55Woody

Hey guys and girls.

I am looking to do a CPO course sometime this year.

However I know very little about the industry and how it works. My main fear is not getting any jobs (lol) as I have next to no contacts within the CP industry, I would appretiate any hints and tips on how to get started and get work. I know the best weapon is experience and compared to most of you lot im probly at the bottom of the ladder, but we all start somewhere.

I am 21 years old, 15 months in the police, 2 years in retail security, martial artist and have knowledge of CQB, and have first aid experience and qualifications.

Any advice would be much welcome.

Ta
Woody

Nomad

Do you know Muscles?

Read CM's post as it has most of that covered, no guarantees mate, all about networking and luck.

Just out of curiosity, is the police force that bad?

55Woody

yea the police suck... spend all day doing paperwork after a nick, they are back on the street ebfore you.. politics and all that...!!

co19

You will make a better living in the police than you will on the circuit, I am surprised you have been in the police 15 months if you are only 21, as most forces generally don't take people younger than 21. To be honest after 15 months in the police you are still very inexperienced, it takes a good 4/5 years to learn your trade in general police duties which to be honest on reflection was the best time I had, I did lots of interesting things but the beat was where I had most fun. You have tonnes more to learn and hundreds of different directions to go in, don't waste the position you are in. Stay where you are!

silent

Oh my god!!! You have really got to take a long hard look outside in the real world!! You have so many opportunities to learn, train and network for free where you are. Stay where you are.... do 10+ talk to the SO19(?) guys during this time. Network from within and dont waste a very special headstart I can only dream of!!
Sorry to be so blunt mate but if you dont you are chucking away the chanceof a lifetime. Simple as that!
Silent

Nomad

As everyone here has said, stick it out in the police, it will give you connections and a career that you can rely on. Ask anyone on the Circuit and they will tell you even with good experience you still will have to fight for work and probably spend time doing other non related jobs just to keep the money coming in and pay for training out of your own money, some of which is no where near as good as what you will receive in the police. You may even end up working and not getting paid, having to take that company to court to recover money which has happened to some. As for paperwork, you will get that anywhere, just a fact of life, not to mention having to sort out your own taxes / pension.

You have plenty of time to get into CP work if you really want but give yourself a good foundation where you are, you will get all what we have to pay for and a good salary with the security of a career. Good luck though, whatever option you choose

jimhenderson2303

Woody

Although I hated the dibble myself (and was in a good unit)! At 21 these guys are right do 5 yrs then try the Circuit (Its a real dog eat dog envirnoment). It can take weeks/months for someone who's been in the game to get a job (unless you have savings its tough)!
Speak to Saladin securities if you want to work in London, they do a lot of Journeymen roles and some valuables in escort (diamonds and cash etc) However with the sia guessing you need a cash in transit licence.
Do a good course don't skimp on cost, Chris Brice at Longmoor group will give you a sound basis (no I'm not a recruiter just ex-rmp bias), but others may be better if you want to do Psd in high risk areas especially the ones in Hereford as if you shine that starts your networking!
Good luck mate but as the cops say at 21 your probably better where your at (take a career break and look at where and what you want in life)

Keep the faith

JH

Roadhog

Stick with being a copper for the time being lad. I'm not old bill myself- had a wee bit of trouble when I was a lad that kind of put me off the idea- but stick with it lad. You've been in 15 months and you're only 21- you were bloody lucky to get in that young. I reckon stick it out until you've done your probation period at least, then look at things again. Reasons why, before you ask;

1) Look at transferring to another force maybe- who are you with at present? If possible look at a transfer to the Met, plenty of opportunites if you're with a county force at present. Then consider CP within the Police.

2) It gives you a salary while you look at courses and allows you to pay for a course and build up savings.

3) It will get you nearly a year older. Not being funny, cos I don't know you but if you came to me asking for a job I sure as hell would tell you to go away grow up then come back. At 21 there is in my opinion little chance you will get a great deal of work. You can be the most mature 21 year old in the history of mankind, but a CP recruiter will look at you and ask the following; a) Why did you leave the Police? b) what experience do you have? c) will you bring anything to the team? d) what position can I use you in? The killer for you is your age, CP is not a role where youth is a great benefit, it comes down again to image and stereotypes. The general impression of 21 year olds is drink, drugs and partying- not hard work and maturity, whether that is you or not that is the view a recruiter will have. Second a client wants bodyguards with experience, at 21 you do not have that yet.

By your own admission you know very little of the CP industry, to be honest it's great but it can also be a complete bitch. Periods of work, periods of unemployment and the work can also be quite shite. Not saying it's not the best job in the world, but open your eyes to some of the crap you can have to put up with- examples from my checkered past; 12 hours standing outside a hotel room door while my principal banged his assistant; detail in Germany the bodyguards weren't allowed in the house because we would make things untidy- in bloody winter!!! Being asked to bodyguard the principles poodle by the detail leader- I hate poodles!!! Bailing a principle after he was caught with some charlie!!! Being asked to beat up a photographer.

Saying all that if you still want it badly enough make contacts, do all the courses you possibly can, it's not a case of one course then you're good to go, you need a GOOD CP course, then specific courses medical, fire arms, driving. But make the contacts, be a good friend to have and help others out. I know what it's like to start in the industry at a young age- I was 20- and worked a lot in Africa and South America until I was older and had experience before I moved back to the UK and Europe.
Good luck though with whatever you choose.

mally

I'm not sure exactly how much time you have to do in the police to take a career break, but consider that when you qualify (both in terms of length of service and following a successful sia CP Course)

A friend of mine has just took a 5 year career break, I don't think theres much chance of him returning however he has that option should he want to (imagine the changes, hopefully full introduction of tazer etc)

As others have said before your age may put of some employers (obviously not officially due to age discrimation etc but with ample supply of qualified people they choose who they want these days and don't have to take anybody.

Its obvious you have a keen interest in the trade, getting a firearms course in the police is insight into some of the main trades of CP.

Whatever you do, if you do a cp course, take 3 weeks leave to do it and continue in the police until you get your sia licence..

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Mally

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55Woody

Thanks for the reply guys.. however I am already out of the Police, its a very long and complicated story and to be honest dont want to go in to details on a public forum lol. But my vision i think now is with the security industry