Royal Cayman Islands Police
Sep 4th 2005, 4:56 pm
#16
Just Joined
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 19
Re: Royal Cayman Islands Plice
Originally Posted by swoopy91
My email address is: <<<Email Address removed to protect privacy. PM member for contact details>>>
Thanks
Thanks
http://www.caymannetnews.com/2005/06/863/rcips.shtml
Sep 4th 2005, 7:10 pm
#17
Just Joined
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14
Re: Royal Cayman Islands Plice
Originally Posted by Margot
For all of you applying / offered the RCIP, here's a newspaper article that may be of interest.
http://www.caymannetnews.com/2005/06/863/rcips.shtml
http://www.caymannetnews.com/2005/06/863/rcips.shtml
The following is a letter sent out to all Canadian officers in their recent recruitment drive. In case you're wondering, the author is no longer working for the RCIP and has reutrned home to Canada.
No one can actually tell you it'll be the right/wrong move. Unfortunately you will only find that out for yourselves by going there, and doing it yourselves.
Note: This letter caused a major stir among the organisation when it was leeked. They thought it'd be for the better..... they were wrong.
Last edited by Sue; Sep 4th 2005 at 7:22 pm. Reason: Letter removed. Possible copyright/privacy issues. Permission from the author of the letter is needed before you can reproduce it on this site.
Sep 5th 2005, 8:48 pm
#18
Just Joined
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 19
Re: Royal Cayman Islands Plice
Originally Posted by Stifler
With reference to all that have been offered positions and are thinking of making the move.
The following is a letter sent out to all Canadian officers in their recent recruitment drive. In case you're wondering, the author is no longer working for the RCIP and has reutrned home to Canada.
No one can actually tell you it'll be the right/wrong move. Unfortunately you will only find that out for yourselves by going there, and doing it yourselves.
Note: This letter caused a major stir among the organisation when it was leeked. They thought it'd be for the better..... they were wrong.
The following is a letter sent out to all Canadian officers in their recent recruitment drive. In case you're wondering, the author is no longer working for the RCIP and has reutrned home to Canada.
No one can actually tell you it'll be the right/wrong move. Unfortunately you will only find that out for yourselves by going there, and doing it yourselves.
Note: This letter caused a major stir among the organisation when it was leeked. They thought it'd be for the better..... they were wrong.
To my fellow officers:
It has come to my attention that the Royal Cayman Islands Police (RCIP) will be once again conducting a recruiting drive in Canada. I feel compelled to point out some facts and issues before you think of applying. Unfortunately the volumes amount of information to tell you will not fit in this article, therefore I will only highlight some of them.
There were 15experienced officers that the RCIP hired from Canada in April of last year. 4 officers have left and 6 more are expecting to leave this year. The rest will fill out their 2-year contract obligation. By April there is an expectation that a quarter of the force will leave, and this includes ex-pats as well as locals. I have never experienced any thing like this were the moral is very low (worse than in Toronto PD).
When we were recruited by the RCIP we were lied too and cajoled in coming down, however, we were not the only ones, the British officers were as well. Once we were here they didn’t care about us.
This country is not the peaceful, laid-back island that they would like the rest of the world to think. The government and the police administration have become very proficient at masking and covering up the truth.
This administration doesn’t care about officer safety. You will be going to domestics alone, have no lethal weapons at your disposal even if these incidents involve weapons. The police vehicles that you may drive, in some cases there are no police vehicles available, are usually unroad-worthy or unsafe. You may get a police radio if you’re lucky, and there is a 50/50 chance that the 911 dispatcher will respond to your cries of help.
The majority of incidents are domestics and fights; usually there are weapons involved. The only defensive weapons we have are the expandable stick (similar to the ASP), and pepper spray. The majority of arrest that you will do, even outside domestics and fights, will involve a fight with the suspect.
Expect to be in uniform duty for the next two years. Part of the uniform duty is cell guard duty, which is similar to being a prison guard. You will get food and water for the prisoners, and let them out of their cells so they can go to the washroom.
There is a lot of discrimination towards the ex-pats and women in general. The ex-pats will be the better trained and disciplined officers. You will therefore be the ones taking most of the incidents, but not getting any rewards for it. The rewards will go to the locals.
There are a few local officers who are very capable of doing their duty, and we have no problems working with them. Unfortunately they are far and few.
If you think you’re coming down to enjoy the sun, unfortunately you will be spending more time at work than anything else. This commissioner does not like 12 hr shifts, and keeps changing the shift schedule every 4 months. Most of the time the shifts are 8hrs and don’t work.
Living on the island has become more expensive after Hurricane Ivan, and prices will steadily increase as a result of rising insurance prices. Expect to pay $1,500 CI for an average one-bedroom apartment, and you will be paying well over $2,000 CI for a two bedroom apt. If you are looking for a nice apartment, in a nice local, expect to pay $1,000 CI more. These cost do not include electricity that will run you anywhere from $200 CI and up, then there is water, cable and phone. The companies will nickel and dime you for everything, and don’t expect any fast or professional service. I had to wait 3 months for the Internet, and the last three days they couldn’t come to deliver the modem because it was raining, or a fellow officer who had the Internet technician crash his computer when they tried to set it up. Vehicles are expensive to buy, as they are now starting for a cheap used car at around $3,000 CI. Insurance will also be expensive, especially since the insurance companies have raised home and car insurance by 100% - 500%. These hikes also include content insurance.
As part of your contract you are not able to find part-time work, therefore you rely solely on the meager police salary. If you’re partner is coming down and finds a job, this will help considerably, but that in itself is a red-tape nightmare.
So who should apply? If you have under 4yrs police experience, like working uniform duty, keeping busy, don’t care about your own safety, and don’t mind being treated like a 2nd class citizen, then I suggest you apply. All others should take note, and remember the information that I have put form is only the tip of the iceberg.
Sep 7th 2005, 2:41 pm
#19
Just Joined
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1
Re: Royal Cayman Islands POlice
Hi there,
I thought I'd add on to this link, cos I understand there's 20 or so new Brit cops in the pipeline to come over. THEY SHOULD READ THIS!
I've been serving here for a while now and I completely agree with everything that has been said. The RCIP is at it's lowest at the moment, which includes everything from morale, kit, vehicles and personnel.
A few canadians and another brit arrived here 4 weeks ago. There was no uniform available for them, so they've had to beg, steal or borrow stuff from other expats ( EXPATS!!!! ) so they can go to work in some form of uniform. They also went on a extendable baton course and a pepper spray course and, once qualified, walked away without any issued kit despite the training department being overladen with baton and spray which was said to be "for training only"
One point that's old news from Margot's input is the weapons situation.... Yes Grand Cayman is violent and this is covered up by the government. Weapons seem to be easily accessible to the criminal element, so the shift officers are now drawing weapons (MP5 and H&K USP9 ) on a daily basis. I carry a weapon everyday and usually have to draw it a few times a week! There is also a permanently armed unit called USG, which assist all operational units. There is always the fear, within the service, that there will be a police fatality before long. As you can probably guess, body armour IS NOT issued!
Police vehicles are crap and dangerous. Most don't have working a/c o you sweat your bits off all day long. One cop crashed recently because the brakes failed on his car. The government garage just shrugged their shoulders and admitted knowing the brakes were dodgy when the car was last serviced.
It's also true about not being able to specialise. All the plum jobs have been taken by caymanians or other Caribbean expats, or some white expats that have been here years. As a white expat, you ( and me ) are at the very bottom of the pecking order when it comes to postings DESPITE your experience ( which counts for sh*t here ).
You'll probably spend at least 2 days out of 4 on static duty at either the governors, courts or in the dreaded cell block at central police station. Think third world conditions and you're somewhere near! It's an horrendous AND dangerous duty to work.
The rental situation has also increased since Margot was here. Expect to pay CI$1500 for a one bed apt now and bet CI$2000-2700 CI for a 2 bed. Utilities are approx CI$300 a month. Cars are overpriced too - a cheapie 7-8 yr old car Will set you back bet CI$4000-5000
I'm stuck here at the moment, having had to resign from the UK police, otherwise I'd leave. A lot of expats are ;leaving at the moment yet the RCIP continues to tell it's lies during their recruitment trips!
Good luck - you're certainly going to need it. :scared:
Margot said "This country is not the peaceful, laid-back island that they would like the rest of the world to think. The government and the police administration have become very proficient at masking and covering up the truth." I AGREE
This administration doesn’t care about officer safety. You will be going to domestics alone, have no lethal weapons at your disposal even if these incidents involve weapons. The police vehicles that you may drive, in some cases there are no police vehicles available, are usually unroad-worthy or unsafe. You may get a police radio if you’re lucky, and there is a 50/50 chance that the 911 dispatcher will respond to your cries of help. DEFINITELY
The majority of incidents are domestics and fights; usually there are weapons involved. The only defensive weapons we have are the expandable stick (similar to the ASP), and pepper spray. The majority of arrest that you will do, even outside domestics and fights, will involve a fight with the suspect. BRING YOUR OWN KIT
Expect to be in uniform duty for the next two years. Part of the uniform duty is cell guard duty, which is similar to being a prison guard. You will get food and water for the prisoners, and let them out of their cells so they can go to the washroom. There is a lot of discrimination towards the ex-pats and women in general. The ex-pats will be the better trained and disciplined officers. You will therefore be the ones taking most of the incidents, but not getting any rewards for it. The rewards will go to the locals. FOR SURE
There are a few local officers who are very capable of doing their duty, and we have no problems working with them. Unfortunately they are far and few.
TOO FEW
If you think you’re coming down to enjoy the sun, unfortunately you will be spending more time at work than anything else. 12 HOURS TAKES IT'S TOLL
Living on the island has become more expensive after Hurricane Ivan, and prices will steadily increase as a result of rising insurance prices. Expect to pay $1,500 CI for an average one-bedroom apartment, and you will be paying well over $2,000 CI for a two bedroom apt. If you are looking for a nice apartment, in a nice local, expect to pay $1,000 CI more. These cost do not include electricity that will run you anywhere from $200 CI and up, then there is water, cable and phone. The companies will nickel and dime you for everything, and don’t expect any fast or professional service. I had to wait 3 months for the Internet, and the last three days they couldn’t come to deliver the modem because it was raining, or a fellow officer who had the Internet technician crash his computer when they tried to set it up. NOW MORE EXPENSIVE
Vehicles are expensive to buy, as they are now starting for a cheap used car at around $3,000 CI. Insurance will also be expensive, especially since the insurance companies have raised home and car insurance by 100% - 500%. These hikes also include content insurance. THEY ALSO CHARGE 35% EXTRA FOR SOFT TOPS
So who should apply? If you have under 4yrs police experience, like working uniform duty, keeping busy, don’t care about your own safety, and don’t mind being treated like a 2nd class citizen, then I suggest you apply. All others should take note, and remember the information that I have put form is only the tip of the iceberg" BANG ON INFO
I thought I'd add on to this link, cos I understand there's 20 or so new Brit cops in the pipeline to come over. THEY SHOULD READ THIS!
I've been serving here for a while now and I completely agree with everything that has been said. The RCIP is at it's lowest at the moment, which includes everything from morale, kit, vehicles and personnel.
A few canadians and another brit arrived here 4 weeks ago. There was no uniform available for them, so they've had to beg, steal or borrow stuff from other expats ( EXPATS!!!! ) so they can go to work in some form of uniform. They also went on a extendable baton course and a pepper spray course and, once qualified, walked away without any issued kit despite the training department being overladen with baton and spray which was said to be "for training only"
One point that's old news from Margot's input is the weapons situation.... Yes Grand Cayman is violent and this is covered up by the government. Weapons seem to be easily accessible to the criminal element, so the shift officers are now drawing weapons (MP5 and H&K USP9 ) on a daily basis. I carry a weapon everyday and usually have to draw it a few times a week! There is also a permanently armed unit called USG, which assist all operational units. There is always the fear, within the service, that there will be a police fatality before long. As you can probably guess, body armour IS NOT issued!
Police vehicles are crap and dangerous. Most don't have working a/c o you sweat your bits off all day long. One cop crashed recently because the brakes failed on his car. The government garage just shrugged their shoulders and admitted knowing the brakes were dodgy when the car was last serviced.
It's also true about not being able to specialise. All the plum jobs have been taken by caymanians or other Caribbean expats, or some white expats that have been here years. As a white expat, you ( and me ) are at the very bottom of the pecking order when it comes to postings DESPITE your experience ( which counts for sh*t here ).
You'll probably spend at least 2 days out of 4 on static duty at either the governors, courts or in the dreaded cell block at central police station. Think third world conditions and you're somewhere near! It's an horrendous AND dangerous duty to work.
The rental situation has also increased since Margot was here. Expect to pay CI$1500 for a one bed apt now and bet CI$2000-2700 CI for a 2 bed. Utilities are approx CI$300 a month. Cars are overpriced too - a cheapie 7-8 yr old car Will set you back bet CI$4000-5000
I'm stuck here at the moment, having had to resign from the UK police, otherwise I'd leave. A lot of expats are ;leaving at the moment yet the RCIP continues to tell it's lies during their recruitment trips!
Good luck - you're certainly going to need it. :scared:
Margot said "This country is not the peaceful, laid-back island that they would like the rest of the world to think. The government and the police administration have become very proficient at masking and covering up the truth." I AGREE
This administration doesn’t care about officer safety. You will be going to domestics alone, have no lethal weapons at your disposal even if these incidents involve weapons. The police vehicles that you may drive, in some cases there are no police vehicles available, are usually unroad-worthy or unsafe. You may get a police radio if you’re lucky, and there is a 50/50 chance that the 911 dispatcher will respond to your cries of help. DEFINITELY
The majority of incidents are domestics and fights; usually there are weapons involved. The only defensive weapons we have are the expandable stick (similar to the ASP), and pepper spray. The majority of arrest that you will do, even outside domestics and fights, will involve a fight with the suspect. BRING YOUR OWN KIT
Expect to be in uniform duty for the next two years. Part of the uniform duty is cell guard duty, which is similar to being a prison guard. You will get food and water for the prisoners, and let them out of their cells so they can go to the washroom. There is a lot of discrimination towards the ex-pats and women in general. The ex-pats will be the better trained and disciplined officers. You will therefore be the ones taking most of the incidents, but not getting any rewards for it. The rewards will go to the locals. FOR SURE
There are a few local officers who are very capable of doing their duty, and we have no problems working with them. Unfortunately they are far and few.
TOO FEW
If you think you’re coming down to enjoy the sun, unfortunately you will be spending more time at work than anything else. 12 HOURS TAKES IT'S TOLL
Living on the island has become more expensive after Hurricane Ivan, and prices will steadily increase as a result of rising insurance prices. Expect to pay $1,500 CI for an average one-bedroom apartment, and you will be paying well over $2,000 CI for a two bedroom apt. If you are looking for a nice apartment, in a nice local, expect to pay $1,000 CI more. These cost do not include electricity that will run you anywhere from $200 CI and up, then there is water, cable and phone. The companies will nickel and dime you for everything, and don’t expect any fast or professional service. I had to wait 3 months for the Internet, and the last three days they couldn’t come to deliver the modem because it was raining, or a fellow officer who had the Internet technician crash his computer when they tried to set it up. NOW MORE EXPENSIVE
Vehicles are expensive to buy, as they are now starting for a cheap used car at around $3,000 CI. Insurance will also be expensive, especially since the insurance companies have raised home and car insurance by 100% - 500%. These hikes also include content insurance. THEY ALSO CHARGE 35% EXTRA FOR SOFT TOPS
So who should apply? If you have under 4yrs police experience, like working uniform duty, keeping busy, don’t care about your own safety, and don’t mind being treated like a 2nd class citizen, then I suggest you apply. All others should take note, and remember the information that I have put form is only the tip of the iceberg" BANG ON INFO
Sep 7th 2005, 10:05 pm
#20
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Perth, WA. Previously North west,UK
Posts: 122
Re: Royal Cayman Islands Plice
Originally Posted by Stifler
Allow me.
Don't assume that you'll be living on a tropical paradise where the highlight of your day is stolling up the beach ensuring beach bums are adrequately oiled up!
You will be working 12 hour shifts, 2 days, 2 nights and 4 off*. (the first of which you will spend sleeping).
*nb, The illustrious leaders tend to change the patterns every 3 months, so try not to plan too far in advance!
Providing you have a working radio, you will be given a substandard patrol vehicle to answer any calls from a dog barking to a fatal assault/shooting. Regardless of the call, you can guaruntee that the persons involved will have a strong disregard and hatred for police in general. Add the fact that you are a fresh faced Brit only causes more problems.
You will be frequently stationed in the cell block area which is unsafe and unsanitary for a 12 hour shift. Often with no break. There you will encounter the vile miscreants who's sole highlight of their detention is to intimidate, fight and make your time there and utter misery.
Do not think for a second that your experience will count for anything. The so-called top jobs are reserved for their local officers who are in the 'click'.
You are there to make up numbers until you are burnt out and thus their
bi-yearly recruiting cycle begins again.
Be preared to shoulder the heavy burden of emergency calls, do not rely on any help or assistance from local officers should you request it via the radio. You are, afterall living in 'paradise' on their behalf, and part of this deal, is that you WILL deal with calls and place yourself in frequent danger, often with no back-up.
If you take pride in your work, and expect certain standards to be adhered to such as victim support, initial investigation and crime scene preservation to name a few, then you will have more luck banging your head against a brick wall. There is, no such thing.
Accept that you will be supervised by people that would have trouble completing a UK application form, let alone, being accepted over here. Learn to bite your tongue when you are told you should write more traffic tickets, despite the fact you have spent the last 12 hours driving in a car with bald tyres and faulty headlights.
Also accept that you will often be victimised because of your skin colour and nationality. You can have the best case for joining the department, even an accredited detective investigator, but don't be surprised to see local boy, who doesn't know the difference between an RTA and a Deception to be given the go ahead to gain a place in CID. Then listen to his 'advice' he gives you on processing your prisoner......
Now, for all those officers that have been, err... shall I say 'lucky'? enough to be accepted in the recent interviews. I sincerely hope that one of your questions in the interview was to enquire about the accomodation situation.
Check on real estates sites, such as remax, centry 21 etc, for rentals on the islands. The islands are still recovering from a hurricane their last year damaging 80% of properties on the island. And I'm not talking a few missing roof tiles either!
If you are looking for anything under 1000 pounds a month, I suggest you are looking at either a) a house in a bad area, or b) a house that has yet to be repaired. Expect to pay up to and above half your monthy income on your rental. Then take into account utility bills, and living costs.
You WILL need a car. Prefrebly one that is not hurricane damaged and well looked after. This is no easy fete, when you bear in mind yearly servicing is something unheard of, as most people are transient and are only on the islands a few years, they tend not to take care of cars like here.
Expect to pay double your insurance premiums for cars and homes. Another effect of Hurricane Ivan last year.
But above all - enjoy yourself!
Don't assume that you'll be living on a tropical paradise where the highlight of your day is stolling up the beach ensuring beach bums are adrequately oiled up!
You will be working 12 hour shifts, 2 days, 2 nights and 4 off*. (the first of which you will spend sleeping).
*nb, The illustrious leaders tend to change the patterns every 3 months, so try not to plan too far in advance!
Providing you have a working radio, you will be given a substandard patrol vehicle to answer any calls from a dog barking to a fatal assault/shooting. Regardless of the call, you can guaruntee that the persons involved will have a strong disregard and hatred for police in general. Add the fact that you are a fresh faced Brit only causes more problems.
You will be frequently stationed in the cell block area which is unsafe and unsanitary for a 12 hour shift. Often with no break. There you will encounter the vile miscreants who's sole highlight of their detention is to intimidate, fight and make your time there and utter misery.
Do not think for a second that your experience will count for anything. The so-called top jobs are reserved for their local officers who are in the 'click'.
You are there to make up numbers until you are burnt out and thus their
bi-yearly recruiting cycle begins again.
Be preared to shoulder the heavy burden of emergency calls, do not rely on any help or assistance from local officers should you request it via the radio. You are, afterall living in 'paradise' on their behalf, and part of this deal, is that you WILL deal with calls and place yourself in frequent danger, often with no back-up.
If you take pride in your work, and expect certain standards to be adhered to such as victim support, initial investigation and crime scene preservation to name a few, then you will have more luck banging your head against a brick wall. There is, no such thing.
Accept that you will be supervised by people that would have trouble completing a UK application form, let alone, being accepted over here. Learn to bite your tongue when you are told you should write more traffic tickets, despite the fact you have spent the last 12 hours driving in a car with bald tyres and faulty headlights.
Also accept that you will often be victimised because of your skin colour and nationality. You can have the best case for joining the department, even an accredited detective investigator, but don't be surprised to see local boy, who doesn't know the difference between an RTA and a Deception to be given the go ahead to gain a place in CID. Then listen to his 'advice' he gives you on processing your prisoner......
Now, for all those officers that have been, err... shall I say 'lucky'? enough to be accepted in the recent interviews. I sincerely hope that one of your questions in the interview was to enquire about the accomodation situation.
Check on real estates sites, such as remax, centry 21 etc, for rentals on the islands. The islands are still recovering from a hurricane their last year damaging 80% of properties on the island. And I'm not talking a few missing roof tiles either!
If you are looking for anything under 1000 pounds a month, I suggest you are looking at either a) a house in a bad area, or b) a house that has yet to be repaired. Expect to pay up to and above half your monthy income on your rental. Then take into account utility bills, and living costs.
You WILL need a car. Prefrebly one that is not hurricane damaged and well looked after. This is no easy fete, when you bear in mind yearly servicing is something unheard of, as most people are transient and are only on the islands a few years, they tend not to take care of cars like here.
Expect to pay double your insurance premiums for cars and homes. Another effect of Hurricane Ivan last year.
But above all - enjoy yourself!
And I thought nursing was bad !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :scared:
Sep 8th 2005, 5:26 pm
#21
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 26
Re: Royal Cayman Islands Plice
Hi There,
I am an ex-pat cop in the RCIP, and while i agree with many of the comments made by other people on this "thread," i can't help but feel it is a bit one sided and harsh. Don't get me wrong, the RCIP has numerous issues which it needs to face and resolve, and it is very frustrating being an overseas officer in the RCIP, but i have never found it to be as bad as the picture being painted of the service on this thread.
At the end of the day, if things were so great back home in the job, we would not be here, and no one is holding a gun to anyones head forcing them to stay here. I noticed there was a person who said he/she had cut his/her ties with his force back in the UK, so he/she is "stuck" here. I can only assume things are/were not that bad in the RCIP, when you made the descision to terminate your contact with your home force, or you would not have done this in the first place? Yes things may have slid downhill since Ivan, but most of the problems discussed on this thread were prevalant before the hurricane (and therefore when you made the descision to terminate your contract with your home force.) So my point being, if things are as bad in the RCIP as you say they are, why did you sever your ties with your home force?
Don't get me wrong, i get very pissed off and frustrated working in the job here, but i thought i would add a few posotive comments to this thread for any people prospectively looking to come over for a few years :
1 : I have always found locals in the job here to generally be friendly (apart from our laughable Jamaican minority in CID, who seem to be wannabee tough guys!)
2 : I have found the public to be very pro-police, very curtious and respectfull, and generally friendly towards me. The times when i have had to go "fighting" with any locals, are few and far between compared to where i worked back home. I also find that quite often locals are more forthcomming with the likes of me because i am an overseas officer, and therefore they do not really see me as part of the RCIP "machine" so to speak. I get the impression local's are often more willing to speak to the likes of me, because the overseas officers have a tendancy to treat them better than some of the local officers (especially CID,) do.
3 : You will be able to do the job standing on your head here, it is much more simple than back home. The consiquence of some of the RCIP standards being so bad, is that you can't help but end up looking like a competant proffesional police officer.
4 : I can't even begin to compare my workload here to what i had back home (and i would like to think i am a reasnably productive officer here,) so i do not have any stress.
5 : I can't believe there are people complaining about the 12 hour shifts, but then i guess people complaned when we did eight hour shifts too! Doing 12 hour shifts we only work 50% of the time, so we are off quite alot which is good (especially when you add time back and annual leave to that.)
6 : The island (in my opinion,) is a great place to live. It is relaxed, there are loads of nice bars and restaurants, loads of water sports to get involved in, a good social scene, great climate, friendly people, and i have to say very good quality of life. It beats home hands down, i'm sure i would not be the only one to say this, which is the reason there are so many people from the UK over here, who have stayed to make a life for themselves.
7 :The property / rental situation is alot better than it was, when you get here finding a place to live will not be the problem it once was. You can get a nice two bedroomed apartment for CI$2500, so if you are willing to share you can have a nice place to stay and will still be able to put some money away for savings each month (we pull in about CI$3400 per month.) If you come over with a partner who works and have two incomes then you will be fine. If you come over with a partner or familly who can't or don't work for whatever reason, and you have to survive on one salary then it is going to be tough.
8: Serious crime has increased post Ivan, but not your day to day crime. However the amount of serious crime is still nothing here compared to back home. If i go out to a bar here i do not need to worry about being "bottled" by some seventeen year old @rsehole like in the UK, and if i leave my house unlocked the chances are when i get back to it no one will have touched it (unlike the UK.)
I think i would conclude by saying to those of you that are thinking of comming here, that yes the RCIP has many issues, most of which will probably never be resolved, don't expect any form of "career" when you get here, or any career oppertunities should you decide to stay for all the reasons that have already been covered by people on this thread. However, by virtue of the fact you are looking into the possibility of comming over here, things can't all be a "bed or roses" back home, so what have you got to lose by comming here (initially,) for two years? If you take the attitude of comming over here for a "working holiday," i think you could have a great time. Turn up to work, do what you have to do, awnser the radio and be reasnably productive, and let all the bullsh!t go over your head as difficult as it sometimes may be, and then enjoy your days off - its a great island to live on! If you come over for a career then you will be sorely dissapointed, but if you just come over for quality of life reasons, i think you would enjoy it. After all, it is only two years of your life, if you can't take any more after two years you can go back home (interestingly there have been a few British cops who have done this, only to return a few months later after realizing the grass is not always greener on the other side.) After two years you will have seen eneaugh of the system to decide whether or not you want to stay, and if you think what you have to put up with in work does not out-weigh the great quality of life, then you can stay. But really, what have you go to lose? Ask yourself this when you are scraping the ice off the windscreen of your car when you are going to a dayshift this November in the UK, when you could be on a tropical island. No its not all perfect here, but then neither is the UK, or the job in the UK, otherwise you woulden't be contemplating leaving the UK in the first place.
Cheers.
I am an ex-pat cop in the RCIP, and while i agree with many of the comments made by other people on this "thread," i can't help but feel it is a bit one sided and harsh. Don't get me wrong, the RCIP has numerous issues which it needs to face and resolve, and it is very frustrating being an overseas officer in the RCIP, but i have never found it to be as bad as the picture being painted of the service on this thread.
At the end of the day, if things were so great back home in the job, we would not be here, and no one is holding a gun to anyones head forcing them to stay here. I noticed there was a person who said he/she had cut his/her ties with his force back in the UK, so he/she is "stuck" here. I can only assume things are/were not that bad in the RCIP, when you made the descision to terminate your contact with your home force, or you would not have done this in the first place? Yes things may have slid downhill since Ivan, but most of the problems discussed on this thread were prevalant before the hurricane (and therefore when you made the descision to terminate your contract with your home force.) So my point being, if things are as bad in the RCIP as you say they are, why did you sever your ties with your home force?
Don't get me wrong, i get very pissed off and frustrated working in the job here, but i thought i would add a few posotive comments to this thread for any people prospectively looking to come over for a few years :
1 : I have always found locals in the job here to generally be friendly (apart from our laughable Jamaican minority in CID, who seem to be wannabee tough guys!)
2 : I have found the public to be very pro-police, very curtious and respectfull, and generally friendly towards me. The times when i have had to go "fighting" with any locals, are few and far between compared to where i worked back home. I also find that quite often locals are more forthcomming with the likes of me because i am an overseas officer, and therefore they do not really see me as part of the RCIP "machine" so to speak. I get the impression local's are often more willing to speak to the likes of me, because the overseas officers have a tendancy to treat them better than some of the local officers (especially CID,) do.
3 : You will be able to do the job standing on your head here, it is much more simple than back home. The consiquence of some of the RCIP standards being so bad, is that you can't help but end up looking like a competant proffesional police officer.
4 : I can't even begin to compare my workload here to what i had back home (and i would like to think i am a reasnably productive officer here,) so i do not have any stress.
5 : I can't believe there are people complaining about the 12 hour shifts, but then i guess people complaned when we did eight hour shifts too! Doing 12 hour shifts we only work 50% of the time, so we are off quite alot which is good (especially when you add time back and annual leave to that.)
6 : The island (in my opinion,) is a great place to live. It is relaxed, there are loads of nice bars and restaurants, loads of water sports to get involved in, a good social scene, great climate, friendly people, and i have to say very good quality of life. It beats home hands down, i'm sure i would not be the only one to say this, which is the reason there are so many people from the UK over here, who have stayed to make a life for themselves.
7 :The property / rental situation is alot better than it was, when you get here finding a place to live will not be the problem it once was. You can get a nice two bedroomed apartment for CI$2500, so if you are willing to share you can have a nice place to stay and will still be able to put some money away for savings each month (we pull in about CI$3400 per month.) If you come over with a partner who works and have two incomes then you will be fine. If you come over with a partner or familly who can't or don't work for whatever reason, and you have to survive on one salary then it is going to be tough.
8: Serious crime has increased post Ivan, but not your day to day crime. However the amount of serious crime is still nothing here compared to back home. If i go out to a bar here i do not need to worry about being "bottled" by some seventeen year old @rsehole like in the UK, and if i leave my house unlocked the chances are when i get back to it no one will have touched it (unlike the UK.)
I think i would conclude by saying to those of you that are thinking of comming here, that yes the RCIP has many issues, most of which will probably never be resolved, don't expect any form of "career" when you get here, or any career oppertunities should you decide to stay for all the reasons that have already been covered by people on this thread. However, by virtue of the fact you are looking into the possibility of comming over here, things can't all be a "bed or roses" back home, so what have you got to lose by comming here (initially,) for two years? If you take the attitude of comming over here for a "working holiday," i think you could have a great time. Turn up to work, do what you have to do, awnser the radio and be reasnably productive, and let all the bullsh!t go over your head as difficult as it sometimes may be, and then enjoy your days off - its a great island to live on! If you come over for a career then you will be sorely dissapointed, but if you just come over for quality of life reasons, i think you would enjoy it. After all, it is only two years of your life, if you can't take any more after two years you can go back home (interestingly there have been a few British cops who have done this, only to return a few months later after realizing the grass is not always greener on the other side.) After two years you will have seen eneaugh of the system to decide whether or not you want to stay, and if you think what you have to put up with in work does not out-weigh the great quality of life, then you can stay. But really, what have you go to lose? Ask yourself this when you are scraping the ice off the windscreen of your car when you are going to a dayshift this November in the UK, when you could be on a tropical island. No its not all perfect here, but then neither is the UK, or the job in the UK, otherwise you woulden't be contemplating leaving the UK in the first place.
Cheers.
Sep 8th 2005, 11:20 pm
#22
Just Joined
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 19
Re: Royal Cayman Islands Plice
BAZ, I have to ask........... Don't you think that numerous murders, 22 burglaries in one day, shootings and regular armed robberies would be considered a 'crime epidemic'? The Caymans has a population of of about 40,000 thats equivalent to a small town in the UK. If a similar rise in crime was recorded in a town in the UK, the government would be calling for the resignation of the Chief Constable or Commissioner - Oh hang on the RCIP Commisioner did resign didn't he?
Sep 9th 2005, 6:04 pm
#23
Just Joined
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 23
Re: Royal Cayman Islands Plice
Originally Posted by Margot
BAZ, I have to ask........... Don't you think that numerous murders, 22 burglaries in one day, shootings and regular armed robberies would be considered a 'crime epidemic'? The Caymans has a population of of about 40,000 thats equivalent to a small town in the UK. If a similar rise in crime was recorded in a town in the UK, the government would be calling for the resignation of the Chief Constable or Commissioner - Oh hang on the RCIP Commisioner did resign didn't he?
Baz, I'm glad there's finally a positive view put forward on this thread (well as positive as you can be about policing anyway!). I am one of the British officers offered posts in Cayman and i am in touch with four or five expat officers in RCIP - all of whom put forward similar views to those of Baz.
I don't mean to sound patronising but do those officers that are been so negative about the Cayman Islands remember what it is like to work in the UK? Granted 22 burglaries in a small place in one night is high - but how many were there for the rest of the week?
Don't get me wrong i am grateful for all the info i can get about policing over there and i am certainly not expecting it to be easy - but i personally like a challenge at work. Hopefully with a new commisioner from the UK on the way things will improve over there (especially the pay!!!). As long as i can sort my finances i intend to take the offer. After all lifes boring without a challenge and you only live once - this is too good an opportunity to miss. If it turns to rat sh!t its only a couple of years out of 30.
Whats to lose????
Sep 9th 2005, 6:17 pm
#24
Just Joined
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14
Re: Royal Cayman Islands Plice
Originally Posted by Baz
Hi There,
I am an ex-pat cop in the RCIP, and while i agree with many of the comments made by other people on this "thread," i can't help but feel it is a bit one sided and harsh. Don't get me wrong, the RCIP has numerous issues which it needs to face and resolve, and it is very frustrating being an overseas officer in the RCIP, but i have never found it to be as bad as the picture being painted of the service on this thread.
'Baz', from what you say there, above, I can only assume that you are one of two persons.
1) An overseas officer who has landed a plumb role away from front line policing. (Hence, it's not that bad).
Or, 2) An officer working on the front line, in a desperate cry for help in dealing with the day-to-day grief that only that job can bring. I could not fault you for that. The thin blue line there desperatly needs some good, able officers to assist. And if I were in the front line there, I'd be screaming for help and urging all 20 officers to take up those positions and get here as quickly as possible. But on reflection that would be quiet selfish wouldn't it? (If I'm suffering then so should everyone else type attitude...)
Don't get me wrong, i get very pissed off and frustrated working in the job here, but i thought i would add a few posotive comments to this thread for any people prospectively looking to come over for a few years :
1 : I have always found locals in the job here to generally be friendly (apart from our laughable Jamaican minority in CID, who seem to be wannabee tough guys!)
2 : I have found the public to be very pro-police, very curtious and respectfull, and generally friendly towards me. The times when i have had to go "fighting" with any locals, are few and far between compared to where i worked back home. I also find that quite often locals are more forthcomming with the likes of me because i am an overseas officer, and therefore they do not really see me as part of the RCIP "machine" so to speak. I get the impression local's are often more willing to speak to the likes of me, because the overseas officers have a tendancy to treat them better than some of the local officers (especially CID,) do.
Again I can only assume that, you have no experience of front line policing at George Town, or you have been very lucky in what you deal with
3 : You will be able to do the job standing on your head here, it is much more simple than back home. The consiquence of some of the RCIP standards being so bad, is that you can't help but end up looking like a competant proffesional police officer.
4 : I can't even begin to compare my workload here to what i had back home (and i would like to think i am a reasnably productive officer here,) so i do not have any stress.
5 : I can't believe there are people complaining about the 12 hour shifts, but then i guess people complaned when we did eight hour shifts too! Doing 12 hour shifts we only work 50% of the time, so we are off quite alot which is good (especially when you add time back and annual leave to that.)
Surely you've had the misfortunate to do a 12 hour shift in the cell block, without a break? No? And then call up a colleague for refreshments, only to be told they're too busy avoiding work to help you out with food!
And lest we forget, speaking of annual leave. Only 3 periods of leave is allowed per year. So prospective recruits please note: A day off here, and day of there... next time you take leave, you better take your whole 28 days allocation or lose it!
6 : The island (in my opinion,) is a great place to live. It is relaxed, there are loads of nice bars and restaurants, loads of water sports to get involved in, a good social scene, great climate, friendly people, and i have to say very good quality of life. It beats home hands down, i'm sure i would not be the only one to say this, which is the reason there are so many people from the UK over here, who have stayed to make a life for themselves.
7 :The property / rental situation is alot better than it was, when you get here finding a place to live will not be the problem it once was. You can get a nice two bedroomed apartment for CI$2500, so if you are willing to share you can have a nice place to stay and will still be able to put some money away for savings each month (we pull in about CI$3400 per month.) If you come over with a partner who works and have two incomes then you will be fine. If you come over with a partner or familly who can't or don't work for whatever reason, and you have to survive on one salary then it is going to be tough.
Having 'quality of life' and 'willing to share' in the same paragraph does not really fit does it? Bit of a contradiction in terms I suggest.
8: Serious crime has increased post Ivan, but not your day to day crime. However the amount of serious crime is still nothing here compared to back home. If i go out to a bar here i do not need to worry about being "bottled" by some seventeen year old @rsehole like in the UK, and if i leave my house unlocked the chances are when i get back to it no one will have touched it (unlike the UK.)
After all, it is only two years of your life, if you can't take any more after two years you can go back home (interestingly there have been a few British cops who have done this, only to return a few months later after realizing the grass is not always greener on the other side.) After two years you will have seen eneaugh of the system to decide whether or not you want to stay, and if you think what you have to put up with in work does not out-weigh the great quality of life, then you can stay. But really, what have you go to lose? Ask yourself this when you are scraping the ice off the windscreen of your car when you are going to a dayshift this November in the UK, when you could be on a tropical island. No its not all perfect here, but then neither is the UK, or the job in the UK, otherwise you woulden't be contemplating leaving the UK in the first place.
What have you got to lose? Fair point, might I say: Your sanity? Your self esteem/worth. I don't know, it may be different if I were one of the teflon officers who have a crafty knack of 'work avoidance' such as a community support officer or someone stationed on a remote district. I may also share your view!
Cheers.
I am an ex-pat cop in the RCIP, and while i agree with many of the comments made by other people on this "thread," i can't help but feel it is a bit one sided and harsh. Don't get me wrong, the RCIP has numerous issues which it needs to face and resolve, and it is very frustrating being an overseas officer in the RCIP, but i have never found it to be as bad as the picture being painted of the service on this thread.
'Baz', from what you say there, above, I can only assume that you are one of two persons.
1) An overseas officer who has landed a plumb role away from front line policing. (Hence, it's not that bad).
Or, 2) An officer working on the front line, in a desperate cry for help in dealing with the day-to-day grief that only that job can bring. I could not fault you for that. The thin blue line there desperatly needs some good, able officers to assist. And if I were in the front line there, I'd be screaming for help and urging all 20 officers to take up those positions and get here as quickly as possible. But on reflection that would be quiet selfish wouldn't it? (If I'm suffering then so should everyone else type attitude...)
Don't get me wrong, i get very pissed off and frustrated working in the job here, but i thought i would add a few posotive comments to this thread for any people prospectively looking to come over for a few years :
1 : I have always found locals in the job here to generally be friendly (apart from our laughable Jamaican minority in CID, who seem to be wannabee tough guys!)
2 : I have found the public to be very pro-police, very curtious and respectfull, and generally friendly towards me. The times when i have had to go "fighting" with any locals, are few and far between compared to where i worked back home. I also find that quite often locals are more forthcomming with the likes of me because i am an overseas officer, and therefore they do not really see me as part of the RCIP "machine" so to speak. I get the impression local's are often more willing to speak to the likes of me, because the overseas officers have a tendancy to treat them better than some of the local officers (especially CID,) do.
Again I can only assume that, you have no experience of front line policing at George Town, or you have been very lucky in what you deal with
3 : You will be able to do the job standing on your head here, it is much more simple than back home. The consiquence of some of the RCIP standards being so bad, is that you can't help but end up looking like a competant proffesional police officer.
4 : I can't even begin to compare my workload here to what i had back home (and i would like to think i am a reasnably productive officer here,) so i do not have any stress.
5 : I can't believe there are people complaining about the 12 hour shifts, but then i guess people complaned when we did eight hour shifts too! Doing 12 hour shifts we only work 50% of the time, so we are off quite alot which is good (especially when you add time back and annual leave to that.)
Surely you've had the misfortunate to do a 12 hour shift in the cell block, without a break? No? And then call up a colleague for refreshments, only to be told they're too busy avoiding work to help you out with food!
And lest we forget, speaking of annual leave. Only 3 periods of leave is allowed per year. So prospective recruits please note: A day off here, and day of there... next time you take leave, you better take your whole 28 days allocation or lose it!
6 : The island (in my opinion,) is a great place to live. It is relaxed, there are loads of nice bars and restaurants, loads of water sports to get involved in, a good social scene, great climate, friendly people, and i have to say very good quality of life. It beats home hands down, i'm sure i would not be the only one to say this, which is the reason there are so many people from the UK over here, who have stayed to make a life for themselves.
7 :The property / rental situation is alot better than it was, when you get here finding a place to live will not be the problem it once was. You can get a nice two bedroomed apartment for CI$2500, so if you are willing to share you can have a nice place to stay and will still be able to put some money away for savings each month (we pull in about CI$3400 per month.) If you come over with a partner who works and have two incomes then you will be fine. If you come over with a partner or familly who can't or don't work for whatever reason, and you have to survive on one salary then it is going to be tough.
Having 'quality of life' and 'willing to share' in the same paragraph does not really fit does it? Bit of a contradiction in terms I suggest.
8: Serious crime has increased post Ivan, but not your day to day crime. However the amount of serious crime is still nothing here compared to back home. If i go out to a bar here i do not need to worry about being "bottled" by some seventeen year old @rsehole like in the UK, and if i leave my house unlocked the chances are when i get back to it no one will have touched it (unlike the UK.)
After all, it is only two years of your life, if you can't take any more after two years you can go back home (interestingly there have been a few British cops who have done this, only to return a few months later after realizing the grass is not always greener on the other side.) After two years you will have seen eneaugh of the system to decide whether or not you want to stay, and if you think what you have to put up with in work does not out-weigh the great quality of life, then you can stay. But really, what have you go to lose? Ask yourself this when you are scraping the ice off the windscreen of your car when you are going to a dayshift this November in the UK, when you could be on a tropical island. No its not all perfect here, but then neither is the UK, or the job in the UK, otherwise you woulden't be contemplating leaving the UK in the first place.
What have you got to lose? Fair point, might I say: Your sanity? Your self esteem/worth. I don't know, it may be different if I were one of the teflon officers who have a crafty knack of 'work avoidance' such as a community support officer or someone stationed on a remote district. I may also share your view!
Cheers.
Sep 9th 2005, 8:14 pm
#25
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 26
Re: Royal Cayman Islands Plice
Hi There, always nice to have a good healthy debate!
Here is how i would respond to your points :
"'Baz', from what you say there, above, I can only assume that you are one of two persons.
1) An overseas officer who has landed a plumb role away from front line policing. (Hence, it's not that bad).
Or, 2) An officer working on the front line, in a desperate cry for help in dealing with the day-to-day grief that only that job can bring. I could not fault you for that. The thin blue line there desperatly needs some good, able officers to assist. And if I were in the front line there, I'd be screaming for help and urging all 20 officers to take up those positions and get here as quickly as possible. But on reflection that would be quiet selfish wouldn't it? (If I'm suffering then so should everyone else type attitude...)"
I don't have a plum job, i am a grunt on the front line, at George Town Police Station, and i have been here long eneaugh for my "honeymoon period" to have long gone. I agree if you are one of the fortunate ones to get a nice cushy job in commenrial crime, you can have a very nice life, unfortunately that is not me! Yes i do want to see other cops come here from the UK and Canada, for all the obvious reasons. However, i am not trying to cajole people here, pretending that everything is wonderful, as they are not. As i have said i have agreed with much of what people have to say, as far as the negative side of policing goes here, but while i do agree with some of the general sentiments, i think that the way it is being depicted is a tad extreme. I acknowledege the problems, but i also think it is only fair to try and provide people with a balanced view of things here, and point out some of the posotive aspects of being being overe here (even you must have enjoyed some of your time here?!)
"Again I can only assume that, you have no experience of front line policing at George Town, or you have been very lucky in what you deal with."
Wrong. I have always worked from George Town, i would like to think i go to my fair share of calls, so i have seen a representative "slice" of RCIP calls. I was speaking to another ex-pat officer about your comment in relation to this (public attitude toward us,) the other day, they read the comment in relation to this, and they did not agree either. I can only assume you had a bad experience over here in relation to this, as my experience in relation to this has been the opposite to yours. I have never really seen other cops here, be it ex-pat or otherwise having problems with this either. Everyone seems to call me "officer," members of the public address me and my collegues as "sir" or "mam," they even open the door for you(!) And are usually more than willing to stand around and chat with you about whatever, given the oppertunity.
"Surely you've had the misfortunate to do a 12 hour shift in the cell block, without a break? No? And then call up a colleague for refreshments, only to be told they're too busy avoiding work to help you out with food!"
Yes and it is a total nightmare! I agree the cells, as we all know are pretty bad (thats probably putting it "mildly.") Whether you get stuck there for a whole shift depends on your supervisor though, you obviously had a bad one. On lots of shifts people don't do more than six hours in the cells, and then they are swapped around. I am fortunate not to get stuck in the cells too often though i have to say.
"And lest we forget, speaking of annual leave. Only 3 periods of leave is allowed per year. So prospective recruits please note: A day off here, and day of there... next time you take leave, you better take your whole 28 days allocation or lose it!"
I have not had experience of this, and i have not heard of anyone else having problems with this, i can only assume it has changed since you were here, as i have taken more than three periods in one year.
"What have you got to lose? Fair point, might I say: Your sanity? Your self esteem/worth. I don't know, it may be different if I were one of the teflon officers who have a crafty knack of 'work avoidance' such as a community support officer or someone stationed on a remote district. I may also share your view!"
Well what do you have to lose really? If you had to quit your job back home to come here well thats slightly different, it would be a bit of a gamble. If you are taking a career break to come here, or a secondment, really what is there to lose? You come out, you never know, you might think the job sucks but you could just maybe enjoy living on the island! You may end up not liking it out here, fair eneaugh, then you can always go home back to your job in the UK, what have you really lost though? Any big step you take is always going to have an element of risk to it, but nothing ventured nothing gained.
Prior to my last trip home, i was very frustrated and pissed off with the job here, however, as i have always maintained i have always enjoyed living on the island. I then went home to sunny Blighty, it was nice to go home to see friends and family, but it made me realize what a great life style we have on Cayman. When its only just getting light at around 7.00am to 8.00am in winter in the UK, and then getting dark again around 4.00pm, its freezing cold and depressing, and you are scraping the ice off your windscreen before setting off on your journey to dayshift, well enough said, i know which lifestyle i would rather take any-day. I also went back to visit my mates on shift back home, they were all pissed off, stressed out of their box, and miserbale. Most of them given the oppertunity, would have given their right arm to get away from it all and try something different.
So don't get me wrong, i am more than aware of the problems, i unfortunately have to work with them every day. Just the other night, given the oppertunity and a gun, i would have happliy shot my "supervisor"(!) But as with most things in life you have to take the rough with the smooth, i don't think the RCIP is a long term option, but i think it is a reasnable short to mid-term option. I just want to be able to give prospective applicants, what i feel is an honest and balanced opinion of what things are like here.
P.S How is the pup Margo?!
Here is how i would respond to your points :
"'Baz', from what you say there, above, I can only assume that you are one of two persons.
1) An overseas officer who has landed a plumb role away from front line policing. (Hence, it's not that bad).
Or, 2) An officer working on the front line, in a desperate cry for help in dealing with the day-to-day grief that only that job can bring. I could not fault you for that. The thin blue line there desperatly needs some good, able officers to assist. And if I were in the front line there, I'd be screaming for help and urging all 20 officers to take up those positions and get here as quickly as possible. But on reflection that would be quiet selfish wouldn't it? (If I'm suffering then so should everyone else type attitude...)"
I don't have a plum job, i am a grunt on the front line, at George Town Police Station, and i have been here long eneaugh for my "honeymoon period" to have long gone. I agree if you are one of the fortunate ones to get a nice cushy job in commenrial crime, you can have a very nice life, unfortunately that is not me! Yes i do want to see other cops come here from the UK and Canada, for all the obvious reasons. However, i am not trying to cajole people here, pretending that everything is wonderful, as they are not. As i have said i have agreed with much of what people have to say, as far as the negative side of policing goes here, but while i do agree with some of the general sentiments, i think that the way it is being depicted is a tad extreme. I acknowledege the problems, but i also think it is only fair to try and provide people with a balanced view of things here, and point out some of the posotive aspects of being being overe here (even you must have enjoyed some of your time here?!)
"Again I can only assume that, you have no experience of front line policing at George Town, or you have been very lucky in what you deal with."
Wrong. I have always worked from George Town, i would like to think i go to my fair share of calls, so i have seen a representative "slice" of RCIP calls. I was speaking to another ex-pat officer about your comment in relation to this (public attitude toward us,) the other day, they read the comment in relation to this, and they did not agree either. I can only assume you had a bad experience over here in relation to this, as my experience in relation to this has been the opposite to yours. I have never really seen other cops here, be it ex-pat or otherwise having problems with this either. Everyone seems to call me "officer," members of the public address me and my collegues as "sir" or "mam," they even open the door for you(!) And are usually more than willing to stand around and chat with you about whatever, given the oppertunity.
"Surely you've had the misfortunate to do a 12 hour shift in the cell block, without a break? No? And then call up a colleague for refreshments, only to be told they're too busy avoiding work to help you out with food!"
Yes and it is a total nightmare! I agree the cells, as we all know are pretty bad (thats probably putting it "mildly.") Whether you get stuck there for a whole shift depends on your supervisor though, you obviously had a bad one. On lots of shifts people don't do more than six hours in the cells, and then they are swapped around. I am fortunate not to get stuck in the cells too often though i have to say.
"And lest we forget, speaking of annual leave. Only 3 periods of leave is allowed per year. So prospective recruits please note: A day off here, and day of there... next time you take leave, you better take your whole 28 days allocation or lose it!"
I have not had experience of this, and i have not heard of anyone else having problems with this, i can only assume it has changed since you were here, as i have taken more than three periods in one year.
"What have you got to lose? Fair point, might I say: Your sanity? Your self esteem/worth. I don't know, it may be different if I were one of the teflon officers who have a crafty knack of 'work avoidance' such as a community support officer or someone stationed on a remote district. I may also share your view!"
Well what do you have to lose really? If you had to quit your job back home to come here well thats slightly different, it would be a bit of a gamble. If you are taking a career break to come here, or a secondment, really what is there to lose? You come out, you never know, you might think the job sucks but you could just maybe enjoy living on the island! You may end up not liking it out here, fair eneaugh, then you can always go home back to your job in the UK, what have you really lost though? Any big step you take is always going to have an element of risk to it, but nothing ventured nothing gained.
Prior to my last trip home, i was very frustrated and pissed off with the job here, however, as i have always maintained i have always enjoyed living on the island. I then went home to sunny Blighty, it was nice to go home to see friends and family, but it made me realize what a great life style we have on Cayman. When its only just getting light at around 7.00am to 8.00am in winter in the UK, and then getting dark again around 4.00pm, its freezing cold and depressing, and you are scraping the ice off your windscreen before setting off on your journey to dayshift, well enough said, i know which lifestyle i would rather take any-day. I also went back to visit my mates on shift back home, they were all pissed off, stressed out of their box, and miserbale. Most of them given the oppertunity, would have given their right arm to get away from it all and try something different.
So don't get me wrong, i am more than aware of the problems, i unfortunately have to work with them every day. Just the other night, given the oppertunity and a gun, i would have happliy shot my "supervisor"(!) But as with most things in life you have to take the rough with the smooth, i don't think the RCIP is a long term option, but i think it is a reasnable short to mid-term option. I just want to be able to give prospective applicants, what i feel is an honest and balanced opinion of what things are like here.
P.S How is the pup Margo?!
Sep 11th 2005, 5:26 am
#26
Just Joined
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 19
Re: Royal Cayman Islands Plice
P.S How is the pup Margo?!
Pup is just fine and loves the UK with the higher standard of living and the ease of which she got an internet connection!!
Pup is just fine and loves the UK with the higher standard of living and the ease of which she got an internet connection!!
Sep 15th 2005, 3:17 pm
#27
Just Joined
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1
Re: Royal Cayman Islands Police
To My Fellow Future Subordinates,
I Charles Best am a sergeant with the RCIP, I read with surprise the comments from former expat officers. I myself am an expat from the beautiful island of Barbados. I can only say that those former officers were not up to the job. This is not the UK so you should not expect the same standards of policing. I suspect these officers questioning the professionalism of the local officers are probably the ones that I have had to reprimand regularly for not wearing their hats or sleeping while on duty. I hope that the new recruits from the UK listen to their supervisors and don’t try to change the way things are run here. Please don’t come here complaining, you will earn an above average salary and I ask in return is that you listen to my superior knowledge.
Please ensure that your hats are worn correctly, your shoes are polished, badges polished and the creases in your shirts are maintained throughout your 12 hour duty. I will inspect you without prior warning on this matter. Gentlemen no facial hair is permitted, this goes for the ladies too and absolutely NO jewelry is allowed.
You should have pocket books ready for inspection with a list of targets for that shift ready for parade. At the end of each duty set aside an hour for me to inspect your pocket books which should outline your accomplishments for that duty.
You will be expected to work on shift in George Town, specialist postings are for the local officers, you are here to work not sit behind a desk.
You are most welcome to the Islands.
Sincerely
Charles Best
I Charles Best am a sergeant with the RCIP, I read with surprise the comments from former expat officers. I myself am an expat from the beautiful island of Barbados. I can only say that those former officers were not up to the job. This is not the UK so you should not expect the same standards of policing. I suspect these officers questioning the professionalism of the local officers are probably the ones that I have had to reprimand regularly for not wearing their hats or sleeping while on duty. I hope that the new recruits from the UK listen to their supervisors and don’t try to change the way things are run here. Please don’t come here complaining, you will earn an above average salary and I ask in return is that you listen to my superior knowledge.
Please ensure that your hats are worn correctly, your shoes are polished, badges polished and the creases in your shirts are maintained throughout your 12 hour duty. I will inspect you without prior warning on this matter. Gentlemen no facial hair is permitted, this goes for the ladies too and absolutely NO jewelry is allowed.
You should have pocket books ready for inspection with a list of targets for that shift ready for parade. At the end of each duty set aside an hour for me to inspect your pocket books which should outline your accomplishments for that duty.
You will be expected to work on shift in George Town, specialist postings are for the local officers, you are here to work not sit behind a desk.
You are most welcome to the Islands.
Sincerely
Charles Best
Sep 16th 2005, 8:18 pm
#28
Just Joined
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14
Re: Royal Cayman Islands Plice
Originally Posted by Baz
So don't get me wrong, i am more than aware of the problems, i unfortunately have to work with them every day. Just the other night, given the oppertunity and a gun, i would have happliy shot my "supervisor"(!) But as with most things in life you have to take the rough with the smooth, i don't think the RCIP is a long term option, but i think it is a reasnable short to mid-term option. I just want to be able to give prospective applicants, what i feel is an honest and balanced opinion of what things are like here.
P.S How is the pup Margo?!
P.S How is the pup Margo?!
Reading what you wrote about the lifestyle 'Baz', makes me very envious, I may move to the islands, not in the police though.... something a little more sexy, maybe as a dive instructor...
Oct 4th 2005, 5:05 pm
#29
Banned
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 5
Re: Royal Cayman Islands Police
I got offered the job, I have 14 years service and I was concerned about the rate pay I was starting on. I initially declined the offer but I was then offered a position starting on a salary of $59,254, a $5,260 relocation allowance and an extra week free hotel accommodation. I have now accepted. Did anyone else get offered this?
Would like to hear from other future colleagues.
Stumpy
Would like to hear from other future colleagues.
Stumpy
Oct 4th 2005, 6:14 pm
#30
Just Joined
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 23
Re: Royal Cayman Islands Police
Originally Posted by STUMPY
I got offered the job, I have 14 years service and I was concerned about the rate pay I was starting on. I initially declined the offer but I was then offered a position starting on a salary of $59,254, a $5,260 relocation allowance and an extra week free hotel accommodation. I have now accepted. Did anyone else get offered this?
Would like to hear from other future colleagues.
Stumpy
Would like to hear from other future colleagues.
Stumpy
