I • Motor trade as a technician and Overtime may be available. New patrol in Norfolk. I do this by trying to sales manager. recruits are paid £19,227, rising to influence driver behaviour for the better. • Experience in Special Constabulary. over £22,000 once the two-year For instance, a police presence helps to probationary period has been reassure the public to drive correctly and • Police driver training. completed. After five years a constable considerately. We do this by carrying out • Specialist traffic courses. would be earning £24,852. After 10 high visibility patrols. I also deal with years £28,914. A sergeant earns road traffic collisions – organising the Shane’s tips £30,186 on appointment. traffic and other services needed. • An interest in all types of motor Getting in How did you learn your job? vehicles (that includes lorries, not I was a police constable for five years just cars and motorcycles!) is an • Usually, police officers do a CID advantage. attachment during their before joining the traffic department, probationary period. so I had already done my basic training • You need a lot of patience as we and had plenty of general policing don’t spend all the time in high speed • After two years, officers who have experience. I have had specialist training pursuits. A lot of the work is passed their probationary period in several areas of road policing work, mundane and sometimes you have to can apply to join the CID. ranging from law to advanced and sit around in your vehicle for hours. • In some areas, officers complete their pursuit driving as well as operating • One of the most important skills basic law and police training during speed detection devices. you will need is to be a good the first 12 months of their communicator and to be able to probation. They also have Do you have a typical day? take responsibility under extreme attachments to a number of different While I mainly deal with traffic related pressure. departments and for the second 12 incidents, I am also involved in work months they can choose a uniformed connected with established offenders, or crime investigation career path. including burglars, shoplifters, drug dependents and those involved in car theft. I receive intelligence about these on a daily basis and this keeps me up to date with local crime trend patterns and active offenders in my area.

3 Police service

What do you drive? Related jobs I usually drive a high performance Gillian Timm is responsible for marked police car – often known as Driving examiner policing a community in the battenburgs because they are painted in Road safety officer blue and yellow checks and look a bit like Traffic warden Whickham North area of the cakes! Gateshead, Northumbria. This All our cars are fitted with on-board Salary information computers, cameras and videos. We also is a residential area with an have two-way radios so that we can Salary scales are in line with police average crime rate. However, communicate with each other and the national pay scales and are linked to control room, as well as tracker an officer’s rank and time served. New Gillian’s role involves far equipment to locate stolen vehicles. recruits are paid £19,227, rising to over £22,000 once the two-year more than reacting to crimes Sometimes, I drive an unmarked police probationary period has been as they occur. car, which is a high performance vehicle completed. After five years a constable fitted with cameras, siren and blue would be earning £24,852. After 10 flashing lights in the front grille. On the years £28,914. A sergeant earns How does your job differ from a road it looks like any other car. £30,186 on appointment. beat officer? My role involves building positive Do you work alone? Getting in relationships with local people, getting to That depends on what type of incident know them and understanding the issues I am sent to. Some incidents require a • Potential traffic officers have to that concern them. I spend a lot of time double crewed response. I often work complete basic police training and liaising with other organisations within the alone but it’s just as important to team pass their probationary period community and attending meetings, but up with other traffic officers. Policing of before they can start applying for I do try to go out on patrol as often as any sort is about team work so I spend a specialist departments. possible so that people can see me and lot of time liaising with colleagues, either • Traffic departments will expect feel reassured by my presence. on jobs or in the station where they applicants to demonstrate genuine might seek my specialist advice. enthusiasm for the job, a good What sort of issues are at the top of knowledge of traffic law and to your agenda? How do you cope with serious accidents? pass a high-speed driving course. These can vary. Youth disorder can be an Dealing with the aftermath of a serious issue, especially where young people have or fatal collision is never pleasant, but it nothing to do in the evenings. We try to stop makes me even more determined to them from hanging around street corners by prevent as many injuries and deaths on providing alternative activities. For instance, the roads as I can. To help me deal with I have set up a youth group for the area so this, I trained as a family liaison officer. that local people can discuss problems and This means that if someone dies or has a solutions together. life changing serious injury as a result of a collision I am there to break the news Do you have a typical day? to the family and help them through the I regularly have to change shifts at short difficult period ahead. I do receive notice to attend meetings or provide support counselling to help me cope with the for colleagues. On an early shift which starts incidents I deal with. at 7.00 a.m., I begin by checking the previous evening’s events before completing What do you like best about your job? any outstanding reports or letters. I then Although my role can be both mentally patrol the local schools between 8 .00 a.m. and physically demanding at times, it and 9.00 a.m., mainly to prevent traffic can also be very rewarding. problems. In the afternoon I go out on patrol, either on foot, bike or car depending on the area I want to cover, and I finish at 4.00 p.m.

4 Working in police, fire and rescue services Community safety officer Police officer

What equipment do you use? What does the training consist of? Related jobs I use a computer quite a lot to look at After several weeks at a police training information and statistics of police centre, the probationary period lasts for Police family liaison officer activity. It enables me to get an overall two years. During this time you receive Social worker picture of what is happening in my area. ongoing training in law, self defence and Youth and community worker On patrol I carry my utility belt, which fitness. The training is most intense. It is has various items of equipment on it – only after this thorough training that you Salary information a truncheon – either long for foot/car can then go unaccompanied. patrol or extendable for bike patrol – a New recruits are paid £19,227, rising to radio, CS spray, basic first aid pouch, a What do you enjoy about your job? over £22,000 once the two-year torch at night, a pouch for paperwork I like being part of a community and probationary period has been and handcuffs. I also wear a stab-proof knowing that I have contributed in completed. After five years a constable vest during evening shifts or when some way to resolving someone’s would be earning £24,852. After 10 attending a moderate risk job. worries or problems. years £28,914. A sergeant earns £30,186 on appointment. Metropolitan What kind of person would make a Police officers receive an extra successful community police officer? allowance for working and living in the Someone who is a good communicator, London area. Uniforms are provided. approachable and open when dealing Getting in Gillian’s route with people. Being able to listen is often more important than being a good talker! • There are no formal educational • GCSEs. Decision making is another important skill. I constantly have to make decisions requirements to become a police • Initial police training course. that affect the lives of other people so I officer, although numeracy and • Sergeant’s examination. need to be calm, consistent and detached. literacy skills will be tested on the assessment day. Fitness is tested Gillian’s tips separately. • Forces are interested in honesty, • Take your time when considering this respect for others and the ability to as a job. The work can be very create solutions. distressing and exhausting and not everyone who joins can deal with this. • Do plenty of research into the force you are applying to join.

5 Police service Beat officer Police officer

Job information on Philip Jeffries is a city centre police constable/probationer beat officer with West Midlands Police, the second Related jobs

largest police force in the Prison officer country. Working as part of a Private investigator Security officer/manager team of five police officers at Store detective one of Birmingham Central’s Salary information busiest stations, he sees life in the raw dealing with New recruits are paid £19,227, rising to over £22,000 once the two-year many unexpected situations. probationary period has been completed. After five years a constable would be earning £24,852. After 10 years £28,914. A sergeant earns Which areas do you cover? Have you ever had to deal with any £30,186 on appointment. Metropolitan Police officers receive a London I work in one of the city’s biggest sectors. dangerous situations? weighting. Uniforms are provided. This includes offices, shops, pubs and Not too many, thankfully. I was once on clubs plus the university and a large routine patrol with a colleague when we housing estate. This means my work can noticed five people acting suspiciously on Getting in range from investigating abandoned cars the back of a double-decker bus. One of • There are no educational and responding to emergency incidents the men pointed what looked to be a requirements to become a police like robberies and terrorist alerts to being firearm at us. Because there were families officer, although numeracy and involved in specific operations such as with children on board we had no choice literacy skills will be tested on the targeting drug dealers. but to stop the bus. The offender tried to assessment day. Fitness is tested make a run for it but we caught him with separately. Forces are interested in the weapon. What equipment do you carry with you? honesty, respect for others and the As a uniformed police constable I wear a ability to create solutions. stab vest and also carry a personal radio, • Evidence of work in a customer- handcuffs, an extendable baton and CS facing role is often helpful. spray. For public disorder incidents my kit includes a helmet, shield and extra • Once a police constable has passed Philip’s route protective padding. This might seem a lot their probation, there are opportunities to wear but it’s essential. to apply for other departments. • GCSEs. Why did you choose to join the police? • A Levels. • Police probationer training. What skills and qualities should a good It gives me great satisfaction knowing that police officer possess? I can help and protect people. I also like • Public order training course. Be approachable with good the fact that each day is very different. • Area car driving course. communications skills, and have the ability to remain calm in stressful situations. What hours do you work? Philip’s tips I work three different shift patterns. The What are your long-term career goals? early shift starts at 7.00 a.m. and finishes • Never say you can’t do something I’m just studying for my sergeant’s exam at 3.00 p.m. Late shifts are from 2.00 p.m. unless you’ve had a go first. and I would like to succeed in that and to 10.00 p.m. while nights last from • Always show determination, interest eventually have my own team of beat 10.00 p.m. to 7.00 a.m. and enthusiasm. officers to manage.

6 Working in police, fire and rescue services Police constable (probationer) Police officer

What do you like about your job? Seema Khanna has been a I’m still in the early stages of my career, so most things are still a novelty and I serving police officer for get a real buzz from it. The training and just one year. She will the job itself is very challenging. I enjoy team work and appreciate the support spend a further year as a offered by colleagues. probationer constable, What will you do after completing your combining formal training probationary period? and exams with patrol I’ve had lots of experience with young children and their families and would like and investigative to use these skills by specialising with the experience. Vulnerable Persons unit. I am looking forward to attending the sexual offences trained officer’s course. This is a very challenging area of police work, where I think my people skills and experience will be very relevant. What does your job involve? officer. I’ve also had 20 weeks on mobile At the moment I am part of the divisional independent patrol – that’s in a car – Seema’s route crime investigation team at a station mostly paired up with a more close to Heathrow airport. I handle about experienced officer. Once I’ve passed a • Degree in Education. more advanced driving course I will be 10 crimes at a time, including robbery, • Primary school teacher. theft, burglary, criminal damage, assault able to drive to certain categories of • Police probationer training. and harassment. My role involves jobs, such as immediate emergency responses which require blue lights and gathering evidence and taking Seema’s tips statements from victims and witnesses. sirens to be switched on. Once a suspect has been identified an • It helps to have had some life How did you feel the first few times arrest can be made. experience before joining the police. on patrol? • You never stop learning so don’t Mixed feelings of excitement and nerves. Is this part of your probationer training? ignore advice from more You never know what you are going to be Yes. I’ve already been through six stages, experienced colleagues. including two weeks at police faced with. I’ve responded to burglaries, assaults, sudden deaths, suicides, • Use your common sense – it keeps headquarters learning core skills and a you out of trouble. further 15 weeks of instruction at the domestic disputes, rape, indecent assaults training centre. and a murder. Each incident is unique, although some are more memorable than You need to be prepared to work for the others. My first arrest involved a shoplifter exams, complete assignments and take in a high street retail store. I interviewed part in role play scenarios. I’ve also done the person and gathered more evidence a week’s computer course and taken a before she was charged. driving test. Why did you join the police? Is most of your training spent in I had spent nine years as a primary the classroom? school teacher and wanted a change Not at all! After foundation training, but I was still keen to stay in a caring every probationer is assigned a tutor profession. I saw an advert in the local constable for street duties. That’s when press and immediately knew that this you get to go on patrol as a police was the job for me.

7 Police service

Custody sergeant Police officer

Louise Griffiths was motivated into joining the North Wales police service after having all her twenty-first birthday presents stolen two days after a family celebration. As custody sergeant, Louise is responsible for detaining people who are suspected of all sorts of crimes.

What are your duties? Every year, I attend a first-aid course What really satisfies you about your job? I am based in the custody suite at and update my basic life-saving skills. I enjoy working in a high-pressure Wrexham police station. It is my job to All police officers attend two defensive atmosphere and the team spirit it book in those who have been arrested tactics training sessions each year, creates. I have worked with my two and make appropriate arrangements for practising how to use the baton, detention officers for 15 months and them to be held in one of the 24 cells. handcuffing techniques, captor spray know I can rely on them completely. I look after their welfare and make sure and basic holds and grips. We know each other’s strengths and they are aware of their rights. Everything weaknesses and make a good team. that happens to detainees has to be How fit do you need to be? recorded from the moment they arrive, There is no fitness test to pass once the Louise’s route including details of what they are probationary period has been passed. wearing or whether they have requested However, it is in my own interests to • GCSEs. a drink of water. maintain a reasonable level of fitness to • Initial police training course. cope with the rigours of shift work and What equipment do you use? the stress of being in the custody unit • Passed Sergeant’s exams. when it is busy. The custody unit is paper-free and all Louise’s tips custody records are computerised. Even fingerprints are taken electronically. We Describe your typical day. • Don’t join too young – get some also use the VIPER identification system. It depends on how many prisoners there experience of life first. are. On a weekend shift we could be Instead of gathering outsiders to form an • Not every minute of the day is dealing with more than 20 people who identity parade we take a picture of the exciting – there are some tedious have been detained because of suspect and send this to our national moments, just like any other job. database. Similar pictures are selected and aggressive and drunken behaviour, for sent to us to be shown to the witness. instance. They may all be detained for the night and need checking every 30 What special training have you had? minutes. The day shifts revolve around I attended a two-week initial course, them too – they have to be interviewed, covering all aspects of life in the custody charged and fingerprinted. office. A lot of it involved practical I normally work nine or 10 hour shifts exercises where we took turns being the but when it’s busy I can be working for custody officer or the detained person. 12 hours before my job is finished.

8 Working in police, fire and rescue services Police community support officer Police community support officer (PCSO)

What skills and qualities do you use in your job? Gareth Hollister is a police Social skills are vital – the ability to communicate and listen. You have to community support officer remember that most people coming into (PCSO). Wearing their own custody are scared and this can make them confrontational. If they are distinctive uniform, PCSOs aggressive or noisy they are removed to a work closely with their police cell until they have calmed down enough to be given their rights. However, a lot of colleagues. Although they do people apologise for their behaviour later. not have the same powers as Are there any difficulties? a beat officer, they reassure Being a police officer can make you the public by providing a suspicious of people and their motives. Shift work can have quite an impact on people, more visible police presence including family and friends. They have to on the street. be understanding as I might have to work at times when they are out enjoying What does your job involve? themselves, especially at Christmas and Gareth’s route during the New Year celebrations. I respond to all sorts of incidents within • GCSEs. the community. This can involve minor offences such as parking, littering or • Initial Police Community Support cycling on the footpaths, as well as Officer’s course. sorting out on-going problems such as Related jobs • Police First Aid – Module 2. neighbour disputes. • PCSO tutor’s course. I also deal with things such as traffic Prison officer control, issuing fixed penalty notices, Probation officer Gareth’s tips house-to-house enquiries, missing person Residential social worker • Get some community service enquiries and scene-guarding for serious investigations – all the jobs which don’t Salary information experience before you apply, such as taking courses in public services or necessarily require a police officer in the first instance. A newly promoted sergeant is paid getting involved in voluntary work. £29,307 and can expect to earn • Talk to a police contact or a Do you have a typical day? £32,940 after four years in the job. personal adviser about the work Salaries are reviewed every year. beforehand. No day is ever the same. I try to deal with all the jobs in my tray at the start of the Getting in day, including enquiries, processing information relating to offences or giving • The promotion exam to the rank of words of advice to offenders. Part of my sergeant can be taken by any police day is usually spent patrolling towns and officer once they have completed issuing parking tickets. I never know what the two-year probationary period. may turn up. Once, I had to deal with a The exam is in two parts: bolting horse on a busy main road. • Part 1 is a written exam, testing knowledge of criminal law and Do you have access to police resources? policing procedures Yes. We have a lot of equipment available to us, most importantly police vehicles, • Part 2 consists of role-play police computer systems and databases, exercises, testing practical skills. police radios and mobile CCTV vehicles.

9 Police service

Why did you apply to be a PCSO? Related jobs I enjoy being able to work with the Maria Battle works as a community and, when I heard about this Police officer public enquiry officer for new initiative, decided to find out more. Traffic warden It is also useful preparation as my real Security officer/manager Norfolk Constabulary. This is ambition is to join the police service as Store detective a regular police constable and it no ordinary customer-services provides me with a chance to experience role, though. Her daily tasks the work environment. Salary information can range from giving The salary for a PCSO starts at What training do you receive? £14,958 and increases with shift directions to people visiting As a new recruit you get six weeks initial enhancements to between £17,979 training – split between lectures and and £19,053. the area to recording road working on the streets and at the police traffic accidents. station. Then, it is back to the classroom Getting in for a further 10 weeks. Study topics cover the law, first aid, paperwork, unarmed • There are no set educational or age defence training and traffic control. requirements to becoming a PCSO, What do you do? In addition, I had on-the-job training in though anyone interested in working for the emergency or I work at the enquiry desk, handling operating CCTV, criminal investigation general administrative and reception systems and data protection and security. armed services should consider doing one of the preparatory duties. I deal with general enquiries from I have basic driving authorisation to the public, both face-to-face and over the enable me to drive police vehicles. courses available at many further education colleges: telephone. I also have to record documentation, for instance, when • Preparation for Entry to the What hours do you work? someone has been asked to produce their Uniformed Services A normal week of 37 hours. This is on a driving licence, insurance and MOT shift system which involves different • BTEC First or National Diploma in certificates at a police station. I log the starting times. Sometimes I start at 8.00 Public Services. details and make sure that everything is a.m. and finish early. Other shifts involve • Applicants to individual forces would in order. starting later and finishing at midnight. normally be expected to have a full, clean driving licence, good general Do you have a typical day? What do you like best about your job? health and fitness and satisfactory No – there are plenty of unusual Knowing I’ve made a difference to references. The assessment usually incidents to deal with. One of my jobs is people’s lives. Hopefully, I help to give consists of interactive role-play liasing with dog wardens and the Royal people a better quality of living in their exercises and interviews. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to community by sorting out issues that are Animals (RSPCA) when a dog is reported affecting them. I also enjoy being lost or found. People often bring in dogs involved in police operations, working they have found wandering the streets with my police colleagues and using and we keep them in a kennel until their sophisticated equipment such as CCTV. owners are found.

What skills and qualities do you need? What equipment do you use? Anyone working with the community Mostly a computer and telephone. I needs to be sympathetic, as you will update the police computer when people spend a lot of time dealing with people report a crime at the enquiry desk. I also who are victims of crime. It’s important have the use of a police radio so that I to be precise, accurate and methodical can liaise with colleagues in the police when recording details of incidents, station and elsewhere. especially as your records may be used in court to convict somebody.

10 Working in police, fire and rescue services Public enquiry officer Police front office staff

The first rule is to listen to them. Try to work out what the real issue is and be very patient. I try to remember to remain calm, so that it’s me who is in control of the situation, not the other way round. It can be very satisfying when I’ve helped resolve a situation and calmed down a person.

Related jobs Customer services assistant/manager Hotel receptionist Medical receptionist

Salary information

Enquiry counter staff earn between How did you get into this job? Do you have to work shifts? £14,000 and £15,000 with shift I spent several years in a variety of retail Yes. I work with others and we operate a allowances. jobs – from customer service to CCTV shift pattern which ensures the enquiry operator and a store detective. This desk is staffed for seven days a week Getting in introduced me to working and liaising with from 8.00 a.m. to midnight. I average other retail security personnel and police. about 37.5 hours a week. • Application should be made initially to your local police station or local Do you have special training? What do you like best about your job? police authority. Qualifications can I received on-the-job training. I also I really enjoy working with the general vary between forces but generally attend occasional training days, ranging public and helping people. It can also be the minimum is five GCSE/S grades from new force policies to first-aid exciting as you never know what’s going (A-C/1-3). training. I have regular personal to happen next! However, there can be • In addition, you would be development reviews which help me some very challenging situations. expected to have keyboard and identify areas where I would like to have Sometimes people are upset and you computer proficiency, experience further experience or training. need to calm them down. in a similar customer care role and excellent written and verbal communication skills. Maria’s route

• GCSEs. • NVQ Level 2 in Retail Customer Service. • IT (NAIT) Levels 1, 2 and 3 spreadsheets and word processing. • Various jobs in retail.

Maria’s tips

• Make sure you have the right temperament for the job. • Be prepared to work shift patterns.

11 Police service Financial investigator Police financial investigator

Sheila Dunning-Brown is a financial investigator working as a civilian for Northumbria Police. She uses her accountancy background and skills to investigate financial offences, making sure that crime doesn’t pay.

Why do the police need your How do you do your work? How did you get into this work? accountancy skills? A lot of my work involves paperwork and I was the financial controller for a retail This is a specialist role. Jobs like mine have I use specialist databases and computer company for 12 years and saw my been created so that criminals on the software. Once I have identified current position advertised locally. The loose will no longer be able to fund their criminally obtained assets such as money job is an interesting, diverse and expensive lifestyles with the proceeds of or goods, I prepare paperwork to justify a challenging environment. What it offers is their crime. Our main objective is to seize hearing to decide whether we can the opportunity to make a difference in a the money they’ve made from crime, confiscate or forfeit them. This might tangible way. The money we seize from whether they are wealthy career criminals involve getting information from financial criminals is reinvested to fight crime and with yachts or local crooks who spend institutions and preparing statements. improve technology. their victims’ money on flashy clothes and I also collate information for any cash jewellery. I spend a lot of time analysing seized during police operations and help Do you need extra training? and profiling defendants so that I can senior investigating officers by Yes. I trained as an accountant but before make decisions to help any ongoing researching the financial aspects of I started the job. I needed to read up on criminal investigations. serious crime and known criminals. all the current legislation, especially the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Since then, Is this an office job? I’ve done a number of courses in Sheila’s route financial investigation, confiscation and Not entirely. The job requires a flexible search and seizure. My next course will approach. Often, I go to court, either to • Part-qualified accountant. be on money laundering. I have also give evidence in a case or for permission • Commercial experience. learned presentation skills as well as to obtain a defendant’s personal interview techniques. • Internal training in financial and information, like bank accounts. I also interviewing skills. interview suspects, search houses for financially related information and visit What hours do you work? Sheila’s tips prison to issue restraint orders. There is Mainly 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Sometimes, also a lot of liaison with my police I have been called out at weekends for • Work hard at school – maths, colleagues as I advise them on the cash seizures and worked late nights English and IT need to be strengths. complexities of financial legislation. doing searches and interviews. • Keep abreast of financial trends by reading newspapers, books and have a good general knowledge of the economy.

12 Working in police, fire and rescue services Force enquiry officer Police front office staff

What are the skills and qualities needed for your role? Harjinder Singh Sokhi is a I’ve got to be resourceful and versatile in responding to changing demands. I work civilian employed by on my own as well as being part of a Hampshire Constabulary team, so you need to display initiative and independence. People rely on me to as a force enquiry officer gather information efficiently, so I also (FEO). His job is to deal need to make decisions quickly and decisively. A sense of personal integrity with all non-emergency is important, as is a sense of humour. and general police enquiries for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Related jobs What do you do? What other equipment do you use? Industry and commerce accountant I work in the force enquiry centre (FEC). We get a lot of abandoned vehicles being Private practice accountant Anyone who telephones their local police reported, so we also have access to the Public sector accountant station is re-routed through to us. I give police national computer, which allows us advice to people on points of law, take to check if vehicles are stolen or whether Salary information messages and answer general enquiries. they have police interest markers against I can take reports of some crimes, such as them. When a registration is placed on Financial investigators earn between minor incidents of damage and theft, and the system all the vehicle details are £23,000 and £24,000 depending on input these to the computer. shown on screen, including the registered the force. Senior investigators can keeper’s name and address. earn up to £32,000. How do you do this? We use a command and dispatch system What is a typical day for you? Getting in called ALTARIS. The system holds every I work a combination of day, early and business and residential address in the late shifts. Each shift lasts about nine • Financial investigators work for a region. When I input an address the hours. In this time I might deal with number of agencies such as the program pinpoints the location on the thefts, missing persons, and a whole police, Customs and Excise, the map. It’s very useful as it allows us to number of issues and disputes. I could be Serious Fraud Office and the trace the routes that offenders might have discussing seat belts one moment and Environment Agency. taken, and also enables us to find specific then take a call from someone reporting • Most financial investigators have an locations. It certainly helps when we are a street fight! investigative background, which can dealing with callers because it means we be gained in a police or civilian role, can offer a level of local knowledge. What kind of training do you receive? with experience of basic I started with an eight-week course interviewing techniques. Harjinder’s route which dealt with basic telephone • An accounting or financial techniques. As well as learning how to qualification can be helpful but is • A Levels. use all the various computer systems, I not essential. went on attachment to various police • Successful applicants will have a Harjinder’s tips departments. At the end of the course I good knowledge of criminal law sat a theory exam. You are on probation and should be able to demonstrate • Research the job before you apply so for a year so that progress can be their ability to organise and handle that you know it’s the right one for you. monitored and any re-training issues large and complex case loads. • Enjoy what you’re doing! dealt with.

13 Police service

There is regular on-going training. For instance, I receive a day’s training every Related jobs Teresa Evans searches for six weeks. I also get the opportunity to go out on patrol with officers so that I Coastguard watch assistant/officer clues. As a crime scene can experience what police officers and Emergency services control room staff police staff do. Police front office staff investigator, also known as scenes of crime officer in What is the most unusual call Salary information you’ve taken? some police forces, her task is Force enquiry officers earn around to search for evidence, from I once received a call from someone who £15,000 a year, with shift had walked into the bathroom and found allowances on top. gathering DNA samples to a six-foot snake coiled in the toilet! We contacted the local RSPCA officer. The inspecting dead bodies. snake had escaped from a neighbour’s Getting in house and had been “on the run” for the This evidence is vital to • Most forces will ask applicants to be past three months. Fortunately the computer literate. place a potential suspect Californian king snake was not venomous and we managed to catch it. • Communication skills are essential, at the scene of a crime. with a sound grasp of the English language. What skills and qualities are needed to What do you do at a crime scene? be a force enquiry officer? The first thing I do is to preserve the To be a good FEO you’d need to be a scene so that potential evidence isn’t good listener, someone who is easy to distributed or lost. This is followed by a talk to. I talk to people all day long so I meticulous search of the area for have to be genuinely interested in helping evidence such as fingerprints, DNA and them in a non-judgemental and non- footwear marks – indeed, any contact biased way. Some calls can be difficult, so trace which may have been left behind. it’s important to remain calm under pressure and make sound decisions. I record any evidence found – removing any item from the scene in the correct packaging. I might also need to swab for DNA sampling, firearms and explosive residue as well as recovering items for specialist chemical treatment.

Teresa’s route

• GCSEs. • GNVQ in Advanced Health and Social Care. • BA (Hons) in Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Teresa’s tips

• Contact your local police force to request a placement to gain further insight into the work. • Research photography and photographic techniques.

14 Working in police, fire and rescue services Crime scene investigator Crime scene investigator/ Scenes of Crime officer (SOCO) What are your work plans for the future? I want to become a senior crime scene investigator. It would be nice to get involved in management and be able to influence events and decisions.

What skills and qualities are needed for your job? Enthusiasm, self motivation and the ability to work as part of a team. It’s also important to be able to work under pressure whilst still maintaining high professional standards.

Related jobs

Forensic scientist Biochemist What equipment do you use for this job? What background training did you have Biologist Police officer The equipment varies according to the for this job? crime committed. For instance, I use a Initially, I did a criminology degree at Salary information number of powders, such as aluminium the University of Wales. I knew that powder, to enhance fingerprints and photography skills were an integral Crime scene investigators (CSI) start footwear marks. To test for suspected part of the job so I decided to complete on a salary of £14,500. With bloodstains, we use a solution which an intensive ten-week photographic experience, a CSI can earn between changes colour if blood is present. course. This was useful as I helped a £17,000 and £28,000, rising to freelance photographer and gained a For major incidents I use specialist £33,000 at a senior level. lot of experience. forensic equipment such as high intensity light sources and electrostatic lifting Getting in equipment which enhances or intensifies What about on-the-job training? faint marks. I have a camera and flash I completed a three-week course at the • Entry requirements vary from force equipment to photograph and record police national training centre followed by to force but mainly include: things such as road traffic collisions, a period of shadowing experienced • HNC/HND or equivalent level in post-mortem examinations, exhibits/ officers. After eight months, I was photography or other relevant evidence, prisoners and victims of crime. promoted and had a further four-week subject conversion course, covering more specialist • A forensic or scientific areas such as major crime, arson, firearms Is your job a bit bloodthirsty? background is helpful, although and explosives. This course is part of a It can be, although not all of my work is not essential two-year development programme leading at crime scenes. In the police station to a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in • Previous experience in a I might have to fingerprint suspects. Crime Scene Examination. customer-orientated environment A lot of my work involves completing • Good communication skills, both documentation, preparing statements of verbal and written, at all levels evidence and giving evidence in court. What hours do you work? I work a 37 hour week, as part of a shift • Computer literacy, with a working pattern with other colleagues. Together, knowledge of Microsoft Office we cover the hours between 8.00 a.m. applications. and 10.00 p.m., seven days a week.

15 Police service

Clerical officer Administrative assistant/officer/manager

Natalie James is a clerical officer working at West Midlands police headquarters in Birmingham. She carries out general administration tasks for the force’s employee resourcing section, dealing with job vacancies.

Do you have a typical day? How prepared were you for this job? What do you like best about your job? Yes. This can involve answering telephone I had quite a bit of office training I like all aspects of my work. I enjoy the enquiries about vacancies, preparing and beforehand. After my GCSEs, I did my routine and feel confident in my ability to distributing application packs, typing and CLAIT Stages 1 and 2 – a graded scheme do a good job. It is good to do other sending letters, faxing, filing, of IT skills certifications. I also did NVQ things, too, though. For example, I recently photocopying and computing. I enter Administration, Levels 1 and 2. assisted at a work experience workshop. applicants details onto a database, This is where teenagers who haven’t been I have worked in offices before and making sure that they are accurate able to organise a week’s work experience knew how to use the standard computer and not duplicated. come along for the day to see what life is office programs and had already had like at West Midlands police force. training in telephone techniques, so What sort of equipment do you use? adapting to this job has been mainly There is a range of office equipment: about getting used to the routines of What skills and qualities are needed computer, printer, telephone, fax machine working in a police environment. for this kind of work? and photocopier. Because I am disabled, In this job you need communications I use a headset to enable me to take skills, computer ability and team details over the phone. Natalie’s route building skills.

What hours do you work? • GCSEs. I work 36.5 hours a week, Monday • CLAIT Stage 1 and 2. to Friday. • NVQ Administration Levels 1 and 2. • Training in office programs and What was your route into this job? telephone techniques. My initial placement here was arranged through Scope (the disability organisation Natalie’s tips which helps people with cerebral palsy). It really suits me because I have always • Find out as much information about enjoyed an office environment and I like your future employer as possible carrying out clerical duties. beforehand. • Make sure you know what type of skills are required.

16 Working in police, fire and rescue services

While the Fire and Rescue Service exists to save and rescue people and property from all types of accident and disaster, it also has an increasing role in promoting Firefighter fire safety in public and commercial premises. Firefighter/officer

Related jobs James Blanthorn is a Civil service administration firefighter based at an assistant/officer Court administrative officer airfield. He is specially Secretary trained to deal with Word processor/typist aircraft on fire which Salary information may involve entering a Clerical workers’ salaries range burning plane to between £10,000 and £15,000, depending on which part of the rescue passengers. country and force the job is situated.

Getting in

• There are no minimum qualifications for administrative or office work although most employers would expect applicants to have some What is involved in your job? What training did you receive initially? GCSEs/S grades, especially in English Aircraft accidents are rare but in the I attended various courses at the and maths. event my main role is to save life and to International Fire Training College (IFTC). • Alternative qualifications are minimise damage to property and This covered most fire fighting duties acceptable, such as a GCSE (Double aircraft. Each day, about 7,000 aircraft with both practical and theory work. Award) in Applied Business or take off and land at UK airfields and the Once qualified, you can apply for roles NVQs/SVQs in Administration. aviation industry has a very good safety within the aviation fire service industry. • Some employers will offer record. There are other tasks, which I Apprenticeships. undertake on a daily basis. These range What training do you do regularly? from appliance and equipment We constantly train for any eventuality maintenance to airfield safety duties. ranging from a simple engine fire during Also, we do regular training. start up to the crash of an aircraft on the runway. We train using all of our equipment in order to practise James’s route techniques and safety procedures. We have a replica plane made of steel • GCSEs which is used repeatedly to simulate a • BTEC National Certificate in Auto burning machine. When there is a fire Vehicle Engineering inside, the smoke stops you seeing • Civil Aviation Authority fire fighting anything in front of you except through qualifications the visor of your breathing mask. The temperature is about 2000 deg C and you James’s tips have to search and rescue 10 simulated casualties. It is training like this that • Try and learn as much as possible makes the role exciting and stimulating. about the job and the whole aviation industry before you attend an interview. • Keep your physical strength and fitness to a good level.

17 Fire and rescue services

What equipment do you use? What are your long-term career goals? We operate a wide range of equipment Currently, I am on a personal development Heather Reid is a such as specialist fire appliances with programme, which will help me to progress pressurised water and foam systems, to the position of crew commander. firefighter who combines hydraulic and pneumatic rescue equipment, her role with work as a first aid and medical equipment. What are the skills and qualities needed? community safety officer. For our personal protection, we use It is very important that you are able to breathing apparatus which allows work as part of a team. We need to be As such, she does more firefighters to safely operate in smoke able to deal with unexpected situations than wait for fires to and toxic conditions. and in very difficult working environments. Good communication skills break out. She is actively What was your route into this job? are important and you must be self- disciplined. The job can be very physically involved in community I was an apprentice in the airport vehicle demanding and you must be able to cope workshops and gained a BTEC National education to prevent fires with heavy lifting, working in confined Certificate in motor vehicle engineering. spaces and in high temperatures. starting in the first place. During my apprenticeship, I regularly worked on the fire appliances and some of the equipment used at the fire station. Related jobs What is involved in your job? I developed an interest for the fire service Whilst on shift I have to be prepared, and decided to become a firefighter. Ambulance person Police officer along with my crew, to tackle emergency Diver service calls. These will range from false Do you have a typical day? alarms through to serious fires involving A typical day at the fire station starts by Salary information buildings, property and people. We never taking over from the shift that has been know what we are going to find and have on duty through the night. The first job is Salaries vary between authorities and to be fully equipped for every call out. to check the fire vehicles and equipment organisations. On starting, a firefighter This is the reactive part of the job but it is and make sure that everything is in good earns about £16,000 rising to £23,000 working order. important to realise that we don’t just sit with experience. around waiting for fires to happen. You are required to maintain a level of Modern firefighters are just as involved in physical fitness and we all take part in Getting in the proactive part of the job – preventing physical training such as gym work and fires from happening. team activities, which include volleyball. • Airport fire services recruit their own firefighters and application How do you do this? should be made to the nearest What hours do you work? Acting as community safety officers airport. Similarly, you need to apply We work shifts of 12 hours, the day shift helps. Using our fire engines, we travel to individual fire service authorities. starts at 7.15 a.m. until 7.15 p.m. and the around offering home fire safety checks night shift is 7.15 p.m. to 7.15 a.m., the • There are far more applicants than and liaising with other organisations to following day. The shift pattern is two day vacancies and a minimum standard educate the public in ways of preventing shifts followed by two night ones and of secondary school education is fires. We like to emphasise that an then we get four days off. essential such as five GCSE/S grade outbreak of fire could represent a failure (A-C/1-3) passes, including maths, on our part. What are the pros and cons of your job? English and a science-related subject. What I like best about my job is that you What happens if there is an emergency never stop learning. I work with a good while you are doing this? set of colleagues and enjoy operating in We travel with all our equipment and can a team environment. At times, working immediately be contacted by radio and unsociable hours and through the night computer and directed to any incident. is not very enjoyable. We have all the equipment on board and may sometimes be nearer to the call than if we were at the fire station.

18 Working in police, fire and rescue services Community safety officer Firefighter/officer

What are the skills and qualities needed for a firefighter? To be observant, show initiative, have an enquiring mind, be courageous yet calm and be physically fit.

What equipment do you use? What hours do you work? All fire appliances are equipped with fire Normally we work a 48 hour week but this fighting equipment such as extending is spread over a shift pattern which ladders and hose pipes. We also carry consists of two days of eight hours each breathing apparatus for use if we have to and two of 16 hours which includes nights. enter burning buildings. Specialist cutting equipment is also available for entry into What do you like best about your job? locked areas and for extracting people I enjoy the non-routine way the shift trapped in crashed vehicles. We are all develops. Every day is different and we trained to use this equipment. do not know what to expect until it Related jobs happens. We have very regular tasks such Ambulance person How did you get into this job? as checking all the equipment but these Police officer I did temporary work after university before can be interrupted at a moment’s notice Police community support officer applying to my local fire authority. After by an emergency. It can be very exciting. passing the initial selection process, which involved physical, written and role-related What are your long term career goals? Salary information tests, I went on a 13 week intensive I have only been in the job for a year so On starting, a local authority training course. I was then attached to an I haven’t really started thinking about active station for on-the-job training. firefighter earns £18,000 rising to that. There is a clear promotion route to £23,175 when competence is the top jobs but at the moment I am achieved. Crew managers can earn Heather’s route enjoying what I am doing. between £23,790 and £24,816. • GCSEs. Getting in • A Levels. • Firefighter training. • There are far more applicants than vacancies and a minimum standard Heather’s tips of secondary school education is essential such as five GCSE/S grade • Be sure to take up and continue the (A-C/1-3) passes, including maths, career path that you have chosen. English and a science-related subject. • Work hard and maintain a healthy • You will have to undergo a medical lifestyle. examination and fitness tests.

19 Fire and rescue services

Fire station manager Firefighter/officer

Kamaljit Singh Basi is a fire station manager at the Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service headquarters. However, he has recently been tasked with developing training programmes for firefighters and introducing a new promotional structure for the service.

What does your job involve? What about your new task? Kamaljit’s route Even though my work is now primarily Training in the fire service is changing office-based, I still get called to supervise rapidly and I am currently responsible for • British Rail electrician. incidents at night. As manager you are implementing new assessment and • HND in Fire Command and responsible for all operational and development centres and putting a Management. administrative operations within your training strategy together. area. I supervise the fire crews, their • Currently studying for a degree in This involves the design and development training and recruitment as well. fire related studies. of new training and promotion schemes. I run workshops both at headquarters and Kamaljit’s tips What about new recruits? at the various stations to talk about this Trainee firefighters already have new development structure. The emphasis development programmes. Their training is on communications and I want to • Make sure you keep up a now leads to NVQ Level 3 in Emergency ensure that all the staff have a say in the reasonable fitness level. Fire Services – Operations in the development of these new changes. • It’s helpful to have the ability to Community. Part of my job is to make absorb new information quickly. sure that the support mechanisms for What are the changes? these programmes are in place and that For the past 60 years, firefighters have assessment in the workplace is carried received the same type of training out effectively. collectively. Unfortunately, this doesn’t cater for the specialised and individual training How did you start your career in the that is required today. It needs to be fire service? ongoing to reflect changes in the workplace. I left school at 16 and worked for British Rail for eight years as an electrician The same philosophy is being applied to before applying to become a firefighter. promotion. The traditional way to I really enjoy the variety of work and the progress has always been through opportunity to help the community. promotion exams. By 2007, all training and development will be based on workplace assessment.

20 Working in police, fire and rescue services Fire control operator (trainee) Emergency Services control room staff

Related jobs Marie Wilson is a trainee Training manager fire control operator for the Adult education organiser Human resources officer/manager Cleveland Fire and Rescue Service. Every day she receives Salary information 999 calls requesting fire crew The salary for a station manager is attendance. Cleveland is a very between £29,928 and £33,009. industrial area, so fire crews Getting in and their control room • All new entrants begin as colleagues are acutely aware of firefighters before progressing to station managers and other the special dangers they might managerial roles. face from fumes and gases. • Applicants need to pass written and physical tests. Some fire and rescue services may ask for GCSE/S grades How do you deal with 999 calls? Have you always worked for the including maths, English and a Cleveland Fire and Rescue Service? science-related subject. Initially, I obtain the relevant information from the caller, such as the exact address Yes. When I left college at 18, I had the and what is on fire. Then, I have to opportunity to become a trainee clerk at decide which fire appliances to send. the training centre. I’ve progressed In addition, I may have to inform fire through the service, working in training, officers, other emergency services, personnel and now onto fire control. hospitals and utility services. Sometimes, the call is from other firefighters asking for extra resources to the incident – Marie’s route perhaps more staff or equipment. • GCSEs. What equipment do you use? • NVQ Level 2 and 3 in Business Mostly, I use the communications Administration. equipment which sends instructions to • Health and Safety training. the mobile data terminals in the fire • First aid qualifications. appliances. I also use the telephone and • NVQ in Fire Control Operations. radio systems. As a trainee, I am continually learning about the equipment • Vocational training in control we use in the control room. operations.

Marie’s tips • Concentrate on your education – do courses that you enjoy and are most likely to succeed in. • Visit your local fire station so that you can have a better understanding of the atmosphere before you decide whether it’s the right job for you.

21 Fire and rescue services

Do you have a typical day? Related jobs Yes and no. I have certain administrative Rebecca Barratt works as an duties to complete during any shift, but I Coastguard watch assistant/officer arson co-ordinator. Arson is the never know what the next 999 call might Control room operator: police bring. Recently, for example, some of my Police front office staff name given to fires that are colleagues had to deal with a fire at a building that stored chemicals. There started deliberately; in fact Salary information were multiple explosions and we didn’t arson is the single main cause immediately know what the chemicals The starting salary for a new recruit of all fires in the UK. Rebecca were. When something like this happens is £17,100. Once trained, salaries we have to work to very carefully range from £17,813 to £22,017, works with local authority, prepared procedures so that the right reaching £37,137 as a principal fire resources are efficiently co-ordinated. control officer. police and community wardens to identify ways of reducing Do you work shifts? Getting in Shifts run over a five-day period, called this criminal activity. a tour. I work 48 hours a tour. This works Entry requirements vary slightly from out as two nine-hour days (from one fire and rescue service to another. What does your job involve? 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m), followed by two As a guide, applicants will need: My job is to raise awareness in the 15 hours night shifts (from 5.00 p.m. • One or more GCSEs/S grades or to 8.00 a.m). community and help reduce the number equivalent, especially English. of fires which are started deliberately. I Applicants are tested on their What kind of training have you had? look for ways in which we can prevent numerical and verbal skills. arson. Mainly, this is done through I had to undergo a three week induction • Computer literacy and keyboard partnership work with local authorities course, involving weekly written skills, such as RSA 1 typing. and community wardens to identify areas examinations, before I was allowed to go • Relevant previous experience, which could be potential arson sites. onto the watch. I’m still in my such as a job within the probationary period (which lasts two It is also part of my job to obtain and uniformed services or work years) and I’m still training, with exams present information concerning the types experience in a customer-facing every three months! The exams cover of arson being encountered and the environment. subjects like knowledge of the different extent of the problem. appliances and all the policies and • Evidence of being able to work procedures I might need to know. well within a team and to remain What are potential sites for arson? calm and decisive under extreme Abandoned vehicles provide the main pressure. What do you like best about your job? material for arsonists. Also, places where I love the variety. I never know what’s refuse has been tipped and left such as in going to happen and I like learning new empty premises or on construction sites things. There’s also a lot of responsibility in derelict areas. attached to this job and it’s really satisfying when I put my training to What action do you take in these cases? good use. We ensure that unoccupied premises in high risk areas are boarded up and that What are your work plans? refuse is removed. We also work with As long as I pass my qualifying various community organisations to examination, I would like to aim for organise schemes for the removal of promotion to leading control operator. illegal bonfires and we have seasonal targets for the collection of unwanted items for example, after Christmas. Poor refuse management, where rubbish remains uncollected, is a matter for discussion with the local authorities.

22 Working in police, fire and rescue services

Arson co-ordinator Firefighter/officer

What are the skills and qualities needed? You need excellent communication skills as you have to deal with many different levels of people. You also need to be patient as some of the work can take a long time and you may have to work with a number of different partnerships. I have found my management and IT skills to be a great advantage.

Related jobs

What equipment do you use? Crime scene investigator/scenes of Rebecca’s route crime officer (SOCO) Digital cameras are used especially when Police officer carrying out arson audit inspections as • GCSE. Insurance loss adjuster they can help to portray the seriousness • A Level in English Literature. of the risks we identify. We also have various items of safety clothing and • University Certificate for Salary information torches for carrying out our inspections Professional Development in Salaries at this grade in the fire in dark or unsafe unoccupied premises. Computing. service are in accordance with • NVQ Level 3 Business Admin. standard scales starting at £18,000 How did you get into this job? • Diploma in Management Studies rising to £23,175 when competence I was already working within Cleveland Fire is achieved. Crew managers can earn Brigade, but I had an interest in community Rebecca’s tips between £23,790 and £24,816. safety. I approached the management and asked to be considered for any future roles • Continue in further education and Getting in within this area. I was then offered a six- gain further skills and experience. month secondment to this role. • Persevere and don’t be afraid to ask Entry requirements vary slightly for what you want. between fire and rescue services. As a What training do you receive? guide, applicants will need: I am training constantly. I shadowed a • one or more GCSEs/S grades or senior member of the team for about equivalent, especially English. three months and my previous experience Applicants are tested on their with the brigade helped enormously. numerical and verbal skills • computer literacy and keyboard What are the advantages and skills, such as RSA 1 typing disadvantages of the job? • relevant previous experience, such I particularly like the diversity as no as a job within the uniformed two days are ever the same. I like the services or work experience in a responsibility and the opportunities customer-facing environment for meeting different people. The main • evidence of being able to work disadvantage is that I can find myself well within a team and to in situations which are unpleasant or remain calm and decisive under environmentally unclean. extreme pressure.

23 Fire and rescue services

ICT engineer Computer hardware engineer

Jamie Rowe makes sure that all computer and communications equipment throughout his regional fire service works correctly and is properly maintained. As an information and communications technology (ICT) engineer, his role is vital, as control room operators rely on computers to log incidents and transmit information to stations and fire crew.

What do you do? Do you have a typical day? How did you become an ICT engineer? I am involved in all aspects of ICT for the Generally, I am fault finding, maintaining I’ve always had an interest in computers West Midlands fire service, both and repairing equipment, or discussing and began working as a temporary operational and non-operational. I deal requirements for new equipment. We like technical assistant while taking my with servicing, repairing and installing all to take advantage of new technologies GNVQ in Information Technology. After types of equipment, including computers, which we feel will be beneficial and I finishing my course I became an assistant servers, printers and scanners. have recently been involved in providing engineer and was promoted recently to all staff with internet access to the my current position. How does this equipment help service’s corporate network. firefighters do their job? What about on-the-job training? When control operators receive details of I’ve recently taken a CCNA, which is a an incident, they enter it into the Jamie’s route technical qualification demonstrating a command and control system which proficiency in installing, configuring, and governs the whole operation. This • GCSEs. maintaining networking equipment – identifies which fire engines are suitable basically the equipment that connects • Intermediate GNVQ in Science and for the job, where they are located and our PCs to our networks. Art. whether they have the right equipment. • Advanced GNVQ in Information What hours do you work? The system sends details to the station, Technology. I usually start at 8.30 a.m. and finish automatically activating the turn-out bells • HNC Computing. and lighting as well as printing details of around 6.00 p.m., but sometimes I have the job. Fire crews will also get details of to stay late in order to finish a job. any special conditions they need to be Jamie’s tips Recently we installed new computers at aware of, such as chemical spillages on many of our stations and I worked until the motorway or at the scene of a fire. • You won’t learn it all from a book, midnight on one occasion to ensure the You can see that it is vital that this so experience as many different new machines were all up and running communications system works technologies as you can. for staff the next day. efficiently all the time. • Qualifications are important and they help you to get your foot through the door.

24 Working in police, fire and rescue services

Equality adviser Human resources officer/manager

What do you like best about your job? I like working with computers but didn’t Evan Blackwood-Pitter is an want to end up alone in a room with one all the time. This work gives me the equality adviser with one of opportunity to interact with people as the main local authority fire well. I like being able to help – people often contact me for advice. It’s certainly and rescue services. Her job not an average desk job and I get a lot of is to provide advice and independence and variety in my work. guidance to fire station Related jobs managers on equality issues. Computer hardware engineer In addition, she promotes Internet/web professional the service to encourage IT trainer Network manager more recruits from under- Technical support person represented groups. Salary information

There are no set salary scales for this kind of work. Starting salaries are What is your job? What kind of equipment do you use to between £17,100 and £25,000, with Equality and fairness are high priority do your job? on-call supplements. A senior ICT issues for fire brigades all over the UK. I use computers, overhead projectors manager could earn up to £40,000 a I have to ensure that our policies and and TV/video equipment for training year in the fire brigade – more in the procedures meet the needs of anti- purposes. Also, I have received training private sector. People with specialist discrimination legislation. I also assist in in computer presentation programs. skills in certain areas can command the process of equality monitoring for the I attend careers fairs when we have high salaries. purpose of recruitment. a stand – putting up posters and distributing careers literature about I run awareness days where under- Getting in working for the service. represented groups – black ethnic • It is possible to begin training for ICT minority and female firefighters – are jobs straight from school, often as an invited to presentations about the fire information technology apprentice. service, the role of a firefighter and take part in some hands-on training. I arrange • Many entrants have further Evan’s route talks in schools and colleges and educational qualifications. An employment services and it is very HNC/HND or degree in a relevant • A Levels. fulfilling to see how much interest computer-related subject is • BTEC National Certificate in can be generated at these events. excellent preparation. Business and Finance. • Although the ICT industry is How did you get into this job? • NVQ in Customer Service. expanding and there is a shortage I joined the service after previous work • Degree in human resource of people with the appropriate management. skills, entry is still fairly competitive. with British Rail and as a manager with a training provider. I worked at the fire It is helpful to get some experience Evan’s tips before looking for work. Technology service’s training centre for two years before being appointed to my present job. is constantly developing so it is • Make sure you understand equality important to demonstrate high- and diversity issues level, up-to-date ICT knowledge and • Be confident enough to skills to future employers. communicate with any audience

25 Fire and rescue services

Why did you choose this type of work? Related jobs I am passionate about equality and Surinder Chima looks after fairness issues. I believe everyone Equal opportunities officer/manager all the equipment at deserves to be treated fairly and equally, Human resources officer/manager whether it is in the workplace or the Connexions personal adviser thirty-one fire stations, service we provide. I also believe that Trade union official three office buildings and we have so much to learn from living Education welfare officer and working in a diverse society. Youth and community worker a number of houses What hours do you work? Salary information belonging to the I work a 37-hour week. My role also Derbyshire Fire and involves some weekend work when I A trainee equality adviser can earn attend functions, events and meetings around £16,000, rising to £30,000 for Rescue Service. The outside working hours. the more experienced advisers equipment can range working for large organisations. What do you like best about your job? from breathing apparatus Getting in I enjoy communicating and meeting to microwaves used in people from all walks of life both inside • Equality advisers do not need formal the staff canteens. and outside the organisation. qualifications. Personal qualities, experience and a mature attitude What qualities do you need to do are valued. this job? • Most employers will encourage What do you do? You have to be very flexible, adaptable attendance at short courses in Apart from making sure all the and approachable. It’s important to have subjects such as conflict equipment is available, I have to make the confidence to challenge people, but, management, mediation, or law. sure that all the properties are properly at the same time, listen and respect their Chartered Institute of Personnel and maintained. I carry out regular site visits points of view. Development (CIPD) qualifications and inspections and organise any are useful for those seeking maintenance or building work needed. Where do you see your career going? promotion to senior posts. This involves meeting contractors and Once I have completed my Masters in CIPD suppliers, checking progress of ongoing Human Resource Management, I would work on the computer system, as well as like to aim towards a senior management making and dealing with numerous role, so that I can use my educational skills, telephone enquiries throughout the day. knowledge and expertise.

Surinder’s route

• GCSEs. • Institute of Occupational Safety and Health course. • NVQ Level 3 Building Maintenance.

Surinder’s tips

• You have to be prepared to work hard and be flexible. • Be keen to learn, ask questions and always speak up if you haven’t understood something.

26 Working in police, fire and rescue services Administrative officer – property services Administrative assistant/officer/manager

How did you adapt? Related jobs Although the job is about dealing with repairs and maintenance, my first six Building control surveyor/inspector months were spent learning about the Clerk of Works/site manager fire service and how it operates. I wasn’t Construction site superviser/manager used to the uniformed environment and Health and safety adviser it took a few weeks to get used to all Chartered surveyor the different ranks and familiarise myself Surveying technician with all the different equipment. Salary information What sort of training did you receive for your current role? Starting salary will be around I’ve completed an Institute of £17,000, rising to £25,000 with Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) experience. course and am currently doing another health and safety course. Since working Getting in here, I have obtained NVQ Level 3 in Building Maintenance and am now • Some brigades may ask for GCSE/S working towards Level 4. grades including maths, English and a science-related subject. What hours do you work? • Some experience or knowledge of What problems do you deal with? I start at 8.30 a.m. and finish at 5.30 repairs and maintenance work p.m., although I can be called out during would prove useful. We have our own team who deal with the evening sometimes in an emergency. the day-to-day issues reported by stations, such as replacing defective light Do you have to wear a uniform? bulbs or fixing leaky taps. Larger projects, such as rewiring or re-roofing, are done No, but I wear protective clothing such as by outside contractors selected from our safety shoes and a hard hat for some site approved list of suppliers. visits. My clothes have got to be practical enough for any eventuality – from I have to be ready for emergencies, too. meeting contractors to clambering down Our priority is to get our firefighters to a manhole to check a drain repair. incidents fast. Sometimes the doors get knocked or damaged by the fire What do you like best about your job? appliances as they rush out of the station The variety! Something different happens in the process. I have to organise the every day. I also really enjoy working repairs or replacement of equipment that with the people within the brigade and is damaged or past its sell-by date. dealing with all the different contractors and trades people I meet. It is also How did you get into this type of work? hugely fulfilling to be part of big I left school at 16 and worked within the projects, like organising the building housing department at Derby City Council. of a new fire station. I saw this job advertised in the local paper and felt it would be an interesting change What skills and qualities are needed for of environment in a high profile this type of work? organisation serving the community. You have to be keen, hardworking and enthusiastic. It’s important to be able to work without supervision and to have the confidence to ask questions when necessary.

27 Fire and rescue services

Recruitment What training have you had for your current role? I started with an induction course which involved looking at how the different officer departments worked such as equality and diversity; health and safety and Human resources pensions. This gave me the opportunity officer/manager to gain an understanding of the structure of the organisation.

Vicki Rogers is a recruitment What hours do you work? officer for the West Midlands An average of 36.5 hours per week on a flexible working scheme. Fire and Rescue Service. She manages a team of people, What are the skills and qualities needed? You need to have experience of recruitment who are responsible for and selection practices and procedures, a recruiting uniformed good knowledge of employment law and an awareness of equality and diversity firefighters and fire control issues. Supervisory experience is necessary operators as well as for my particular role. You need to be hard- working, determined, flexible, creative organising recruitment and organised. advertising for support staff. Related jobs

What does your job involve? What was your route into this job? Equal opportunities officer My role involves looking at the way we Beforehand, I was branch manager for a Human resources officer/manager recruit and select staff. This involves recruitment agency, having started there Recruitment/Employment agency working closely with the community to as a receptionist. I had begun studying for consultant encourage people to consider a career as my Chartered Institute of Personnel and a firefighter – specifically, we want to Development (CIPD) qualification and Salary information focus on people from black and minority decided that I wanted to work in human ethnic backgrounds to apply. resources within a large organisation. Recruitment officers earn between £22,000 and £24,000. Those with I also oversee the testing of candidates CIPD qualifications can command Why did you choose this type of work? in the selection process for firefighters. larger salaries. This involves working outdoors and Working in recruitment and human assessing them as they roll out hoses resources means your efforts have a direct Getting in and climb ladders. impact on people. The decisions we make will determine whether someone has the • There are no minimum qualifications opportunity to start a new career or job. Do you have a typical day? and it is possible to start in a junior It is a mix. Some of my work is based in role and take advantage of in-house the office, some involves going out into Vicki’s route training. However, some good the community and some is based outside GCSE/S grades, including English when firefighter testing is undertaken. • GCSEs. and maths, are advantageous. • A Levels. • NVQs/SVQs are available in What equipment do you use to do • Final year studying for CIPD Personnel Support at Level 3, your job? qualifications. Personnel Management at Level 4 It is important to be computer literate so and Personnel Strategy at Level 5. I have a good working knowledge of the Vicki’s tips • Most recruitment and human main word processing, database and resources personnel are encouraged spreadsheet programs. I use word • Be prepared to start in a clerical or to work towards CIPD (Chartered processing for producing documents and administrative role within a Institute of Personnel and reports, spreadsheets for budgets and personnel department. Development) qualifications such as statistics and databases for tracking • Make sure that you have the basics, Certificate in Personnel Practice, firefighter applicants. Also, I use a in particular the IT skills, as these Certificate in Recruitment and presentation program for producing are the tools that allow you to carry Selection and the Professional information to illustrate recruitment talks out the role on a day to day basis. Development Scheme. I give to organisations.

28 Working in police, fire and rescue services

What other skills are necessary? It’s important to be very methodical with attention to detail. However, I also need to be open-minded enough to be able to see the bigger picture and spot trends. Also, because trends and patterns can take time Analyst to emerge I need to be patient and know when and how to prioritise the information I’m dealing with. Communication skills are Business analyst also necessary because so many people seek my input and they expect me to be co-operative and approachable. Paula Richards works in one What hours do you work? of Cleveland Fire and Rescue I work 37 hours a week, Monday to Service’s newest departments Friday, on a flexi-time basis. as a data analyst. Cleveland What do you like best about your job? takes more than 17,000 I like the variety and the fact that I am dealing with real life incidents. I take my emergency calls from the role very seriously because I am able to public every year. Her role is highlight problems for education purposes which will in turn make the to analyse all the information Cleveland Fire Brigade area a safer place. from these incidents to identify any trends which can Related jobs be used to help reduce the Database operations manager causes of fire in the future. Information scientist Statistician Operational researcher Systems analyst Can you describe your work? Do you have a typical day? I am responsible for data analysis, No – my daily routine varies considerably Salary information identifying and evaluating fire hotspots. according to the needs of the brigade. These are the areas which are most at Some of my work is purely office-based, Typical starting salaries for trainees are risk of having fires, for a variety of analysing and collating data using the between £17,000 and £25,000. reasons. The figures I compile and collate computer or manual records. Sometimes, Experienced data analysts can earn up to go to other departments within the fire I am out visiting colleagues in fire stations. £40,000 for a senior database operations service. I liaise with a variety of people At other times, I meet representatives from manager.There are no set salary scales within the brigade and other agencies, local councils, the police and those and salary depends on the type of such as the local council and police. agencies who are concerned with building employer and the nature of the work. a safer environment. Why is this data useful? Getting in It is used by various community organisations to highlight the areas for • Analysts need numeracy skills and a Paula’s route education initiatives and for pinpointing methodical mind to be able to use the dangerous hotspots to the public. the techniques for collecting, • GCSEs. analysing and interpreting data. • A Levels. How is it used? • Most analysts will have HNC/HND The Young Firefighters’ Association is a • Business Studies degree. or degree qualifications. Information youth organisation which helps young Technology Apprenticeships are people in the community by teaching Paula’s tips another possible route. them the skills of fire fighting. The • Statistics is a useful subject which • Work hard at school, college or statistics we calculate are used to educate can be studied from GCSE to post- university to achieve the best them in areas of fire safety, raise their graduate level. The Royal Statistical results. awareness of arson and also teach them Society also offers examinations the consequences of hoax calls and anti- • Be very thorough, especially when leading to its Ordinary Certificate, social behaviour which can have dealing with a variety of Higher Certificate and Graduate disastrous results. information from different sources. Diploma.

29 HM Coastguard

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency employs coastguards to prevent the loss of lives at the coast and at sea, to ensure that ships are safe, and to prevent coastal pollution. Coastguards look over our 10,500 miles of coastline and co-ordinate search and rescue at sea.

Watch officer Coastguard watch assistant/officer

Michael Coull is a watch officer for HM Coastguard, based at the Aberdeen maritime rescue co- ordination centre. He is part of a team responsible for organising all coastal search and rescue operations within the area.

What tasks do you do in a normal day? How important is it to have previous How do you co-ordinate a search and There are certain jobs and procedures that maritime experience? rescue operation? are common to most days but these Watch officers must have extensive It depends on the incident. For instance, routine jobs can be disrupted if an maritime experience, either six years of I may receive a distress call on the radio emergency arises. For instance, I may be seagoing experience or three years in a from a sailor whose boat was sinking. My broadcasting a routine weather forecast to practical search and rescue capacity. first action will be to decide how many a fishing boat when a call comes in from lifeboats to send out and whether they the captain of a vessel on the other side of What kind of training did you receive? would need helicopter support. Also, it the world, requesting medical assistance After joining, I began a one-year training might involve co-ordinating our efforts for an injured crewman. schedule, which consisted a mix of formal with those from other emergency services classroom-based learning, self study and such as the police and ambulance. What about routine jobs? actual on-the-job training – which was by We are constantly monitoring equipment, far the most challenging aspect! It was also updating logs and providing information the best part, as I was doing the job under Michael’s route to the public on weather forecasts, for supervision and learning all the time. instance. • S Grades (GCSEs in England and What communication equipment do Wales) What level did you join the you use? • Highers (A Levels in England and Wales) Coastguard Service? I use long- and short-range radios as well • Coastguard training. I started as a coastguard watch assistant, as ultra-modern satellite communications which allows people without specific equipment. Rescue centres are high tech Michael’s tips maritime experience into the job. After places – computers and maritime specific passing my qualifying exams, I spent a software and programs feature very • Develop an interest in a nautical few years gaining experience and heavily. Computerised data allows me to subject such as map reading, sailing knowledge, before applying for, and see and control all the resources I might and surfing. The experience will gaining promotion to, my present need such as lifeboats, helicopters or prepare you for a more formal position as a watch officer. towing vessels. We also use good old- approach to studying maritime affairs. fashioned paper maps, charts and pencils! • Be prepared to work as a team player. A life could depend on how well you and your team work together.

30 Working in police, fire and rescue services

Sector manager Coastguard watch assistant/officer

Shamus McCaffrey is responsible for day-to-day management of search and rescue resources in south- east Devon. The area boasts superb sailing waters and also attracts more than 1,000 divers a day at prime times searching through the numerous wrecks that litter the sea bed.

Not all incidents take place at sea – we What does your job involve? Why did you choose this type of work? often send out search and rescue teams I am responsible for training search and It developed through an interest in to locate people who have had rescue teams and the administration of maritime and search and rescue accidents on the shoreline, such as the whole sector. In addition, I carry out interests. As a hobby, I once trained a falling down a cliff. regular inspections of all fishing vessels mountain rescue search dog and under 15m in length to check that they offered my services as part of an What hours do you work? conform to safety requirements. auxiliary coastguard rescue team while I work a 12 hour shift for four days, working as a full-time sailing instructor. which consists of two during the day What resources do you have? and two at night. I then get four days We have three lifeboat stations with five off before starting the cycle again. lifeboats covering the area and we can call on helicopters from various local What do you like best about your job? Royal Navy, RAF and coastguard bases. The sheer variety of the work is a big In addition, there are five coastguard plus. But also, once in a while, I know rescue teams for the rescue or that I really can be responsible for saving assistance of people in danger at sea someone’s life. and on the shoreline.

What are your longer term career goals? How did you get into this job? I still have a lot to learn in my current I joined the Maritime and Coastguard role. Long-term, I would like to become Agency as a watch assistant and gained a watch or sector manager, responsible promotion to watch officer. Eventually, for supervising and training coastguard I became section manager for a region rescue teams. before moving to my present position which covers a wider area. Before joining the agency, I spent two years with the British Antarctic Survey, working as a communications manager at one if its bases. This provided some useful experience.

31 HM Coastguard

Job information for working in the Maritime and Coastguard agency

Related jobs

Firefighter/officer Fisherman/woman/skipper Merchant Navy deck officer Air traffic controller, Merchant Navy engineering officer What training have you received What are the skills and qualities needed? Royal Navy/Marines officer on-the-job? Communication skills are essential – both I went on the basic entry course when verbally and using electronic equipment. Salary information I joined as a watch assistant. This was Also, you need to manage a large number Starting salary as an assistant will range followed by watch officer training which of volunteer staff. Most of the lifeboat between £13,000 and £15,000, plus shift developed my search and rescue co- crews, for instance, are local volunteers. allowances. As a watch officer, this will ordinating skills. In addition, I have been on rise to around £17,000 plus allowances. a variety of specific courses to update my Shamus’s route Salaries for sector managers, operations communications and management skills. managers and controllers will be more • GCSEs. and dependant on the size of the area What hours do you work? • RAF communications technician. and extent of their responsibilities. I work a basic 42-hour week but this • BTEC Level 3 in radio Additional payments are made when can vary according to the extent of any communications engineering. stationed in the Scottish Islands. emergency I am involved in at the time. Uniforms are provided. I always have to be available for • British Antarctic Survey work. • RYA sailing instructor. emergency calls and for contact with Getting in local organisations. You cannot rely on • HND countryside recreation regular 8-hour days when working for management. There are two entry routes: an emergency service. • No previous maritime experience is Shamus’s tips required as a watch assistant, What do you like best about your job? although some qualifications such I value the flexibility of the job and the fact • Get some life experience in other as foundation GNVQ/GSVQ Level I that I am making a serious contribution to areas of operation before applying or NVQ/SVQ Level 1 including Key helping people in difficulties. for a job. Skills/Core Skills would be an • Build a sound understanding of advantage. Experience as an basic maritime knowledge. auxiliary coastguard may count towards qualification for the • Attain a good level of maritime or coastguard service. outdoor-related education. • Watch officers must have extensive maritime experience – either six years of seagoing experience or three years in a practical search and rescue capacity. This can be gained from the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force or the Merchant Navy or from other seagoing activities involving boat work or navigation. In addition, academic qualifications are also required – three GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3) or equivalent qualifications covering English, maths and IT. • Auxiliary coastguard membership is open to everyone from 16 years of age with an interest in, and a concern for, safety of life at sea. Although classed as volunteers, some payments are available. • Promotion to more senior positions is usually from within.

32 Further information Working in police, fire and rescue services

Fire Service College We would like to thank Useful addresses Moreton in Marsh everyone who helped to Gloucestershire GL56 0RH arrange the case studies for UK Police Forces p 01608 650831. Working in police, fire and For a full list and website links i www.fireservicecollege.ac.uk rescue services. i www.policecouldyou.co.uk HR Modernisation Section Written by Camlee Associates. Police Recruitment Manager Fire Service Effectiveness Division British Transport Police Fire & Rescue Service Directorate P O Box 260 Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 15 Tavistock Place Zone 16A, Portland House London WC1H 9SY Stag Place, London SW1E 5LP p 0800 389 9426 p 0207 944 5763 p 0207 388 9121 i www.odpm.gov.uk p 0207 830 8871 i www.btp.police.uk Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) 148 Upper New Walk Recruiting Department Leicester LE1 7QB Ministry of Defence Police HQ p 0116 255 3654 Wethersfield i www.ife.org.uk Nr Braintree Essex CM7 4AZ i UK Fire and Rescue Services www.modpoliceofficers.co.uk For a full list and website links i www.fire.org.uk The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary (UKAEAC) Force Headquarters Coastguard E6 Culham The Maritime and Coastguard Agency Abingdon Spring Place Oxfordshire OX14 3DB 105 Commercial Road p 01235 466666 Southampton SO15 1EG i www.ukaea.org.uk p 023 8032 9308 i www.mcga.gov.uk The Chief Officer Training and Development Port of Dover Police p 01425 282713 Police Headquarters Eastern Docks Port Skills and Safety Ltd Dover CT16 1JA Africa House p 01304 216084 i 64-78 Kingsway www.doverport.co.uk London WC2B 6AH p 0207 242 3538 Fire and Rescue Service i www.portskillsandsafety.co.uk Fire Brigades Union (FBU) (under development) Bradley House 68 Coombe Road The Merchant Navy Training Board Kingston upon Thames Carthusian Court Surrey KT2 7AE p 12 Carthusian Street 020 8541 1765 London EC1M 6EZ i www.fbu.org.uk p 020 7417 2800 i www.mntb.org.uk

33 Jobs which might interest you in the police, fire and rescue services sector include:

Coastguard watch assistant/officer Crime analyst Crime scene investigator/scenes of crime officer (SOCO) Detective Emergency Services control room staff Firefighter/officer High tech investigator National Criminal Intelligence service (NCIS) officer Police community support officer (PCSO) Police family liaison officer Police financial investigator Police front officer staff Police officer

Check out further details about some of these jobs at www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u

Feedback Other Formats This publication is available in Braille, large print We welcome feedback on Working in police, fire and rescue and on audio cassette. services. If you have any thoughts on the information in this booklet, or how it is presented, please contact Please telephone DfES publications on: 0845 602 2260 (select option 2), or email: VT Careers Management at [email protected]. [email protected] to order copies. ISBN: 0-86110-888-4 A text only version is also available to download at: www.connexions-direct.com/wipolice ©Crown copyright 2004

Extracts from this document may be reproduced for Produced by VT Careers Management for Connexions. non-commercial education or training purposes, on condition that the source is acknowledged.