The New Management.

It appears that at the CTCC we have a bit of a problem. The troops are getting fed up with the constant management meddling and setting of targets, demanding the submission of statistical information relating to targets and just a little fed up with being deemed to be lazy or incompetent.

The Big Chief has told us that it is not about bureaucracy, targets and statistics but, as usual, the message loses something in translation as it comes down the ladder from the executive suite, ending up with forms to submit, lawful orders and vital to the really big plan.

To this end the management, not wanting to be seen to be anything other than totally right, as usual, have put forward the idea that they are not communicating their corporate message clearly enough to us in a way we can understand and appreciate. Clearly we are incometent orlazy and they deem it necessary to repeat their messages and get us to understand the way forward, their way. After all, their career development could depend on it.

They have come up with a radical new, inclusive and consultative style of management that is somehow deemed both tactical and strategic in their efforts to get over the problem of them humming their tune and us not knowing the words. There could even be a new desk in this for someone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think I understand now.

Motive Question

A  woman, while at the  funeral of her own mother, met a guy whom she did
not know.  She  thought this guy was amazing.  She believed him to be her dream
guy, so much so that she fell  in love with him right there, but never asked for his
number and subsequently could not find  him.  A few days later she killed her sister.
  
   
Question:  What was her motive for killing her sister?

The Dog’s don’t know any better.

It appears that for some, the trendy new weapon of choice has become our canine ‘pit bull’ type of dog. Thyere are still guns and knives about but there is an additional threat to worry about.

For those in the know, and often at the sharp end, there has been a worrying increase in the use of this type of canine to enhance the status of the incredibly irresponsible and criminally engaged as well as use the animal as a form of deterrent, protection and as a threat element to disrupt and try to prevent the otherwise missing part of life formally known as living within the laws of the land.

This menace, and otherwise status symbol of something dispicable and unlawful, is becoming the latest thing on the list of things to worry about.

They have been out and about in increasing numbers, used by those who do not have the companion pet animal doctrine or concerns of animal welfare at the front of their tiny minds. Events at the NHC only go to prove the increase in this type of menace used by the criminally motivated to prevent and deter lawful intervention of their activities.

Yet again, the few disrupt and cause the mayhem without regard for the majority who want only to enjoy the activity.

The use of pit bull types of dog is on the increase so be careful out there. Speak to your dog handler for advice.

Whereas the dogs concerned do not know any better, their human masters know full well what they are doing.

From good, to bad, to worse.

Well the day began early, Olympics on the TV and my sudden and rather odd appreciation of the interesting and superb Olympic sport of the ladies beach volleyball. Female gladiators of the sand no less.

The athleticism, determination and skill levels of this new sport caused me to watch for a lot longer than I had realised. I was hooked. Once I had got to grips with the rules (yes there are rules……..apparently) it was totally watchable stuff. I had progressed from the Baywatch with the sound turned down mode, to appreciating that these ladies are not only very fit, but also very talented and skillful, in fact much more so than I had first realised.

This tempered by frustration at some of the boxing judges who seem to have little idea of what a scoring punch consists of. David Price blasted knows what a good punch is and so  does his last opponent, the world No 1 Islam Timurziev.  Enough of that, back to the volleyball.

Now take the gorgeous Talita. She was part of the team that put Greece to bed. I noticed, care of the commentators, that it even started to rain. Surely this would make the sand stick to them. This could now be my viewing sport of choice.

So the day then moved from good to bad, with having to catch up on some paperwork, get it out of the way before some well earned time off. The van became my office and I took a break in the normally poor weather to catch up, a stunning view through the windscreen and before you know it, I had to start writing. At least had some scenery to write by. The van is my office, is my view of the world. A spot of lunch and my van doubles as my restaurant. A stroll with my lad to take in the air and back to base.

This is the time of year that sets me thinking, always. Its that time of year when my mind returns to dark times, to sad things. To 90 minutes worth of things.  No time at all if your side is 3-0 up but an eternity of torment if your side is 3-0 down. 90 minutes was a long time.

Can’t drive, won’t drive.

At the CTCC there is a sudden and unexpected crisis being discussed at meetings within the inner sanctum of the SMT secret bunker. It appears that we are facing severe increases in our fuel costs for operational vehicles. This has resulted in a huge dent in the fuel budgets that the bean counters claim they had not bargained for and will be subsidised from elsewhere, no doubt to someone else’s misery.

I also suspect that the bean counters responsible for failing to miss out on this little hole in the fuel budget will not be challenged over their incompetence.

The emergency biscuit reserve budget might be in for a worrying time over the next few months. 

As a result we have mileage restrictions for response vehicles to keep within a new restricted budget limits with severe words of advice if these targets are breached.

Whilst the management meetings continue to take place at varying locations within our Force area to allow for inclusion and involvement, thus incurring unnecessary and avoidable travelling expenses, the response units are shackled by even more restrictions and targets.

We are being encouraged to spend more time patrolling on foot in a new an innovative way of letting our communities see us and come onto contact with us. Of course, in line with the current NIM models and trends, we will only be allowed to patrol on foot in areas where the Force will able to count some more beans and thus reflect on another new and radical management stroke of genius in the leadership and decision making world of career enhancement.

This harks back to the early 80’s when we had more Police Officers on foot than we had driving around in cars. This is when we had more time devoted to being in the accessible public arena and a lot less things to measure as part of a whole host of business plans and strategies. This is when we were encouraged to give time to the public, to investigate even the minor crimes and officers knew people who lived within their communities. No need to embed yourself because this is what you did everyday.

With the announcement that inflation is running high at 4.4% (to the shock and horror of everyone who pays bills and believes it to be more like over 10%) I suspect that another shafting over our pay is galloping over a hill somewhere near you. I think I can already hear the hoof-beats somewhere rather close-by. 

Once again I can see the shafting stick on the table.   BOHICA.

Fit for purpose.

Well it is now official. At the CTCC the Dogs Section is deemed to be fit for purpose. The vans must be clean and there is still some tread on the tyres.  

We have got the official news from the Chief Superintendent that we are deemed to have been ticking all the right boxes. This comes hot on the heels of the Support Services Department being granted the Investing in People charter. What can I say, my little chest heaves with pride.

I have had a chat with my dog and he has not the faintest idea what all the fuss is about. He just wants to bite people who piss him off, chase people or find people, in varying orders depending on his mood.

I have tried to put things into context, yet still don’t quite understand how it works.

We are struggling to get enough 24/7 General Purpose cover for our response colleagues on District as well as offer the varied specialist search capabilities. All this around keeping the bean counters happy by being available for every NIM allocated directed patrol for the managements perceived idea of all this downtime they think we have and move us further away from our real ‘customers’. 

Down time ???????????  They should be on the stage.

Clearly the management have not spoken to the majority of the troops. The idea of being fit purpose from the two areas, management and operational troops, appears to give differences of opinions as different as shite from sugar.

Equally the Investing in People Charter accreditation leaves a few of us bemused, confused and with some awkward questions circling in that grey matter inside our heads.

Like why those who decided on accreditation did not speak to any of the Masses who are exceedingly pissed  off or those who have been shafted by the management ?

I wait with interest for the next copy of the quarterly Force rag to be left, conveniently, in trap 1 so I can peruse the fantasy ramblings at my leisure.

With our leader about to consider retirement,  I just can’t wait to see who comes in to fill the space. I dare say that careful consideration will be given as to who will best serve the management agenda.

At least we are deemed to be fit for purpose.

Condolences

Anna had lost her husband almost four years ago. She was beginning to lose her social skills. This is one of the big things to learn to cope with after the loss of someone this close.

Her daughter was constantly calling her and urging her to get back into the world. After all, her mother was a friendly, genuine and social person.

Finally, Anna said she’d go out, but didn’t know anyone.

Her daughter immediately replied, ‘Mum! I have someone for you to meet. She knew her mother well and had picked a good social match. That should be a social interest to get her mother back out into the world. It would be a start. One small step at a time and all that…………….

Well, it was an immediate hit. They took to one another and after dating for six weeks, he asked her to join him for a weekend away…

Their first night there, she undressed as did he. There she stood nude, except for a pair of black lacy panties, he was in his birthday suit.

Looking her over, he asked, ‘Why the black panties?’

She replied: ‘My breasts you can fondle, my body is yours to explore, but down there I am still in mourning.’

He knew he was not getting lucky that night.

The following night was the same – she stood there wearing the black panties, and he was in his birthday suit – but now he was wearing a black condom.

 

She looked at him and asked: ‘What’s with the black condom?’

He replied, ‘I want to offer my deepest condolences.’

Late night shopping.

The radio crackles into life to disturb the otherwise deafening silence in my earpiece. The tone in the voice of the comms operator tells me that there is a code A on the immediate horizon.

‘Any unit near the shops, burglary in progress at shop  at number 16?’

Pinch me……………I am not far away. This is a lucky break from the last few calls where I have been a long way off. The various free units respond but are even further away. I am in with a chance. I speed up, as quiet as I can to get there without being heard. I have three roads to go.

I drive along one, turn into two, cut the lights as I approach the turn into three, just around the corner against a non-existent flow of traffic. It is late and most normal people are tucked up in bed. But these are not normal people. These are late night shoppers who do not intend to pay for their goods of choice.

I lean back and pull the latch on the internal cage door. My mate suddenly joins me for a look to see what is going to happen. He knows. I quickly tell comms I am very close and as I turn the corner into the road with the shops they are there. I can see one stood outside.  The one leans forward, clearly a warningshout, and as he turns and begins to run he is suddenly joined by two others.

I am out of the van, after grabbing the keys, I identify myself, my warning shouting for them to stop in time honoured tradition. My mate is off, after them, a lot faster than me, on four feet drive. The three turn the corner ahead, followed by my mate, followed by me trying to catch up.

I get around the corner to see them stopped in another shop doorway to avoid immediate and painful detention. They begin to shout and one tries to push past the dog giving him a swipe to the head as he does so. This is a mistake. He understand this too late.

As I arrive the three begin to threaten me, they are going to do things to me that could be unpleasant. The one with the late understanding tries to kick me as my mate warns the others. My mate is quicker than him. This was another mistake. I think he now understands.

I can hear the approach of the troops, they are there in seconds. We have done our good deed for the shift, response are pleased, I am pleased, my mate wants it to start all over again.

We will have to wait. He will have to wait.

CTCC Motorcycle Display Team

The CTCC Motorcycle patrol display team have been practising for their annual display.

 

 

 

 

The Lost Message.

“Its not about targets” comes the message from on high at the CTC Constabulary. The Chief is a tad concerned about the wrong message being sent out. Quality is far more important than fixing the stats with quantity to look good. We care about what we do, it is important to get things done in a way that shows we care about how we serve the public.

The Chief is keen to stress that the trend to hit targets is not what we are about, apparently.

The message seems to have got a bit lost on the way down the food chain.

At the monthly senior officers group meetings, the performance & counting monitoring department are keen to identify those districts or departments who are not playing by the rules and adhering to the really big plan. So much so that the bean counters spreadsheet shows in all its glossy magnitude which of the three districts that make up the organisation is failing to hit the targets set for them by the helpful people keen to justify their own arses by dreaming up ever inventive and original things to measure. Over coffee and biscuits they discuss who is at the top of the pile and who is not. Who is not will get the proverbial kicking to let them know that big brother is watching…………..and counting. Counting on someone trying not to be at the bottom of the pile and therefore deemed to be failing.

To this end, the night shift Inspector from the County Division has finished a long and arduous night shift in which he has to deal with all his usual madness, reviews, cover for the neighbouring Town Division whose Inspector has changed his shift to allow him to attend some top level meetings the following day. He has also lost several buttons from his brand new shirt, he has torn his trousers and has had a sweat on, on more than one occasion. His is not a life of delegated ease but one of involvement, support and being there to help when he is needed. He has not forgotten the art of Policing.

The County Inspector is finishing his checks after ringing other stations before the night shift response went home to thank them for their support and updating the K.I.V folder for his morning handover to the morning relief Inspector when he gets a call from the deputy acting bean counting department Chief Inspector asking why his troops have not submitted a single Intel report or Stop & Search form for the whole of the night shift.  

What have they been doing all night?

Why are they not supporting the really big plan as directed?

Why was it that some officers were clearly seen without their hats on? 

How could they be recognised as Police Officers?

No mention of the handover prisoners from the previous late shift.

No mention of the numerous jobs they have been unable to deal with because of the high number of code A calls received during the shift as well as the carry over from the previous late shift. Last night needed some serious Policing Intervention activity.

No welfare enquiry of the officers injured during violent disorder and assaulted making several arrests.

No mention of the fact that no officer was able to have a refs break during their shift, again.

No mention that most of the shift are still writing handover packages for the early shift response team to finalize and deal with charging issues.  

But at least it is not all about targets and quantity.

How reassuring.