RAF Police

[AMiller]

Hello All,

I am thinking about joining the RAF and I want to join as an RAF policeman.

Has anyone got any tips and advice for me?

Thanks,

Andy

[OiOiOi Hoot Hoot]

Of all the questions to ask! This is going to be amusing:eek:

[Pontius Navigator]

As an officer?

There are no RAF Police officers.

As an airman?

Go ahead and ask the AFCO or a car park attendant.

[Gainesy]

Andy,
Do a search for RAF Police on here. That might answer your question. In short, they are very unpopular.

PS As you can write, spell and punctuate, you would be over qualified.

[truckiebloke]

Its quite simple if you want to be very unpopular with everyone, sit around all day doing nothing then become an RAF copper.

[FFP]

Barrier goes up . . . .. . barrier goes down . . .. . . ;)

[snapper41]

Couldn't agree more with the responses so far - if you want to become deeply unpopular, carry on and join the RAFP!

I'm sure it may be an apocryphal story, but I did once hear of an RAFP flight sgt who charged himself for being late for work; that's the mentality you'd be dealing with...:confused: :eek:

[NigelOnDraft]

In short, they are very unpopular.Most unfair quote... one section of the RAFP are overwhelmingly friendly and professional :) Andy - I do assume you have 4 legs, a tail and bark ;)

[ProfessionalStudent]

Please please please please please... don't!:eek:

I would rather slam my johnson in a car door than be an RAF policeman.:E

[The Rocket]

You'll need to develop:

1) An enormously inflated sense of self importance,

2) A thick skin,

3) An enormously inflated sense of self importance

4) 'Eagle Eyes' for checking all of the tax discs on camp "Just in case"

5) An enormously inflated sense of self importance

6) An elasticated waist band,

7) An enormously inflated sense of self importance

8) An intense dislike of other human beings


Hope this helps:ok:

[The Rocket]

ProfessionalStudent,

I agree,

And I've slammed my johnson in a car door!:p :p

[ProfessionalStudent]

Ooh! Nasty Rocketman!

Got it caught in my zip once... Got the zipper all the way to the top too. Only one solution from that situation... That smarted a bit...:eek:

[PerArdua]

You have to be able to apprehend villains who jump through circles of fire and escape through plastic tubes and slalom courses.

Looking like the Chf Wiggum out of the Simpsons seems to be the entry criteria.

PA

[Lara crofts pants]

If you are interested in real and interesting police work then why don't you join the real police force and not the pretend RAF one.

If you are just keen on joining the RAF and are just looking for a branch then why not choose one which requires at least half a brain.

Everyone else is right by the way - they are ALL t*£ts

[matkat]

Barrier goes up . . . .. . barrier goes down . . .. . . ;)
I think not!far to complicated for Them that the job of the dog!!!:}

[PPRuNeUser0172]

Come on lets keep this one going until we get a bite from a plod type!! ;)

To the original poster, whatever floats your boat mate, one tip though, I am not sure how they dress it up at the careers office but it my best advice would be to go and do some work experience at your nearest base and just see what they do/don't do. Far be it from us to tell you that you are wrong to want to do it, after all someone has to!

Good luck

[Wycombe]

From my dealings with them (mostly ATSy), the more senior (SNCO) scuffers were not a bad bunch, it was the young self-important acting Cpl's you had to watch out for....

[Lara crofts pants]

Wycombe
You mean the ones who try to hide themselves away out of sight whilst making notes on the alcoholic consumption going on around them.

[Wyler]

Next time you see yor mother, ask her for positive ID, in fact, INSIST ON IT. If she fails to produce ID she is not your mother!
Same applies for everyone else you know and recognise.

RAFP? :mad: :mad: :mad:

[plans123]

I find it highly ammuzing that he's actually asked on here if he should become a scuffer or not!!!!!

Gate up gate down??? when was the last time anyone actually saw a copper on the gate? they're far too busy trying to catch the criminal masterminds that have an out of date car pass...........

If you want everyone to hate you, sit alone in the mess and drink in your own little bar, cos no-one wants to drink with you - its the job for you.:}

[Echo 5]

Now I ask myself, what response if Andy had wanted to be a Mover ? :hmm:

[airborne_artist]

Now I ask myself, what response if Andy had wanted to be a Mover ? :hmm:

Or Regt, for that matter:ouch:

[stillin1]

For the love of Big G - go and lie down, count to 10 (that makes you over qualified for a start) and don't even think of it:\
I'd volunteer to be a traffic warden first. At least they get off their ar#es to really pi## undeserving folk off.
You really would be more use as an aircraft chock or an ash-tray. It would also be a more exciting life:{
If you still wish to do this please have a vasectomy
This was the scariest thing I have EVER seen on Pprune:eek:

[STANDTO]

Bite from a plod type.............

As many of you know, I am a plod type, but of the civilian variety.

RAFP? Well, to the sgt that bawled me out for producing a cover note for my car at Cranwell, rather than a full certificate of insurance, when technically I was still actually a civilian, you embodied everything that these fine people think.

that said, if the enquirier were to join and make it his/her life's work to improve things.....

[PileUp Officer]

It was once described to me as:

You join: You raise and lower the barrier.
You get promoted: You tell someone else to raise and lower the barrier.
You get commisioned: You tell someone else to tell someone else to raise and lower the barrier. :ok:

[ZH875]

I wanted to be RAFP, but I passed the exam...

[L J R]

I can't believe that I even opened this thread.....

[hobie]

I can't believe that I even opened this thread.....
you can say that again !!!! :p

[MostlyHarmless]

Hate to stand up for them, but once had a serious amount of water poured on flames by a certain WRAF OC Plod after a bit of a drive-car-through-mess-whoops-it's-spontaneously-combusted sort of incident one happy hour. :hmm:
If you're going to be a plod like that then good on you; need more of your sort. :ok:

[movadinkampa747]

Hi andy
Just curious as to why you started this thread?

RAF Pilot question

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=203776

[ProfessionalStudent]

This HAS to be a wind up...

[movadinkampa747]

It is a wind up.

See above

[Conan the Librarian]

Whether it is a wind-up or not, I have enjoyed this thread immensely. So much so, that I am going to read it all again.


Conan

[movadinkampa747]

Wow is the weather particularly bad in the Cotswolds?

[ProfessionalStudent]

I do agree with conan. Nothing for the soul quite as good as a bit of plod bashing.

Course, SIB will have sneeked all of our identities out and we'll all be in for it next week.:E

[The Rocket]

In that case,

I, The Rocket, would formally like to state that the slamming of my JOHNSON in a car door, was a complete fabrication, and I was in no way suggesting that the aforementioned slamming was in any way comparable, or indeed preferable, to being an RAF Policeman.





You're still a bunch of kno88ers mind:*

[Melchett01]

This HAS to be a wind up...

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!:p

[Rakshasa]

Windup aside, part of me wants to defend them because the brother-in-law is one. Then I remember my brother-in-law and can only shake my head and agree that they are indeed kn*bs.

[Low Break]

...who go out of their way to do people for speeding :mad:

[Onan the Clumsy]

Why don't you go to the interview and try and nick something?

That should be good for a laff.

[Lara crofts pants]

A wind up!

Oh, well, in that case I have never been on det where RAF Atsy have been taking notes on excessive alcohol intake by the crew. Nope, definately not.
And neither has my wife

[Skytrucker]

Once arrived back off route 02 Jan, found ticket on car because tax had run out 31/12. Ticket issued 01/01 at 0012hrs. Went to see Flt Sgt RAFP who took one look and ripped it in two. Don't worry Sir, I'll have a word.

Skip to May, Sunday am, location scratcher OM, attitude horizontal, 0700zzzzzz. Phone goes, Flt Cdr Exec, need 6A skipper. Not on 6A. I know but you're closest. When? NOW. Woffour. Blah Blah etc. 0745 sign auth sheet, walk out of sqn, wheel clamp. Go back in. 1hr later clamp off (two wheels in yellow lines, just. Fair cop you got me bang to rights guv, when does the AOC need to be there I nonchalantly ask of now iridescent aforementioned Flt Cdr. Shift motor to long stay (still no crew transport hence reason for driving in first place). Thought no more of it. 2 weeks later banned from keeping car on station for 2 MONTHS cos had 2 violations of SSOs. Fumph! Needless to say the Boss stepped in at this point. Coppers eh! THey know how to win wars, don't know why the rest of us bother to show up. :(

[Lara crofts pants]

On the subject of Coppers and wars.....

Pre Afghan campaign circa Oct 01, myself and some of my cronies were scanning through the big Orbat Op-order (or whatever it was called). You know the sort of thing........ ??? Sqn are to provide 6 Aircraft and 10 crews to deploy to blah by the 10 November 2001 etc.

The list was very lengthy starting with the punchy stuff then moving on to Movers and the like.

Finally at the bottom of the list it read - RAF Police in theatre are to be in possession of a spare notebook!

Now that's war fighting for you - their parents (if they have any) must be ever so proud:ok:

[Ben Parkin]

Hello all ,thought i would add to this one as i spent 7 years in the regiment and we really loved the RAFP as you know.
If anyone knows me hello to you, drop me a line,
Well my sqn was deployed at last min to Sierra Leone in 2000. At Lyneham those logical thinking scuffers insisted i put my SA80 through the scanning machine, just in case i had a weapon on me.........Er it is an assault rifle you know? just put it through was the angry response!

[STANDTO]

I had an armed response vehicle I was crewing once, subject to a full CT search.

As an RAF dog handler present at the time put it to me, as we surveyed the scene; " Must be expecting an inside job"

How we laughed

[ARINC]

Cycling along a well known Peri track in South Wales after Sqn beer call, at night, minus lights.
Reckless cycling and an admonishment !!!

Please add removal of sense of humour as a prerequisite for a plod.

[Krystal n chips]

...who go out of their way to do people for speeding :mad:


But don't always succeed. Purely hypothetical of course, but should you enter the bend at the West end of the "certain peri-track in South Wales " on a Friday evening in summer in a Triumph 1500 at about 40mph and then floor it, I understand it is possible to achieve a recorded 110mph before the next bend and then ask the plod to prove how fast the vehicle was travelling--exactly--well you should be ok, . "Very "--is not the correct answer btw. Long time ago--:ok: :E

[Pie Man]

Cycling off camp and hear screech of brakes and bang, look round to see WO knocked off his bike with car along side. Go back to help, WO had nasty head wound so ran and called medics and RAF Police. I was in waterproofs, gloves, cycle helmet (WO should have been wearing one), cycle clips. RAF Police pitch up, first question to me 'hello sir, were you the driver of the vehicle?'

PM

PS Medics did not shine as tried to fit wrong size of neck brace!

[ColdWarWimp]

:sad: Back in the good old days of the V force when RAF policemen guarded aircraft I met an RAFP dog handler who was in love with his dog. he was convinced it was cleverer than Einstein. Well, it was cleverer than its master! One warm summer night he was chatting with a few of us linies, and he showed us the dog's latest trick. He pulled out his pistol, pointed it a the dog, and said "Bang". The dog fell down and rolled on its back with its feet in the air

[ShyTorque]

Many RAF police were issued with dogs in an attempt to double the team IQ.

I like the story of the infamous night-time RAFP mobile speed camera on the peri track at RAF Aldergrove. A certain Army corporal, driving a little too fast, was "zapped" and they stepped out and tried to stop him. Instead of stopping, he floored the gas pedal and roared round to Guard Post on the other side of the airfield, where he called out to the Guard: "Someone's hiding in the grass with a gun"......... They turned out mob-handed and fully tooled up and the RAFP got the scare of their little lives :E

[RileyDove]

A decade ago TTTE were on bolthole at Marham . Early on a Monday morning a RAFP could be seen wandering around the line looking at the tyres. After a few minutes said copper came in with annoyed Liney wanting him charged for BF-ing an aircraft with less than the 2mm tread!
Quick call from Sengo to F/S RAFP - come and get your copper quick!

[orionsbelt]

After leaving the RAF I worked for a Large Bluechip City Company.
The company security manager (G..... M.......)was an Ex RAF SIB SNCO/Officer. One evening over a beer we were swinging the led about various experiences and I happened to mention that I had a very uncomfortable experience palletising Ammo, Sneb Rockets and Bombs at the SSA at ..............
He quoted the following:
He and another officer were detailed to check out the security of the SSA when it was used during the mid 60's for it primary function for storing Blue Steal warheads. They managed to gain access to the western area of the airfield from a nearby main road, and crawled almost up to the perimeter of the SSA undetected in spite of the intense security lighting.
They could observe the area behind the wire and spent several hours watching the patrols of the Snoop and his hound. It was a very cold night and they were planning how to get themselves out when they saw the Snoop take the lead off the dog and just wondered off for a smoke and coffee. The dog then just stretched out. At which point no 2 Officer said he new that dog as he had been Dep OC the dog training School at Debden and had been involved in its training. At which point he spoke to the dog in whatever way the trainers do and the Dog just sat there while they climbed the fence and were in. He makes a big fuss of the Dog being old mates and the three of them trot around to the gate house. All hell then broke loose.

[wg13_dummy]

Come on chaps, this thread needs to expand as much as this one!
1081 replies and 73 pages. They must be popular.
http://www.arrse.co.uk/cpgn2/Forums/viewtopic/t=19291.html

[On_The_Top_Bunk]

I think you will find that the RAFP has a lot to offer a budding carreer man.

You’re the Station Security Officer at a major RAF Strike Command base. Although you’re only in your twenties, you’re answerable for the security of all aircraft, buildings and personnel on the site. You’re dealing with paperwork, juggling budgets and supervising staff. Suddenly, intruders are reported on the perimeter fence. You’re out of the office, into your Land Rover and off to take control of the situation. Another day it could be a suspect package or a case of theft. But at all times, it’s your responsibility to sort it out. Alternatively, you may be posted to HQ Provost and Security Services to work on special investigations.

Nothing there about barriers going up and down.


Special investigations........ I wonder what that entails?


Pay: £25,600–£74,200 Are they having a laugh or what? Does the head porker really get paid that much?

[Argus]

Antipodean cousins used to be known as "Elephant Trackers"!

[MSF]

You are StnSyO @ the London airfield in the late 80's during their only Stn Exercise since 1945 (the one where the Stn Cdr told us over the tannoy that all guards would be issued with a pickaxe handle and a WRAF for guard duty).
Driving accross the airfield you meet some intruders heading to ATC,
Do you-
A Arrest them
or
B Give them a lift!

Again at NHT a plod tried to have one of the guys on shift charged for leaving a window open.
I was a witness , having done the previous security check.
All was not going well until I pointed out that all the windows had been painted shut a long time ago - plod got a short notice posting!

Wittering , in 89 the plod that put his 9mm on the roof of his Ford Escort and went for a bit of a drive on the A1 - and couldn't find it!.
I was on SSG a few days later when the flattest pistol ever seen was handed in to the guardroom by a trucker.

And there was the tw@ who was robbing the beer from the crewroom fridge.
You see , we had recently liberated one of those full sized evacuation dolls on a trip to BA at LHR.
It was decided that we would have a bit of fun with said plod, so we found out when he was due to rob us again, and the doll hanged himself in a fit of depression.
Plod threw a major wobbler, and thought it was real,it did look good.
We arrived into work next morning to find the plods had a major sense of humour failure.

In their defence, most of the ATSY guys and gals at NHT were ok when I was there.
One guy in particular hat a spooky sixth sense for picking young female officers with interesting items in their handbaggage.
He would always end with ' and now , if you could kindly remove the batteries, that will be all'.

[L-H]

Secret Moggie station in darkest East Angle Ironshire late 80's. NAAFI sh@g'n'shuffle was a thursday night affair that was always well attended, lot's of local totty to augment the sparse indiginous female population.

Going to work v early one friday morning I wandered bleary eyed down the main corridoor of the ancient H block that was home to spy two scuffers sitting on the stairs looking rather suspicious. Turned out these two bottom feeders were trapping girlies as they were leaving the rooms of the boys at the crack of sparrows and then charging the poor sod who's room they had spent the night in.

Hypocrytical scum of the earth one and all particularly as the pigpen was right royal den of eniquity at the time.

[Rev I. Tin]

, lot's of local totty to augment the sparse indiginous female population.

Eh?:confused:

Whilst Duty airman (remember them?) at Benson a long, long time ago.
Duty LAC/A/Cpl/Unpd walks in, 'Wonder who I can charge tonight?'
Ord Cpl: 'You sad ****'

Bless!

[MerryDown]

If you want excitement, a hat which is too big for you, and the oppertunity to get assaulted while inpaid and on your day off follow the link..............................even stranger lot than RAFP !


http://www.policespecials.com/forum/index.php?act=idx


Merry

[tablet_eraser]

Ah, the Stasi Filth. How we love them.

Early last year, a hapless jnr offr left his (unlabelled) non-issue rucksack outside the "cottage" (bunker access building) at a secret Northumberland base. Someone duly reported the bag to the MPGS (meagrely-paid grunt service or Military Provost Guard Service), who initiated WIDEAWAKE and closed the site.

RAFP then tried to evacuate the (supposedly bomb-proof) bunker, before being told to piss off.

Said jnr offr reported to the scene, immediately admitted that it was HIS bag, that he KNEW there wasn't a label on it, and that he was prepared to take the ensuing bollocking from all ranks above him. The RAFP sgt took a statement (same confession) without telling the offr his rights, saluted, and buggered off to bacon central. There, he undertook a 2 week long investigation, before concluding:

1. The bag belonged to the jnr officer.
2. The jnr officer knew it wasn't labelled.
3. The jnr officer should be bollocked.

Okay, the hapless chap deserved a bollocking, but this could have been done on the same day without the charade of a police investigation that just wasted time. Job-creation, it seems, is a must-have skill for scuffers.

I am bound to say, though, that some of them do a god job. I remember the tale of an Ord Offr at Buchan who was faced with a full-on civvy riot on base, and who received excellent assistance from the coppers. The same coppers who later helped with the first aid and care of a chap who'd fallen in the snow outside the base and broken his leg. This small minority are, though, let down by the overwhelming majority of coppers with petty small-minded attitudes, overinflated egos and a bloated sense of self-importance.

[MerryDown]

Brilliant !.............Enjoyed the humour@Boulmer

Like most walks of life we always end up with people amongst us who are knobs !

Most are fine, hearts in the right places, sense of purpose and all that...........................but then there are the knoobs who attract all the viewing and get all the bad press.

They at least give us all a laugh at work................lets be right we all love to slag a knoob !




Merry

[scottishbeefer]

Why oh why would anyone want to join the junior service but not be directly connect with the aeroplanes?!

[Solid Rust Twotter]

RAFP hound = Brain On A Chain

[I_stood_in_the_door]

What joy - the snow drops!!

Very good friend in sib at secret airbase in wilts who got me out of many a scrape when a young tom - however, he did nail me for 75 quid for smashing up the NAAFI in the late 80's!! Not a bad egg really.

Also late 80's/early 90's, can anyone corroborate the story of one young acting cpl who found that the only way to pass the long hours on patrol with his faithful companion scooby doo, was to infact b*m the said dog. And get caught. Lucky him.

LFOGOOTFW

ISITD

Yardy Yardy, look at that pesky rhino!!

:8

[ProfessionalStudent]

Was once getting interviewed by SIB about a dead bloke I found in the crewroom...

Scuffer: Did you notice the body's flies were undone?

Me: Yes

Scuffer: How soon did you notice?

Me: Quite soon. I thought it was quite unusual.

Scuffer: Was his penis out?

Me: Er... No. What do you think I did? Put it away to save his dignity?

Scuffer: Just answer the question Sgt Stude...

Well done Sgt Poirot. Always looking for a new angle.

T:mad: ers

Same incident though when the MO came in and declared body dead and moved everything out of the way to neaten it up before the SOCO got there. Not a happy SOCO.

[Crashed&Burned]

To add gusto to this thread...what about the MODPLOD...? Fine body of something...

[Radar Riser]

A few of us returning back slightly merry from over the boarder in Gib late
80's and was stopped by scuffer and Scooby-Doo

Drunken mate "What's that on the end of the chain?"

Scuffer "It's a police dog"

Drunken mate "Who's talking to you?"

I think he saw the funny side, well he didn't run us in!

RR

[Talking Radalt]

I still chuckle at the urban myth about a Snowdrop mobile patrol in mid-80s Germany who took great delight in taking their Landrover and smashing through a snowman built outside a HAS or some such remote place of work to fend off hours of boredom on QRA.
This continued for several snowmen until the next snowman was built up and around a bollard, totally obscuring and hiding the hefty reinforced concrete post in the process.
You can probably work out the rest...... :ok:

[mary_hinge]

TR.
Not sure about the urban myth in Germany, but I do know it as fact at RAF Marham! Must have been late seventies, in front of the 55 Squadron, ground crew Blister.:ok:

[ORAC]

Mind you, the number of charges I was able to dismiss against my troops because the plods screwed up by messing up the paperwork, submitting hearsay as evidence, not turning up. Always told them to never admit anything and they´d stand a good chance of getting off.

I remember a mate, F/O Don A.... at Buchan during the Buffs Lodge hooker scandal. He´d, ahem, been romantically involved with a couple of the the lasses but nobody was talking and they couldn´t touch him. SIB sent up a young F/O plod to stay in the mess and get friendly with him over a few drinks. Persuaded him to make a statement just, "to tidy up the paperwork". They made him resign his commission a few weeks later.

Strangely enough, IIRC, he went on to become an inspector in the Special Branch.....

[ShyTorque]

Mm. I was interviewed some years ago, in connection with an alleged illegal RAF low flying incident (contravening a NOTAM'd avoid), following a personal complaint by a government minister and have seen how they "prefer" to write statements. THEY prefer to write them for the defendant, in their own particular style.... especially when they can find no other evidence to support the complaint.

A certain RAFP Flight Lieutenant, brandishing his pen, became very crestfallen when I said:
"No thanks, give me the blank statement forms and I'll certainly write you a statement, but IN MY OWN WORDS once I've spoken to my laywer".

I also told him I thought they were trying to "stitch us up" with some sort of a confession because of who had made the complaint and how it was made. :hmm:

As myself and the other three pilots involved were actually innocent, they could find no other evidence to support the complaint (despite going to some considerable lengths to find some) and the case was quietly dropped after putting all of us through considerable stress for some months.

[matkat]

Mind you, the number of charges I was able to dismiss against my troops because the plods screwed up by messing up the paperwork, submitting hearsay as evidence, not turning up. Always told them to never admit anything and they´d stand a good chance of getting off.
I remember a mate, F/O Don A.... at Buchan during the Buffs Lodge hooker scandal. He´d, ahem, been romantically involved with a couple of the the lasses but nobody was talking and they couldn´t touch him. SIB sent up a young F/O plod to stay in the mess and get friendly with him over a few drinks. Persuaded him to make a statement just, "to tidy up the paperwork". They made him resign his commission a few weeks later.
Strangely enough, IIRC, he went on to become an inspector in the Special Branch.....
The Buffs lodge hooker scandal!! please We need to know more.

[ORAC]

Let´s just say there was a certain OC WRAF providing her girls with more accounting and management support than parochial. Not sure about disciplinary....

[Lara crofts pants]

Well, go on man, this sounds good....

[PerArdua]

It sounds like a thread in itself, spill the beans ORAC

PA

[FrogPrince]

:)

Just before year end I had cause to visit 9 AEF at Church Fenton. One of the RAFP on the front gate was wearing his dagger.

Now, first of all, I've never attempted AACC and am now too old, too fat etc. so 'respec', ya nah'. But...

Do all the BARV drivers have to make sure their tax discs are in date ?
Will 539 Assault Sqn have to watch out for double yellow lines when parking ?
Might the Beachmaster be subject to random breath tests ?
Where are the barriers ??

[Flt Lt Spry]

The plods where I work are on top of their game - immediately prior to Christmas, one of them sent an email to the whole station stating that "No-one is to/are to be caught perambulating on his/her bicycle unless it has reflectors on the pedals, wheels, the front bit and the back bit and lights on the front and back. Oh, by the way, the lights aren't allowed to flash." They then referred us to a random paragraph from the Road Traffic Act. (Section 27 - The Minimum Standard of Bicycle Equipment to be in use During Hours of Darkness on an RAF Base. Or summat.)

This was followed about a week later by a half-arsed apology and then explained that since the law changed in October 2005, flashing lights were now permitted, however "they must flash between 60 and 240 times per minute and emit a light of no less than 4 candelas." Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt.

Now I don't need to insult anyone's intelligence by explaining that a candela is the base unit of luminous intensity in the International System of Units that is equal to the luminous intensity in a given direction of a source which emits monochromatic radiation of frequency 540 × 10*12 hertz and has a radiant intensity in that direction of 1/683 watt per unit solid angle, but how are the RAF Plod planning on ensuring that a bicycle light meets the required standard? I wonder if they have invested in a bicycle lamp intensity/flash frequency testing machine?

[diginagain]

All of which just goes to show that if you've half a mind to join the RAFP, you're more than adequately qualified.

[Talking Radalt]

"they must flash between 60 and 240 times per minute and emit a light of no less than 4 candelas."

Four candelas, or fork 'and.........oh never mind.

[saudipc-9]

Iin Canada we also have our version of the RAFP. We call them Meatheads!! I'm not sure if it is due to the red hats they wear or to being extremely thick. Mind you they are very good at eating doughnuts and spilling coffee down their fronts

[PPRuNeUser0172]

They were abused children and shouldn't be trusted with anything more complicated than a barrier, I wish a plod would speak up and tell us about what motivated them to join, and what, if any job satisfaction they get from being complete :mad:

[pulse1]

Used to take one of my neighbour's sons flying a lot. He was mad keen on flying so he joined the RAF ...(um)..... Police. He lasted about three weeks until an NCO threw his boots out of the window into the mud.

He was so keen that he had bought these boots himself before he went in so that he could get used to them. They were identical to RAF boots.

[Alex Whittingham]

ISITD - You're a decade out. The Lyneham police dog incident was late '70s/early '80s. My recollection is that it was a lady dog, nothing queer about Mr Plod.

[Blodwyn Pig]

i remember being on 'teas and keys' once, and i couldn't work out why we had no lighting/power to the hangars when i opened them up first thing.
then i noticed a lot of noise coming from one end of the hangar, it turned out 2 RAFP had been seeing how fast their new landrover could go, in thick fog, but didn't notice the hangar in front of them!
they'd severed the main power cable to the hangar (smashing the big metal box it was in as well), and shortened their landrover by about 2ft!

it turned out they weren't too badly hurt, just chest injuries,but after they were fit again, they were charged!

[hobie]

I remember being chased thru the ruins of the old Officers Mess in Biggin Hill by a 6ft 6" RAF polite man .... my buddie and I were clearly going to loose him but the gal we were with was quickly caught by the "Monster" ..... he shouted out to us that he had caught her and so we meekly gave ourselves up to his custody :{ ......
Mind you .... we were only Ten years old at the time !!!! :p

[air pig]

As an air cadet in the 70s even we had views about the snowdrops that today would be very un PC.

We always said that if it was not for our squadron at annual camp that they would be on the dole, says it all really.

[Pontius Navigator]

One Saturday I found the plod had been super keen on his 6 hourly checks. Why, he was even 12 hours early.

OC Plod asked if I wanted to prefer charges ------- oh, the temptation but the goodwill was worth it. Some of his mates are still there, and so am I, 10 years later.

[ShyTorque]

There was one RAF policeman at Newton who used to do an external security check on our hangar every evening. As he passed by my window, he used to salute me at my desk. Always made me smile. He was the same one who charged himself for being late for duty. :=

We were more than a little concerned about the one who stole a sub imprest from an officer's locker during a overnight security check on our squadron hangar. Not so much because he nicked the cash, but because it was actually well hidden under a pile of the officer's soiled underwear, yum yum :confused: :yuk:

[bayete]

A few years ago, after 3hr LL Sortie through Wales and South West..
Low flying complaints Plod rings me..
Plod- Sir, were you low flying yesterday?
Me- Yes.
Plod- Did you fly over a farm house...(I wait expecting some form of clarification, non follows)?
Me- eerrmmm...maybe.
Funny old thing no futher investigation on that one.

[RayDarr]

Good lord, the Buchan thing goes back to 77 or even 76. ORAC, you old f**t, you are older than you look. If I remember, Don A wasn't the only one to go west. So did OC Supply Flt, a young FgOff Controller, a RN bloke on exchange at least 1 SNCO and a bunch of WRAF's. Young lady concerned was sent to Leuchars to be under the eye of HQPSS (Jock Det) but still managed to go through all 5 of a Victor crew one night. Stn Cdr kicked her off to HQ11Gp and she left the mob from there, complete with her short service gratuity. Last heard of working in a casino in London about 1979. There are enough stories about Buchan in those days to fill a book. Might even write it myself.

Another plod story, this one features West Drayton, the SDO, and the Police Firearms Unit.
SDO was enjoying quiet drink (SDO orders said SDO to drink in moderation. Thats an order init?) Suddenly phone rings. Guardroom reports a drunk airman armed with a gun has locked himself in Station Cdrs office in SHQ. (SHQ was long single story building by main gate. Guardroom was at near end) SDO feels he can talk the "gunman" out, so knocks on CO's office door.....door opens....gun poked up SDO's nose... come in Sir... SDO now a hostage!!! Guard room calls police and everyone else in Greater London. Full scale seige develops. Later SDO needs a leak, but "gunman" won't let him out. He is allowed however to pee out the window into the CO's roses. Later as the "gunman" sobers up he decides it is perhaps best to surrender, so throws out gun (a replica I believe) and comes out with hands up. SDO now free again. Later while talking to Inspector Plod of firearms unit, SDO is told that he was in no danger as they had a sniper with his sights on the gunman the whole time. Not only that, " but we had it all on film for evidence purposes, and we got a great shot of you!!!!" SDO later presented with framed 8x10 of himself in Best Blue uniform peeing out of his Station Commanders window. Of such are great careers made.
Tell me Mr SDO, Do you still have the photo??

[ivrytwr3]

http://www.rafcom.co.uk/pay_allowances/pay/2005/raf_air_05.cfm

The RAF Police are still on the lower pay band. However, as they have not done barrier duties for many months now (the MPGS do security) a pay review took place in Sep 05, with the results to be published Feb 06.

The RMP have had their results which are something like up to and including Sgt will be awarded the higher pay band, the rumour is this is what the RAF Police will be awarded too.

Also when you leave training you are to be a level 4. So after training you will be earning £18841 pa. I've been in the job 8 years and earn £26882 pa. I also work 12 hour shifts of 4 on and 4 off, and on the 4 off i spend it with the family, very rare is it to be called in to work on your stand down.

And out of those 8 years i have spent 7 months doing gate duties waiting for MPGS roll out.

Having served in the army (4 years) and seen both sides of the coin, why would i want to live in a field when i can have a 5 star hotel with rates?

The Army dig in, the Air Force check in.

I've also served in Afghanistan, Gulf, Las Vegas, Rio, Dakhar, Germany. And as for RAF Police being 'pretend', well only last week we dealt with a serious RTC in which a RAF Officer and his family were killed. I, myself, had to wait outside their MQ awaiting the arrival of the surviving son. It's strange but when we are giving out tickets or you're on the receiving end of a charge, we're scum. But come something as serious as this, everybody, including Army officers turn to us for help, guidance and direction.

[RileyDove]

IVRYTWR3 - I don't think it's a perception that the RAFP are 'scum' as you put it - possibly interpreting the rules to the nth degree would be a better way of putting it. Having said that in all trades in the RAF there used to be people who seemed to excell at making life difficult for no apparant reason.

[movadinkampa747]

Cheap shot ivrytwr3. Given the nature of the accident you are talking about.

[The Gorilla]

Indeed a cheap shot, but a valid point none the less.

[The Rocket]

Not really Gorilla.

It IS a cheap shot, and you would hope that every human being would be able to show a little compassion, and act decently in the same situation. So where is the valid point? If the RAF Police acted like that exclusively, then clearly they would be beyond reproach. The simple fact of the matter is that they do not, and they are the makers of their own undoing.

Why have you taken to being so controversial recently?
Are you bored?

[Talking Radalt]

Agree, cheap shot and frankly an invalid point.
Every time the pretend-plods get a bashing someone rolls out the "You'll sing a different song when you need us" line. Cases like the one described are few and far between and could be handled equally well by civvy plod, if not better, and still don't in anyway make up for the other utterly ridiculous exploits of RAFP everywhere.
Handling an in-Service bereavement is something any decent officer or SNCO should be able to do so please don't try to even begin to tell us it sets the RAFP apart.
Using the demise of one of our colleagues and his family as reason to adjust our attitude towards the branch is typical of one which is, on the whole, totally devoid of morality.

[Flt Lt Spry]

Hear hear. IVRYTWR3 I'm quite sure that you didn't join the RAF so you spend your time notifying NOK of a bereavement.

I notice that you aren't so quick to mention the bothced RAFP investigation into the disgruntled airman who tampered with some ejection seats in an attempt to try and kill an aircrew mate. I don't think he did get charged with attempted murder in the end.

[ivrytwr3]

I did not mention the tragic accident as a cheap shot, i mentioned the accident because all this thread has been about is people saying all RAF Police do is barrier up barrier down, i am saying that we are a professional police force and our taskings diverse greatly and on a day to day basis. One day we are investigating £3k bikes going missing (left unsecured outside the Officers Mess) or where someone has left a loaned laptop outside a friends room door in the officers mess and was 'surprised' when it went missing ("well i knew he'd be back at some point so he could get in when he comes back"). These incidents were involving a pilot and the other a junior officer. The next we are assisting (not dealing) with a serious RTC. So apologies if people have taken that mention out of context.

In fact, the RAF Police have been requested by Civ Pol to record statements from the emergency services that dealt with the incident and we have also offered our services to stand out on the road on which the accident occurred, stopping traffic, in the hope we can find any witnesses the crash. We don't HAVE to do that, but the victims were RAF and we are all RAF and want to help.

On a side note, whist sitting outside the empty MQ, i had several knocks on my window from officers asking what did i know; which was not very professional, and yet i had several knocks from other officers offering me tea, sandwiches, the use of toilet facilities etc. So every trade has its good eggs and its numpties!

With regards to the pilot and the missing bike, just because he had no common sense, does not mean i think all pilots have no common sense So why, because you've had run ins with some cretins withing my trade do you tar us all alike? If i had that attitude i would not get very far. Every one i meet is giving the benefit of the doubt at the first meet!

Now what about the other points i mentioned regarding the trade?

1. RAF Police allocation of the higher pay band (we must be something right!)

2. After leaving training you will be earning £18841 pa.

3. I also work 12 hour shifts of 4 on and 4 off, and on the 4 off i spend it with the family, very rare is it to be called in to work on your stand down.

4. And out of those 8 years i have spent 7 months doing gate duties waiting for MPGS roll out.

5. I've also served in Afghanistan, Gulf, Las Vegas, Rio, Dakhar, Germany (there's more, but that's all i can think of at the moment).

It's good job with a good standard of living. Unfortunately we can't all be pilots and for those of us that can't I would recommend my trade to anyone!

[tablet_eraser]

ivrytwr,

Maybe you could come down from your ivrytwr and understand the issues here. As I said in my previous post, some of the RAFP I've worked with have been outstandingly good, professional and helpful. The majority, it seems, have little more to do than over-interpret rules and indulge in pettiness and continual self-justification. The majority of your colleagues are considered by many others in the Service to be rude, arrogant, unpleasant and, in some cases, hypocritical - you must be able to understand that from reading some of the previous posts.

We all understand that every branch of trade has its bad eggs. Instead of moaning about people's perceptions, why don't you mount a defence of all of your colleagues (we call it "teamwork"), explain why so many of them seem to exceed their worth, and cut out the specific whingeing about officers while you're at it. Apparently airmen and NCOs can sometimes be bad people too.

t_e

[ivrytwr3]

Maybe, instead of proclaiming your own personal achievements, postings, dets and anecdotes (big news - we all do it!), you could mount a defence of all of your colleagues in that time-honoured practice we call "teamwork",

I cannot speak for the trade as a whole and would not attempt to. My trade has strokers as no doubt does yours. My point being, with regards to my 'personal achievements' is don't tar us all with the same brush.

[tablet_eraser]

Ack! You posted while I was editing my post, as it seemed a little unjustified as it stood. Apologies.

[plebby 1st tourist]

OK I've got to bite at:

"Investigating theft of £3k bikes going missing from outside the O's Mess"

Well when my £600 bike went missing from outside the Mess, this was the RAFP response:

"Was the bike locked sir?"
"Nope"
"In that case we can't investigate it as a crime, just put it in the lost property book."
"Riiiight"
"And if your insurance company contact us, we will have to inform them that it wasn't locked".

Thanks a bunch guys, glad I called! This was a week after a warning/bollocking for speeding (39 in a dead straight, empty, unpopulated 30, coming out of a 40).:mad: :mad:

However, being at BAS at the moment, I have to defend the great job they're doing out here. They are just pointless at home!;)

[Pontius Navigator]

Plebby,
In contrast to your bike, my lawn mower was stolen from my house while I was having the side gate replaced.

Civpol located the lawn mower 2 days BEFORE I noticed it had gone and I got it back the day after. I had already initiated an insurance claim. As far as CID was concerned I could have my cake and eat it; they were not bothered with the potential insurance fraud. Tempting but I wasn't.

Going on to Ivrtwr, I have, at times (most), the greatest admiration of the trade doing a job inspite of the obvious hostility that is apparent. May I offer a note of caution however and it is how different people are treated.

On occasion at a far northern base I was in the back of one of our linneys landrovers. We were pulled over on the peritrack and the plod accused the airman of speeding. To the best of my observation he had been driving at a reasonable speed.

I asked the RAFP what the problem was but he ignored me and continued to address the SAC driver. Despite being the senior person in the vehicle, and a fair target, the plod was intent on nailing the airman.

"What speed were you doing" About 50 on the speedo.

"What's the limit" 30 mph

"Speeding then were you" No cpl, 50 kph.

"OK smart ass, what does it say in mph" No idea cpl, the speedo is only in kph.

DOH

The plod was well out of order and you can add all the adjectives you like that have been seen above.

OTOH, anyone mentioned Blue Light Taxis? The Polemedia poilice were always interceding with the Cyp police and could be persuaded to run you back home. Likewise in Malta. Top of the Gut was a good refuge with a police landrover often sitting there. You could get absolutely legless and they would always see you right.

Maybe a bit of self protection too as a 'nasty plod' might get seen to down a back alley?

[Flt Lt Spry]

Here's a breakdown of my (limited) work with the RAFP:

I gave a witness statement for a guy who nearly killed someone when he crashed his car whilst drunk. The policeman cleaverly worded the statement in first person tense to leave no ambiguity and ensure that the guy got stitched up. For example, I truthfully stated that I had witnessed said officer in the bar drinking on the night of the accident. I also stated that he was of a boistrous nature. This got recorded as "I witnessed Plt Off Blah in the bar, in my opinion he was drunk and behaving aggressively." On the 6th iteration, I got him to change it to reflect what I saw. Now, I'm not defending the lad in question, what he did was wrong, but I felt no need to embellish the details to make it easier to shaft him. Anyway, to cut a long story short, he nearly killed someone and his punishment was discharge from Service. No custodial sentence, no fine, no dishonourable discharge.

Next time, after returning from 2 months in the Gulf, found a ticket on my car because the tax had expired. I had 7 days to report to the RAFP with my documents. The 7 days elapsed whilst I was away too, so I got reported to the Station Commander for "keeping an untaxed car on the base." Thanks. Sorry for letting my tax expire, but when I left the renewal form hadn't come through and, to be quite honest, I had better things to think about.

Then, coming home from DM. Bags were loaded onto the Tristar pallet (unsupervised). We all buggered off to the mall for a last chance to shop. The 2 Atsy coppers turn up late because they had been out boozing the night before. We all got called back, had to remove each bag from the pallet and "verify that it was our own." Even though they were all labelled, we weren't allowed to verify on behalf of our Sqn buddies. At the end of this labourious exercise, there was one bag remaining. The owner had gone for a run and could not be contacted at all. After an hour, it got TFD and they chucked it on the pallet anyway.

On the plus side, the plod aren't clever enough to have uncovered our smuggling racket yet...

[Lyneham Lad]

I cannot comment on the ordinary SAC/Acting Cpl/Unpaid Plod as I somehow avoided run-in's with them (a life of undetected crime? no, not really). However, I can relate one particular unpleasant experience with the SIB.......
To set the scene:-
Scampton early 1966, Blue Steel Vulcans, height of the Cold War etc etc. I am a fairly fresh out of training SAC Airframe Mech working on E Dispersal. There are lots of Micks and Mickey Finns, loads of overtime (not at all unusual to go in for the 5.00pm start of night shift and stiil be there at 8.00am when the day shift come back in). Being my first posting after training I accept all this as the norm but there are lots of mutterings amongst the older, married guys, there is a long list of people trying to leave the Service and morale is at a very low level......so a fun place, particularly as a Linie in the depths of a Lincolnshire winter. For me, sunshine beckons as I've been post to sunny Seletar (for the youngsters, that was in Singapore) and I've just done my last day shift before starting clearing.
That evening, sitting on my bed in the Block (no money, otherwise I'd have been in the Cheltenham Arms), two Plods come in and demand I immediately go with them to E Dispersal, no mention of why and we proceed in grim silence. Once at the dispersal I am taken into an office for a one-to-one interview with a Flt Sgt from SIB. It is no exaggeration to say it was like the movies, bright light in face and accusations bellowed at me. "We know you did it, so you might as well confess now." Did what? "Come on, you did it and we know why." er, excuse me, what am I supposed to have done? "We have the tools that have been used and your fingerprints are on them" Don't recall anyone taking my prints. By now somewhat alarmed and confused by this onslaught I ask again - just what is all this about, what am I accused of and why? After much more bellowing and threats, it is revealed that someone had sabotaged a kite by cutting through the electrical cables at the back of the AEO's panel. Why accuse me? Well, the SIB are claiming that I had the opportunity (I'd done the last A/F on the aircraft) and had the perfect motive...........to get out of being posted to Singapore.............:eek:

[plans123]

Laying in bed in the WRAF block (pet WRAF tucked under arm) at an AT base near the M40 in the early 90's, when the fire alarm goes off. Leave room with pet WRAF to bump into pet WRAF's friend (and copper boyfriend) Leaving the block we are met by a few of his 'mates' - Guess who got charged for being out of bounds and guess who got off scott free? lets put it this way, I had a definite pain in the wallet just after the orderly room. Bunch of criminals in uniform!

[Divergent Phugoid!]

Not that I am defending the RAFP in any way or form, as stated in many posts here, there are good guys and there are bad guys in every trade.

The one saving grace I can see is that if the station was policed by CivPol there would be a lot of officers and airmen with a criminal record because of their wrong doings and quite a few penalty points on their driving licenses for road traffic offences committed on base.

The advantage of the military policing system is that you wont receive a criminal record for minor offences committed where you most definitely would if the CivPol were dealing. The mil system does look after their own somewhat where the CivPol wouldn't. Particularly these days with their league tables and arrest rate figures they have to meet, you would all be easy targets and then CivPol would easily reach their figures for their next pay increment.

Some good some bad but just be thankful the RAFP are there at all. :ok: :ok:



Oh and ivrytwr3, you should take a long look at yourself and your post. To use the A17 incident to bolster your own self importance is truly unforgivable. If I were you I wouldn't post any further on thread out of respect for the family involved.

[Talking Radalt]

Bunch of criminals in uniform!
Not quite criminal but along the similar lines....
A long time ago, at an airfield far, far away, the SWO was implimenting a zero-tolerance campaign against untaxed, unregistered and generally dumped vehicles around the unit, with you-know-who doing all the dirty work.
There were no excepetions....cars left by those on det, SORNed classics, projects at the car club, all were targetted without remorse.
So early one morning whilst doing another stint of one of those "secondary" duties involving keys and bullets that we all think plod should be doing, I witness young (still in his teens) Plod sprog running off a quick note on the MGR compooter, complete with station crest and header....
"To whom it may concern, the SWO has granted authority for this vehicle to be stored on camp whilst untaxed"
Sprog then gets the spare MGR keys from the cabinet (fully aware that I was watching all this too), doesn't sign for them (obviously), opens up the SWOs office, goes in, takes a comfy seat behind the desk, finds the SWO's personal paperwork stamp, thumps it on the bottom of the note he'd just produced, and returns everything to how it was.
Tells his mate "I'm just going out to my car to put this in the window" at which point I then replied with a simple "No, you are not"
Cue stunned surprise from Sprog who then tried to tell me the SWO had authorised the aforementioned forgery.
"Ah ok," says I "so remind me of your name again and which car it is, just so when the SWO comes in tomorrow I can let him know he needn't bother typing up that disclaimer for you...."
"Cpl Smith and it's a blue Ford Escort"
:hmm:
THREE times I had to explain. THREE!
And for the record "neil", James Bond was at our place a few years back and that was no big secret. Interesting that you only "tried" to keep your celebrity gossip to yourself. Maybe I'll "try" and renew my car pass in future. :rolleyes:

[hobie]

I am thinking about joining the RAF and I want to join as an RAF policeman.
Has anyone got any tips and advice for me?

Well Andy, after 10.963+ views and 111+ replies to your original question ..... any firm direction in sight on your future career ? ... :rolleyes:

[ShyTorque]

One freezing cold evening, an officer colleague of mine was called to Sqn. Ops "to report to" a junior RAF policeman who objected to my colleague's car engine being left running to defrost the windscreen. He was given a dressing down by plod junior in front of all and sundry and was told he was being ticketed.

Very disgruntled colleague, driving past guardroom the following evening, noticed an RAF Police landrover parked outside, all by itself with the engine running. Colleague pulled up, marched over and switched off its engine, removed keys and stormed into guardroom, to be met by....... guess who?

The same little 'erbert. What was his excuse? He was defrosting the windscreen! He didn't get the keys back. Colleague called OC Plod who eventually turned up and had a serious word with his protegee. :hmm:

[airborne_artist]

I've been reading this thread with increasing interest and incredulity.

It's the best advertisement for joining the Dark Blue I think I've ever read :E :E

[FCWhippingBoy]

Whilst at PHF Innsworth after failing my initial aircrew cse and going groundtrade, I was offered a few trades.

To cut a long story short, I was told that they couldn't get me on a cse as a Scopie, what was my 2nd choice? As soon as I mentioned RAFP, the Sgt replied "I'll give Boulmer another ring and make sure the next BASOp cse definately has no vacancies!"

At the time, his reply spoke volumes to me! Barrier up - Barrier Down - Barrier Up - Barrier Down - Zzzzzzz

[MSF]

I feel I have to make this clear.
As an RAF Policeman, you are the last person on the unit that would be seen making the barrier go up and down.
This is done by people that have better things to do, who are covering for undermanning, people on det's and trying to get on leave before getting screwed for yet another det.
The whole extra up / down thing would lead to demands for them being upped a pay grade, and you would have to deal with even more confused snowdrops , who have enough trouble with the right / left concept.

Are police dogs still given a rank?
Chances are if you show the dog your ID, you are showing it to at least a proper Cpl , if not a full Sgt, and not the LAC acting Cpl standing confused next to him !

[FCWhippingBoy]

ahhh the good old "Brains on the end of a lead" banter! *waits for the washing machine going ping banter*

[Onan the Clumsy]

It's the best advertisement for joining the Dark Blue I think I've ever read Not so fast. I heard of a case where a destroyer was in Portsmouth only two nights before it got a ticket for an out of date registration. If you think this is bad, the Naval Policeman in charge said they had noticed the offence the night before, but it took them a while to get the ticket written out and affixed to the bridge because, being as it was for a ship it was fifty foot square.

:8

[FCWhippingBoy]

Haven't the Navy version of the snowdrops/redcaps got a really "butch" name that makes them sound really menacing or something?! But then I might be thinking of the yanks!

[k3k3]

Regulators.

I was born and brought up in and around Pompey, so I joined the light blue.

[FCWhippingBoy]

That's the one, K3! Sounds like they should be part of a gas cooker rather than policing our wavy navy friends! Ho hum!

[Blodwyn Pig]

i started my 'career' at valley, where there were only 3 RAFP, 2 real corporals and a fltsgt. it was all very layed back, everone hated them, and they kept themselves to themselves. then i got posted to honington, with its 'special' bomb dump, and the whole place is over-run with the buggers! all these, what looked like, 12 year old kids with tapes on their shoulder, with voics barely broken.....even the older coppers hated them!
one of our WRAF's was going out with a copper, and lived out off camp with him and a couple of others off our unit, it ended up as party central most of the time, with plenty of place to crash the night. to start with, the parties started off with the coppers on one side of the room, and us on the other, but after a few parties, we got to know them better, and they turned out to be a good bunch on the whole.(they were all real cpl's, and had been around a bit).
having this rapour with some of the more experienced coppers certainly helped us get away with a lot more things, indeed, it was almost being like an officer at times! (just put it down to high jinks, as opposed to getting nicked!).
the police were also very handy on nightshift, when some numpty had gone home, but left a tool in his overalls, in his locker. we used to just phone up plod, get him to go round to the blokes room/house, and bring them into work to put the tool back.

[BrenGun]

Blodwyn Pig, I was at Honnington 82-86 and was one of the senior bods at the time. I know that some of the young lads can be real dicks, but then the RAF recruits them at very young ages and gives them rank and authority that they are not mature enough to have. But from experience, I know that after a few years of growing up and with good guidance/training they can turn into very capable policemen and contribute well to the RAF. Can't agree that we ever hated our lads though - remember the crap job they had in SSA/QRA's..

[Wyler]

In our local rag a few months back there was a picture of 2 RAF coppers with the local beat bobby. The article stated that this was a joint policing venture for our village to ensure law and order. They are even referred to as community policemen and have a MQ to use as the patch office. Over the summer we had the usual troubles with bored teenagers causing a nuisance at the Spar and around the village. Where were the RAFP? Good question. So I asked. Not allowed to intervene, not our responsibility. So why do you have a MQ and why are you calling yourselves Community Policemen? Because we can stencil your kids bikes with invisible ink to make it easier to find if it gets nicked!!!
Well, that's OK then. Money well spent.
Turns out one of the main troublemakers is son of one of these glorious chaps and he was told of his sons behaviour by the Spar manager. His response? To go down there on a Saturday morning and threaten the manageress.
RAFP? :mad: :mad: :mad: The lot of them.

[Blodwyn Pig]

Blodwyn Pig, I was at Honnington 82-86 and was one of the senior bods at the time. I know that some of the young lads can be real dicks, but then the RAF recruits them at very young ages and gives them rank and authority that they are not mature enough to have. But from experience, I know that after a few years of growing up and with good guidance/training they can turn into very capable policemen and contribute well to the RAF. Can't agree that we ever hated our lads though - remember the crap job they had in SSA/QRA's..



well i was just going by what i was told face to face by the coppers i used to know, and i seem to recall there was more than a bit of good natured animosity between the shifts in the SSA. i remember one of the flt/sgt's i used to see occasionally on the odd piss up didn't like the fact he had so many younger coppers to work with.

[BrenGun]

In our local rag a few months back there was a picture of 2 RAF coppers with the local beat bobby. The article stated that this was a joint policing venture for our village to ensure law and order - Not allowed to intervene, not our responsibility.

Nice public relations exercise by the RAF and nothing more than that. Probably a Stn Cmdrs idea... To police the village would represent misemployment of RAF resources. RAF personnel working for or on behalf of the Chief Constable would raise very serious issues - liability & injury - who would pay, Chief Constable or MOD.

RAF personnel assisting a police officer at the scene would be no different a situation than any civilian assisting. RAF Police could not act in the capacity of police constable. Advise given was 100% correct - RAF not allowed to intervene & not an RAF responsibility.

[BrenGun]

i remember one of the flt/sgt's i used to see occasionally on the odd piss up didn't like the fact he had so many younger coppers to work with.

Can understand that, we would all have wanted to work with grown men, but the Forces recruits people from school who are still drinking milk. Still, can be good fun training them:)

[Blodwyn Pig]

Can understand that, we would all have wanted to work with grown men, but the Forces recruits people from school who are still drinking milk. Still, can be good fun training them:)


i was 16 when i joined up, and i was soon weened off milk! ;)

[PerArdua]

i was 16 when i joined up, and i was soon weened off milk! I still try to suckle though!!!

PA

[Pontius Navigator]

Rules state that RAF Police vehicles should neither display nor use blue lights when off the unit unless they have the permission of the appropriate chief constable.

The rule book goes on to say the many chief constables welecome the presence of the jam sandwich vehicle driving off camp as it acts as a deterrent to many civvies as it adds a visible police presence and also help to keep the brutal and licenscious under observation too.

[Wyler]

So, there we have it. The RAFP are nothing but a cheap special effect. Just confirms what i have always thought.

[Pontius Navigator]

Yup, there is a positive spin on everything. Glad you could shine a light on it :}

[brokenlink]

A couple of years ago a mate of mine confessed that, following a run in with the base police, he renamed the unit police club in a dawn "raid" with a 6' by 4' signproclaiming it to be the Blue Oyster Club (the not terribly hetro Bikers Den in the Police Academy films). Only just got away with it though....

[AceRimmer]

St Peter's at the Pearly Gates. He spies three blokes at the front of the queue. St Peter looks at the first first one,
"What did you do mate?"
"I was in the RUC."
"The RUC, that's fantastic! Out the back is a bit of a sectarian riot. Get in there, sort it out and afterwards I need you to investigate some terrorists who are running guns up from Hell." Off runs the RUC officer to break some heads.
St Peter asks the second man, "What did you do?"
"I was a Met police officer."
"The Met, that's fantastic! Down the side is a bit of a race riot. Get in there, sort it out and afterwards I need you to investigate some Yardies who are smuggling drugs up from Hell." Off runs the Met officer to sort it all out.
St Peter then asks the third bloke, "What did you do?"
"I was an RAF policeman."
"An RAF policeman, that's fantastic! Guard the gate whilst I go and have a pee!"