Best use of specials

[goldenbanana]

At this moment in time there is abit of a disagreement between sargents in our station of the best use of specials and i think this has spread to the whole force (even nationally) with budget cuts. So i wondered whats your opinion?  How do you think specials can be used most effectively? and what areas should specials being actively seeking to improve to help them in there current role.

My personal opinion is that there are many different types of special with very varying degrees of knowelge and deication so judging there capability in different stituations is very difficult so specials are probably best served in a visible presence at the moment until more professional and comprehensive training program is brought in.

[busterbloodvessel]

Teaching them spelling and grammar might be a good start.

[Condie]

We have one or two specialists - but before that I'd like to see them have the basics - the ability to take statements being a prime example.

[GymRat]

I'm a relief sergeant. We have some very good specials on my team, who muck in, want to learn, and are treated as part of the team. Too many others only want to show up on a Friday and Saturday night and ride around in the fast cars. We tend to get rid of those, but they don't help make the specials popular.

The best thing the specials can do is learn the basics before they try and "specialise". In the Met we have "traffic specials" who don't know much about traffic, "public order trained" specials who have no clue how to deal with public order, and they are at best tolerated by the rest of us.

If this sounds like I'm "anti", I'm not. I have a lot of time for my MSC officers, and take a pride in developing them. It's the others that spoil it for them.

[busterbloodvessel]

We have a lot of specials who are in it for the travel perks. A few years ago I was asked to go through a list and pick out the ones that parade regularly. I'd never heard of most of them.

[alan100million]

Im my team there are specials that come out regularly, are as much as part of the team as I am. There are others that won't say boo to a goose, won't get hands on, can't speak to people and just fill a yellow jacket.

I think Forces need to realise that good special's are going to become more and more important and that they need to make more effort to include them. However before the good ones can be given a fuller role I think the chaff need to be removed. That way, a special isn't seen as useless or pointless.

[Benny]

As soon as i have sorted my fitness out im applying to Notts. Back when I was a CPO for Notts city Council I was told by the PS in charge of our team that i would make a better copper than a CPO because i was willing to get stuck in which officially i wasnt really suppose to do.

Still...what ya gonna do when something is kicking off, stand and take notes whilst on the radio and try to look pretty with shiny boots? or call for back up and then try and split it up?