RAF Police
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Re: RAF Police
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).
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!
"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).
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!
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Re: RAF Police
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?
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?
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Re: RAF Police
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...
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...
Re: RAF Police
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.............
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.............
Re: RAF Police
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!
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Re: RAF Police
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Re: RAF Police
Originally Posted by plans123
Bunch of criminals in uniform!
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"
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.
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Re: RAF Police
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?
Has anyone got any tips and advice for me?
Avoid imitations
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Re: RAF Police
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.
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.
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Re: RAF Police
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
It's the best advertisement for joining the Dark Blue I think I've ever read
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Re: RAF Police
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
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
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Re: RAF Police
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 !
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 !
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Re: RAF Police
It's the best advertisement for joining the Dark Blue I think I've ever read
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Re: RAF Police
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!
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Re: RAF Police
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.
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.
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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..