Saturday, June 28, 2008
Leeches, Vultures and Sturmey Archer
'Village bobby' (he's actually a PCSO but for once that's a mere detail) Nick Barker has spent the last who-knows-how-long pootling round the Kent countryside on a bike, doing all the usual village bobby things.
Now he's been stopped, on health-and-safety grounds.
The problem is, he hasn't passed Kent Police's 'two-day Basic Police Cycle Skills course'.
Until he can pass this course, he's having to travel around the villages he looks after by bus and on foot.
A Kent spokeswoman said: "All officers must complete a bicycle training course before they can ride a bike on duty, it is about ensuring their safety and the safety of those around them. The purpose of the course is to ensure they have all the relevant skills and knowledge to make the best use of the bike within their roles."
Dear God in Heaven, how have we come to this?
'All the relevant skills and knowledge' to ride a bike? That would be getting on, pedalling and getting off, then. Two day course, £200 a day for the trainer. It's nice work if you can get it.
It's not fair to blame Kent Police. All major publicly-funded organisations are led by unimaginative and cowardly timeservers who have forgotten what real life is like.
No, the blame lies on the shoulders of the lawyers, hovering overhead and waiting for Nick Barker to fall off his bike.
What next? Barker goes on the course - and still falls off. Sue the trainers? The bicycle manufacturers? The highways people? Who cares? Sue anyone, as long as you sue someone.
And who foots the bill for these leeches? You.
Now he's been stopped, on health-and-safety grounds.
The problem is, he hasn't passed Kent Police's 'two-day Basic Police Cycle Skills course'.
Until he can pass this course, he's having to travel around the villages he looks after by bus and on foot.
A Kent spokeswoman said: "All officers must complete a bicycle training course before they can ride a bike on duty, it is about ensuring their safety and the safety of those around them. The purpose of the course is to ensure they have all the relevant skills and knowledge to make the best use of the bike within their roles."
Dear God in Heaven, how have we come to this?
'All the relevant skills and knowledge' to ride a bike? That would be getting on, pedalling and getting off, then. Two day course, £200 a day for the trainer. It's nice work if you can get it.
It's not fair to blame Kent Police. All major publicly-funded organisations are led by unimaginative and cowardly timeservers who have forgotten what real life is like.
No, the blame lies on the shoulders of the lawyers, hovering overhead and waiting for Nick Barker to fall off his bike.
What next? Barker goes on the course - and still falls off. Sue the trainers? The bicycle manufacturers? The highways people? Who cares? Sue anyone, as long as you sue someone.
And who foots the bill for these leeches? You.
Comments:
Come on. Be reasonable. He could get seriously hurt if he fell off cycling too quickly when responding to the man wielding a knife in the local post office. Actually, he couldn't, because a) he's a pcso so can't do anything useful like respond to a real job and b) the government will have closed the post office.
# posted by 
: 10:04 PM, June 28, 2008
: 10:04 PM, June 28, 2008
well when you have old duffers falling off ladders, who've attended courses - http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/display.var.2367155.0.ladder_fall_caretaker_wins_case.php
and they still win, it seems like a waste of money.
the other thing, is that if the Police have paid for the course and he falls off, it wont be their budget affected when he sue's, it will be some other poor dept - and that's all that matters
and they still win, it seems like a waste of money.
the other thing, is that if the Police have paid for the course and he falls off, it wont be their budget affected when he sue's, it will be some other poor dept - and that's all that matters
# posted by : 10:25 PM, June 28, 2008
: 10:25 PM, June 28, 2008
When a new probationer joined the job he would be 'initiated' in certain ways. Dependant on the location, the usual wind ups were, counting the swans on the lake, taking sea water samples, counting the deckchairs on the sea front and telling them they needed to pass the cycle proficiency test before they were allowed to ride a bike.
I did a cycling proficiency course at 14.
Does that allow me to ride a Police bike? Serious question.
Does that allow me to ride a Police bike? Serious question.
This is a serious matter.
I doubt if he has attended the trouser donning course ( sexual equivalent).
Does he put the left leg in in the proper order. Does he remove the trousers efficiently in an emergency. These questions have to be answered.
I doubt if he has attended the trouser donning course ( sexual equivalent).
Does he put the left leg in in the proper order. Does he remove the trousers efficiently in an emergency. These questions have to be answered.
# posted by : 2:39 AM, June 29, 2008
: 2:39 AM, June 29, 2008
Is he also booked in for "Walking", and "Travelling round his patch by buses" courses? I seem to remember when I was in the job more pedestrians (by badly driven vehicles, uneven paving stones, or being attacked from behind) and bus passengers (falling off seats going round roundabouts too fast, falling down stairs, assaulted by other passengers) were injured than cyclists.
# posted by : 10:29 AM, June 29, 2008
: 10:29 AM, June 29, 2008
When I was at school, I went on a cycling profficieny course. I learnt how to handle a bicyle properly, and how to treat other road users (such as indicating). I wish that all cyclists out on the road also took this course (and if I have children, they will have to take the course before I will let them out on bicycles).
I now spend a lot of time driving, and I do try to think of cyclists, but there are some utter morons who seem to have a death wish. I have lost count of the number of times I have had to take avoiding action. I once knocked one off his cycle when he pulled out in front of me at a junction ("You should have stopped for me" was his excuse) where I had right of way. The copper who dealt with the call was of the opinion that I was not to blame, as it was clear that I had not made any mistakes.
If the PCSO has passed his profficiency test then this is a bureaucratic waste of time and money, but if not, then if it is a proper course it should be a good thing. I mean, would you be happy if just anybody could drive without having proved that they are safe to be let out onto the roads?
I now spend a lot of time driving, and I do try to think of cyclists, but there are some utter morons who seem to have a death wish. I have lost count of the number of times I have had to take avoiding action. I once knocked one off his cycle when he pulled out in front of me at a junction ("You should have stopped for me" was his excuse) where I had right of way. The copper who dealt with the call was of the opinion that I was not to blame, as it was clear that I had not made any mistakes.
If the PCSO has passed his profficiency test then this is a bureaucratic waste of time and money, but if not, then if it is a proper course it should be a good thing. I mean, would you be happy if just anybody could drive without having proved that they are safe to be let out onto the roads?
# posted by : 1:08 PM, June 29, 2008
: 1:08 PM, June 29, 2008
I passed my proficiency test when I was 12. I have ridden bikes ever since and now ride mountain bikes as a pasttime and to work, weather permitting. I asked if I could use a force bike round the town and was told no. Not unless I could produce my proficiency certificate!! I've lost two marriage certificates since then!? So I asked if my brother could pass me through the test. He is an approved, local authority tester for our foce who does testing for bobbies and schools as a full time job. The answer...you guessed it. NO. It would have to be someone independent to ensure no accusation of favouritism could be levelled. So I just drive the van now, sod 'em!
# posted by : 1:36 PM, June 29, 2008
: 1:36 PM, June 29, 2008
Here is a classic, I am probably one of the poorer cyclists around, where I was brought up in the hills, a pony was more use. However, guess who is the sector cycle trainer? Yes me, because I have a training certificate, and have received the training theory from the training dept.
So now the force is covered, training delivered, so don't fall off.
It's a mad world.
So now the force is covered, training delivered, so don't fall off.
It's a mad world.
# posted by : 1:46 PM, June 29, 2008
: 1:46 PM, June 29, 2008
It's not just the police…
After half a dozen years as a software engineer I decided to retrain as a schoolteacher. Applied at the local faculty, only to discover that I didn't have enough courses in programming. Demonstrated ability didn't count. Even teaching programming at the local college didn't count—but if I had taken the courses I taught I'd have had enough credits to qualify.
After half a dozen years as a software engineer I decided to retrain as a schoolteacher. Applied at the local faculty, only to discover that I didn't have enough courses in programming. Demonstrated ability didn't count. Even teaching programming at the local college didn't count—but if I had taken the courses I taught I'd have had enough credits to qualify.
# posted by : 3:11 PM, June 29, 2008
: 3:11 PM, June 29, 2008
Hey, I had a driving licence when I joined the police and STILL had to do a one day basic course before I could drive! Health and safety gone mad?
No, not really. There are monumentally inept people everywhere, riding a bike exposes you to more danger than driving a car so I am not arsed about such tests/training.
No, not really. There are monumentally inept people everywhere, riding a bike exposes you to more danger than driving a car so I am not arsed about such tests/training.
# posted by : 12:17 AM, June 30, 2008
: 12:17 AM, June 30, 2008
I locked up 3 warrants in two days on my course.
Still fell off twice though.....
James T Ridiculous.
Still fell off twice though.....
James T Ridiculous.
# posted by : 1:45 AM, June 30, 2008
: 1:45 AM, June 30, 2008
anon 12.17 - with the greatest of respect, do you think this course is about:
a) cycling proficiency
or
b) arse covering
If your answer is A go back and read the question again.
What next? Paper-handling courses to avoid paper cuts? Biro handling courses in case someone gets jabbed in the eye?
The question that never gets asked (or certainly answered, and is probably unquantifiable): how many crimes happen (even lives are lost) because officers are tied up on pointless courses or ticking boxes?
a) cycling proficiency
or
b) arse covering
If your answer is A go back and read the question again.
What next? Paper-handling courses to avoid paper cuts? Biro handling courses in case someone gets jabbed in the eye?
The question that never gets asked (or certainly answered, and is probably unquantifiable): how many crimes happen (even lives are lost) because officers are tied up on pointless courses or ticking boxes?
# posted by : 9:26 AM, June 30, 2008
: 9:26 AM, June 30, 2008
I'm afraid it IS fair to blame Kent Police for this, because they are the ones doing it. If they don't want the blame, they should stop being so stupid.
When you arrest a thief, you don't accept "well, everyone else is doing it" as an excuse, do you?
(Please say 'no'.)
When you arrest a thief, you don't accept "well, everyone else is doing it" as an excuse, do you?
(Please say 'no'.)
# posted by : 6:04 PM, June 30, 2008
: 6:04 PM, June 30, 2008
I think we're all missing the point. This article describes Nick Barker as "village bobby", when he is in fact a PCSO.
Does he really need to learn how to "cycle down steps at speed and how to dismount from a bike quickly to apprehend a suspect"? It would be of more use to teach him how to "cycle speedily towards kids drinking alcohol and even more speedily away when they laugh in his face for having no power to do anything".
Does he really need to learn how to "cycle down steps at speed and how to dismount from a bike quickly to apprehend a suspect"? It would be of more use to teach him how to "cycle speedily towards kids drinking alcohol and even more speedily away when they laugh in his face for having no power to do anything".
# posted by : 7:07 PM, June 30, 2008
: 7:07 PM, June 30, 2008
PCSOs are known as CHIMPS where I work.
Cannot
Help
In
Most
Police
Situations
Cannot
Help
In
Most
Police
Situations
# posted by : 9:16 PM, June 30, 2008
: 9:16 PM, June 30, 2008
"All major publicly-funded organisations are led by unimaginative and cowardly timeservers who have forgotten what real life is like."
How very very true.
How very very true.
# posted by : 2:53 PM, July 01, 2008
: 2:53 PM, July 01, 2008
What... general cycle training? Is that sufficient arse coverage? What if he trains on a mountain bike but gets road pizza'd on a hybrid? Isn't that a lawsuit waiting to happen.
You read it here first.
You read it here first.
# posted by : 10:27 PM, July 01, 2008
: 10:27 PM, July 01, 2008
Anon 9:26.
I suspect it's a degree of both, but more of the latter than the former.
The fact that several officers in our station FAILED the course gives food for thought.
I suspect it's a degree of both, but more of the latter than the former.
The fact that several officers in our station FAILED the course gives food for thought.
# posted by : 12:57 AM, July 02, 2008
: 12:57 AM, July 02, 2008
As blueknight says, sending new boys and girls on a cycling proficiency course used to be like sending them for tartan paint or elbow grease.
Mon Dieu.
Mon Dieu.
# posted by : 2:21 AM, July 03, 2008
: 2:21 AM, July 03, 2008
My mate on my shift is a transferee. He was MOE qualified in his old force, i.e. he was allowed to kick doors in. Since he's transferred, he has discovered that the MOE course he did in his old force doesn't count. He's not allowed to kick doors in any more, unless he goes on _our_ force's MOE course.
I mean, come on, how different are the doors 50 miles down the road?
And it's the same for driving (former grade 1 response drivers have to do the standard course when they transfer).
What's all that about?
I mean, come on, how different are the doors 50 miles down the road?
And it's the same for driving (former grade 1 response drivers have to do the standard course when they transfer).
What's all that about?
# posted by : 12:06 PM, July 04, 2008
: 12:06 PM, July 04, 2008
Does the trainer have to run along side the trainee and hit the handle bars to see if the trainee is capable of doing an emergancy stop?
# posted by : 11:57 AM, July 07, 2008
: 11:57 AM, July 07, 2008
I recommend that you read the instruction manual, front to back, before you attempt to put it together and when you actually do, make sure you tighten every bolt and include every screw. rc helicopterOne missing screw or loose bolt can throw the whole helicopter off and send it crashing to the ground because it is unbalanced. The 2AA ProPolymer led flashlight model features a .5 Watt, 30,000-hour lifetime High Flux led that provides an output of 25 lumens typical and works with Streamlight's proprietary deep-dish parabolic reflector to provide a focused beam, while also optimizing peripheral lighting. Offering a continuous runtime of 18 hours, the light uses two included 1.5 volt AA alkaline cells. The led flashlights model features the same convenient pushbutton tail switch as the incandescent model. Just as an elderly adult may do 15 minutes of weight training to fight osteoporosis, he said, so could he or she play video games to keep the mind sharp.
# posted by : 10:17 AM, August 04, 2008
: 10:17 AM, August 04, 2008
Some of the most productive, community Policing I ever did was undertaken on a mountain bike in plain clothes. Never had to take a course, never had to worry about much other than having batteries for my lights... Those days saw more YCA stopped in its tracks, more drugs confiscated, more sh*ts locked up than other nights I was on community. Very productive, low cost, no bullshi*t! Not so low cost now if a £200 course has to be undertaken.... more barmyness!
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