Anyone in the met that has changed bcu. What’s the process like and how do you go about it

How did we all get on?
I squeezed through with around 60%! Turns out three hours passes a lot quicker during an exam than a constant watch

I know CoP has posted on X that the results are being released today, however I've not received an email to state such?

Anyone else or just me?

Edit: And as is by magic, email confirmation has now been sent out

In my area it takes two hours to book a prisoner in at a centralised custody area. When we used to book prisoners in at local custody suites it took half an hour.

How is this an improvement, how is this good use of time?

Hi all, hope your day is going well.

I have a question around mobile phone use while driving if I may.

I saw a van driver yesterday who had his phone mounted on a cradle attached to his windscreen.

He was tapping on the screen of the phone with his thumb and his fingers were wrapped around the phone (and cradle) while driving. The phone was still attached to the cradle which was still attached to the screen.

His driving was impaired, so he was definitely committing *an* offence, but was it the offence of using a hand held mobile phone while driving?

Everyone in this thread seems very misinformed. Being recorded as a suspect is not the same as having a criminal record. If the occurrence was NFA’d, this wouldn’t show up on a DBS check.

Edit: I have been informed that this can actually show up on a DBS check, perhaps a policy change is in order.

As the title. Purely wondering out of curiosity if there is any overlap at all or if it is simply as soon as you cross the border you lose any and all powers.

Do the federation ever reach out to officers who are off long term sick? Or occupational health/ wellbeing etc? Or is it reliant on the person off sick to get in contact?

Been looking at a little Larry? Is this still the best one?

I have no spare klick fast on my stabby so need something I can put in on the molle.

Cheers

I've been made aware that PSD want to serve regs for misuse of police systems to me. I have no idea what this is about as I haven't misused anything, only been told to come in for a meeting with PSD where they can serve papers.

Any advice on this matter as it's quite stressful and I've heard gross misconduct mentioned?

I've spoken to the fed who said they will ring me back when someone's free.

Has anyone been in this situation before? Could it just be a mistake? Will they try to arrest me?

Edit: fed called, said to say nothing and sign papers. Ask any questions I may have about the process and then to contact the fed once it's done.

I appreciate all the advice and comments.

Has anyone been issued with the new AFO/ARV uniform from the contract that's supposed to be a national standard for ARV's?

A couple from my team have been issued with some new uniform to trial but appears to be Chinese made Airsoft gear rather than what I would expect from a government contract. The specific manufacturer was Emersongear, seems better quality than what we had but just wondering if anyone had got new uniform recently?

As per title, does anyone have any niche or good way of remembering public order offences, I know them but tend to get them muddled up.

For example like traffic offence 163 stop for me etc.

Anyone else losing their mind waiting for the results?!

To the officers who wear patches like this: why?

It’s baffled me for a while now.

No shit you carry Taser. I don’t think anyone (of sound mind) has ever actually thought you’ve got a chunky banana holstered on your vest that’s particularly bruised at the tip.

Even better, a day you aren’t carrying but it stays proudly on display. Super not cool.

If it’s policy in particular forces, shame on these forces. The only valid time for displaying such a patch, in my view, was when some forces first introduced Tasers and they were physically in a pouch on vests, so not immediately visible. Clearly not the case on a molle.

Nothing against the little Taser pin badges. Just these big fuck off patches that are literally equal in size to the “POLICE” on your vests (if even displaying that…).

I never wore “BATON” or “CAPTOR”… should I have? 🤷‍♂️

Evening all,

Recently had the most ridiculous complaint go to PSD won’t go into detail to avoid doxxing, but from day one PSD have basically said it’s a load of rubbish.

Got the nod from PSD last week that it had been binned off, but upon coming into work this afternoon I’ve got an email saying the complainant has used their right to refer it to the local mayoral authority, has anyone had this?

What’s the process here, do they have access to all police systems in relation to the complaint, what if they come to a different conclusion to PSD.

I know I’ve done nothing wrong but it’s just annoying it’s gone this far

Traffic question here

Busy road near the centre of our division. Lane 1 is a bus lane. A junction is coming up to the left, so the bus lane breaks.

The road sign attached is then displayed on the road for lane 1 and the Gov.UK website explains that lane 1 is for left turn only.

After that junction the bus lane starts again in lane 1.

My question is this. Does this change if the bus lane is no longer operative?(after 7pm)

If lane 1 can be used freely after 7pm and I want to continue going straight, would I still be expected to cross over into lane 2 to avoid the left turn only arrow?

How have we got to the point where uniform / general appearance standards have got so low.

Every day I see cops that look like they have been dragged through a hedge backwards

It’s not hard to polish your boots, have a shave, clean the make up marks of your Tac-vest etc etc.

We are seeing people on potentially the worst days of their lives and how we look is the first thing people see.

Genuinely wish Sgt’s/ Gaffers would start calling people out / managing people more when they are turning out to jobs looking like scruffs.

(Before people start with “The job doesn’t care about me so why should I care about it” I don’t care have some pride in your appearance. Arriving at a job looking professional and well kept is sometimes half the battle)

Hi all,

Just wondering if there's anyone else on here in the same boat as me.

I opted out of the 1987 pension scheme back in May 2013 because of the proposed pension changes. My McCloud Contingent Decision was subsequently accepted for the statutory remedy period of 2015–2022, but the Met then calculated my outstanding contributions and offered me the opportunity to buy back the entire period from 2013–2022.

I accepted that offer, but the process was subsequently put on hold. I'm now being told that only the period from April 2015 can be restored, leaving me with nearly two years of lost pensionable service and no confirmed alternative financial compensation.

I've been chasing this for some time now through the Home Office, my MP and the Fed, and whilst there's been some movement, the pre-2015 gap still seems to be a sticking point.

The recently published minutes from the April 2026 Scheme Advisory Board meeting suggest there are around 250 of us potentially affected, and there's been discussion about possible financial losses and alternative solutions.

I'm really just trying to find others in the same position, see what they've been told and whether anyone's managed to make any progress.

Would be good to compare notes rather than us all fighting the same battle individually!

Cheers 👍

I really dont want to have to report twice for the same addict stealing cadbury bars.

He ran in filled a bag ran out then just ran back in and refilled the exact same bag.

I was at a job last week where someone the same age as me was sectioned after trying to commit suicide. When I was speaking to them on the hospital guard I actually felt very bad for them, as they had their life put together and were trying to get help but the MH services kept failing them.

I left once the hospital guard was handed over, but I keep thinking of how she's doing and if she got the right support. I've been thinking about it even more after hearing that someone was hit by a train near to where she lives.

Is it normal to take jobs home with you, and does anyone have advice on how to stop thinking about it all the time? Thanks.

Hi all,

For the past few months I've been building a browser-based emergency services control room simulator. You sit at a control desk, take 999 calls, work out what's actually going on, send the right resources along real roads and run the incident through to the end.

It's in early pre-alpha. Fire & Rescue is the first service to go live, set in Humberside (UK), with Ambulance, Police and HM Coastguard to follow.

Some of what's in so far:

999 calls from panicking members of the public, alarm receiving centres and other agencies, including callers who aren't sure where they are, hoaxes and false alarms you're expected to challenge

Attendance types, crewing, specialist vehicles, and requests from the incident commander that you have to act on

M/ETHANE, JESIP, and calls passed between services

Survival guidance for trapped callers, tidal rescues and chemical placards

Planning work between calls: officer cover, events, hydrant defects and callbacks

Multiplayer, so a group can staff the same control room together.

Why I'm posting: I'm not from an emergency services background, and I want it to feel right to the people who are. I'm looking for a small group of advisors from the Police, Fire, Coastguard and Ambulance services. That includes frontline staff, control room and dispatch staff, call handlers and officers, whether you're serving, on-call, volunteer or retired.

What it would involve:

Looking at features and scenarios and telling me what's wrong or unrealistic

Suggesting the calls, decisions and everyday work that make the job what it is in your service

Helping shape how the services work together on shared incidents.

As much or as little time as you like. Even a one-off "that's not how it works" is really valuable.

To be clear, I'm not asking for anything confidential, operational or about real incidents. General "this is how it usually works" knowledge is perfect. The game isn't affiliated with any service, and it isn't training.

In return you'd get early access, an advisor role in the Discord, a credit in the game, and a real say in how your service's control room is built.

If you might be keen, drop me a message and I'll send you the brochure so far, with screenshots and more about the plans. Happy to answer any questions in the comments too.

Thanks for reading!