Guys, let me get out of my chest about this whole thing about CPO. Hope they stick it

[Belfort]

It doesn’t matter what other people say or who they really are or whatever, because most of it is BS anyway. Remember, you are not them… end of story! I heard so many people complains and going on about how it’s so difficult to get a job, and it’s not like back in the day.. Most probably true. But the game is changing, the same ones who are moaning now, are maybe ex-Forces and/or Royal Marines with years of experience and such… fair enough and I do respect that. But what don’t many people know, is that they(Clients/Principles) are trying to get away of that mentality of having one of them around them, they have a sense of a normal life having a guy who’s extremely well trained, pleasant to the eyes, and I can’t stress this enough… Polite! That’s why all of this is changing; they are not at war but trying to give your principle a sense of normality around him, and with a smile on your face.
Before anybody asks, I heard exactly what I said it above from the Head of Security of the British Royal Family, and after I had an one to one chat about the same matter, and they said to me that unfortunately Ex-forces, Special forces …you name it, they kind of lost of a sense of reality is, and this affects the principle and his family, leaving the client in a vulnerable position. So, they are the ones who should work on their attitudes before moaning about work. I could go on and on, but this same guy, whose Baroness Thatcher’s long time friend and ex-PPO for her back on the day when she was a MP, said all of it to me. So, tomorrow you are a nobody and someone just look at you and take you for a world tour because they liked your manners and figure. Some others will struggle I know, but this is life and something better is around the corner for sure, but what we all have to change to gain even more respect from Principles and the General Public is something called … Attitude.

[neiljordan]

You have to watch what these PPO's from the RPG have to say, a lot of them have the attitude that they are a member of the Royal Family and are above all other life that likes to think it does CP.
One guy I worked alongside insisted my team should call him 'sir' and had a right attitude when I said they would not. This was back in the 90's, in Cyprus. He was that professional that he left his pistol in his bedside table at the residence (he was only travelling with a pistol - no support weapons!) having to leave his principle in the care of my team, to go back and retrieve it. He is now a company director in CP.

As for the RPG and SB. The RPG have had so many problems in their set up that they only allow Detective Inspectors and above to work as BG's. Everyone else is a gofer or bag carrier. In the SB set up, and I have a lot of mates who do the job, if you're qualified then you're doing the job, the recce, rear party, etc, etc.

RPG used to get a clothing allowance to buy their suits as well, does this still happen? SB tend to wear good old 5.11...

Neil

[Jonnytwosocks]

Having served 17 yrs in the Old Bill I can second my friend Neil. The RPG are always selected for who they know not how good they are. In the Police its not always the good guys/girls for the right job at all, thats what they preach but its far from the truth my friends. The Police are crap for fitness and endurance, and their ability to take the shot is questionable. Remember Charlies BG when that student ran onto the podium!? I rest my case. RMP CP anytime!!!

[co19]

I have several ex colleagues in Royalty, most of which are Constables and Sergeants from SO19. I also have a couple of dozen ex colleagues in SO.1 who now do the protection of ministers and diplomats. SB no longer exists in the Met. Most of these are DC's, Sergeants( I was out with some of them a few weeks ago). As for their shooting skills, they have to reach a 90% pass rate on some demanding shoots. Add this, that a quarter of probably each department is now ex SO19 so there standards of shooting and experience in drawing and shooting their weapons in conflict situations has enhanced. Most of these people are trained in rapid intervention. Prior to these people joining there were probably no people in either department that had ever drawn there weapon in anger, and the first few times you do it on the streets of London, it gets a bit of getting used to.

There are some good people there and there are some really awful people there, but on the whole they are a very good group of people. In the next few years SO14(1) will merge into SO.1 and they will all come under one umbrella.

Who ever was speaking to BS from the first thread. He has been out of the CP game for almost 15 years, threats and procedures especially in relation to UK clients/ministers/royalty has changed dramatically. You never had CAT teams before 2001.

My last comment is you cannot generalise on any group whether military, police or civilian, I have seen too many good people from all groups aswell as some bad ones too.

As for Inspectors just doing PPO, this is no longer the case.

[Belfort]

I respect all opinions in here and I have no problem accepting them, as I am a grown up man. First I find this forum very useful and discovering it by accident was a real plus.

Everyone knows that every CP’s is different from the other, and not everyone is the same. The word out there from all the Principles who contact their clients, is that they do not feel comfortable with someone next to them acting like they are at war, I can give you an example of an Ex-Forces CPO who was bodyguarding the Principle’s son, and they were all at McDonalds having lunch with some other 2 kids and this same CPO was acting like he was on an establishment in Baghdad and giving dirty looks at everyone who came in to that place. That was him and the other CPO was inside too, and the driver in the car. It came to a point that he stopped one of the customers for going inside the toilet until the boy came out, generating a big situation with the manager. And, the principle head no treats against him neither was “that” important. The other CPO who is a non military guy but very good on what he does is my friend, and he told me on how embarrassing the whole thing was, not mentioning the guy’s attitude. Yes, I also know Ex Forces that you wouldn’t even say that they are what they are, very humble and competent a polite. But, unfortunately, I have to say that people do complain and they don’t feel comfortable with some guys acting like they are in a combat zone.

Again, it’s all 50/50 but the stigma is out there.

[neiljordan]

co19

According to a few of my mates from the SB Prot side the department has merged already? Only the two sides just don't want to believe it apparently. Not so much the SB, more the RPG, who have problems with the merge as certain posts will go one way and others the other, as is always the case with change in any walk of life. This said DI's not doing the job may well be correct for the lesser royals but, I'd be interested to know when the Queen, Charles or Andrew has a PPO at DC level. If this is a product of the merger then it can only be good but, age/rank plays a big part of the RPG selection for PPO.
As for former SO19 people joining the 'family', this can only be a good thing, I take it when you join now though, you don't know whether you're working the Ministers one day or Royalty the next? Or are the 'SO' guys just being pushed in to the Royalty side/Dip Prot?

As for generalising about a group, I agree with you, you can't, every background has its good and bad and like you I've seen a lot of good and bad.

My comment was about one individual from RPG who had an ego as big as the private jet he landed in, tailored desert combats, no head dress which made him look a right idiot, as we were all in civvies and a look on the final day of the visit, as if to say "so I left my pistol behind, what's the big deal"? Upon asking who was going to collect it for him, he was told he would have to collect it himself or leave it on the island. So after stomping off to the car and being driven to the residence and back, when they'd departed, the driver told me he felt that after the moaning and groaning the DI did perhaps it was his fault (the drivers) that the DI had left the house without his pistol, because there was no way the Di was taking responsibility for his actions...god knows what would have happened if he'd ever drawn and used the weapon. He was even awarded the MVO before he retired!

Hey...we've all met them!...Who knows I might be one of them myself!!?

Neil

Neil

[co19]

Your right its all SO.1 (Which isn't special branch). Admittedly the old school royalty prot were superindtendents, but you now have 4 x sergeants who are PPO to 4 major royals.

Rank does not play part in selection or age, its typical met police boards and the way you behave on these boards/assessment days.

[hippy]

Ah.. RPG, bless em... Armed butlers... Another group that got stick along with DPG on cross training..

[fdj12]

Always remember a certain RPG member in Sennelager, Tresdale his name was, if the spelling is correct, who left his weapon at RAF gutersloh on the plane, in his seat, does that show my age and all his was doing on the "trip" was taking flowers from the principal and hanging on to them.

[Paddington]

Let's all go back to our basic CP training for a moment. If you had a good instructor, then this would have been the theme song bounding out from the walls and rafters.

"We can all learn to be actors - Don't let the person really know what's going on inside your head!" Such sound advice from my old D/s.

I remember learning how to talk to someone in their front room, some dark street or in their car etc trying to bring them down from what ever emotional high they were on, or get some information out of them and at the same time listening to my radio message which was giving me an update on something about that could turn the who situation around.

This isn't easy if you want or need to maintain a calm atmosphere around you and either get away safely or deliver an unwelcome message to them.

Negativity, fear and emotion breed. The larger the group, the higher the chance of contracting the same dangerous virus. So we need to act all is calm and well. Remember “ it’s now what you say, but how you say it!”

Lads/ & lasses ( having worked alongside some formidable Israeli girls) who have developed their skills in the killing fields, rely on each others anger and push to survive. I bless them all for what they have done and are going through right now. Without a doubt their training is of the up most importance, for it is their survival in those fields.

But it takes time to re adjust to civilian life. I’m sure we all know of those who find it difficult to interact with civis. Down the pub, in shops or in general life where order and control have been removed to what must seem like chaos.
Ask them to be put into an office 9-5 - and for sure, it would drive them mad.

So how do you expect this same person to work along side a soft, well spoken film star - Shakespearean actor, a group of young pop girls, scientist or foreign diplomat?

Its horses for courses and WE must all change to our client’s requirements. They don’t want storm troopers who stand out in the crowd. They want to be able to go to Harrods, Selfridges and Fortnum and Mason – Viva Zaraaaa ( and other weird shops with even stranger names ) without being noticed, mobbed and more importantly for our job set upon.
With the right attitude, common sense and demeanor We can ALL do the job – Change is difficult, but it’s a choice we make on who we are right now.
“We seldom see ourselves as others see us, but only see ourselves as we’d like to be seen!”