Chastity

Ok so I'll start the new one then.....

Please don't get personal or derogatory on this new thread as I really do find the comments good and bad to be very helpful.

Gretel recently told me that as I am a qualified detective with 15 years service I would be on the higher rate of pay, and I could possibly go into a specialised post - Family Unit, CID or Financial Crimes very quickly if not immediately.

What I heard from another Officer is that all the UK Officers there now are on the 5 year rate of pay regardless of service. Is this the case? and does it go up? If Gretel is right, and I go on a higher rate of pay, I think I will be resented by the other UK Officers if they are on a lower rate of pay.......

Would be interested to hear your thoughts on this.

Meanwhile I'm still concerned about the pension but it appears career advancement is possible so I might not need to return to the UK.

Thanks for all the previous thread contributions you have helped with a difficult decision (mind you haven't even got an interview yet!)

BULLDOG

Chastity, I'm pleased you started the new thread. I was looking through some information on the RCIP and I found this-

http://www.caymannetnews.com/2005/11/959/cop.shtml

I think it's quite shocking.

Pat Butcher

Chastity - there is no chance for promotion if you are a female officer from the UK. The one cited is an exceptional case and for exceptional reasons which I will not go into as I may banned - maybe you read what I wrote earlier. The pay situation - they may say that you'll be paid according to experience but the reality is you'll be on the 5 year rate of pay for the whole time you are there. Unless it's been changed....

Bulldog - If you go there you will find things 'shocking' every time you turn up at work.

Cayman Cop - You are being brave after the bosses warned you........

SoS

Chastity, well done for starting up a new blog.

Unfortunately you are always going to get the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to police officers. Some are more diplomatic than others and although Pat Butcher's comments were harsh, they were also extremely fair and true. The female in question was not promoted on merit at all. She has excellent skills in manipulation among other things. So, although the remarks were derogatory, Pat was being honest in that it is difficult to get promoted as a female unless you are prepared to go that little bit further for your cause, if you catch my drift!! Mr H (whoever he was) supported this person because he has probably been there too. The point is that it isn't that easy to advance your career, although it is not totally impossible, if that makes sense.

That aside I would say if you are half interested in joining then come on over for a couple of weeks and check it out. At least that way you can explore the island, have a tour of the station(s), chat openly and honestly to a variety of officers (incl locals), and get a holiday in the bargain.

The idea of working in the Caribbean sounds idyllic but the reality can be somewhat shocking to some. Policing, values, culture, nightlife, weather are all completely different to what you will be used to in the UK. There are so many positives as well as negatives with working and living in the Cayman islands, but it really isn't for everyone. I for one thoroughly enjoy the island, the people and believe it or not the job (policing is in my blood).

As for the 5 year pay thing it is true that we are all on the 5 year pay scale, although I have heard that the Comm id currently looking into that, but I wouldn't expect to be on anything other than the 5 year pay scale, unless you have something in writing.

The pension thing back home is a bit of a bum deal though. It will certainly discourage people from taking career breaks. Probably the reason why the government pushed for it.

Hope this helps.

fabledbananna

Ok folks here it is. The definitive pension guide.

Would you believe we had a woman from the police mutual around today to give us a talk on pensions' among other things?!

It was like......someone up there knew!

Anyway, the gist of it is thus:
Currently all officers in the UK pay 11% pension and the job tops it up with a further 26%!!!
This is costing the job too much money hence the change.

So currently all officers enjoy 2/3 of their final salary after 30 years...
So if someone were to retire today and were on 30K (for instance)
They'd get £20,000 per year pension

Now if someone were to leave and rejoin, you'd go into the new pension scheme of 9%
Not only are you paying less, but you'll need to work for 35 years, to receive... wait for it.........50% of you final salary.

So in the same example you'd only get £15,000 per year after 35 years!!!! :scared:

Of course you must add onto the 35 years any additional time spent abroad, be it Cayman Islands, Aus, NZ wherever!

It appears anyone who left their UK jobs would be - for all intense and purposes: Trapped out there
The alternative is to come back and work the extra 5 years plus the amount of years you missed out on while abroad. So if I were to work 5 years abroad then I'd be doing 10 years more!!!

And who said the average life expectancy for retired officers was 67 years?

What to do?

It's not as if it's a stable environment either, what with all those hurricanes Contract terminations, and what have you

Pat Butcher

South Australia Police, I agree Banana, is the better choice. You can say bugger the pension because Australia is forever, Cayman is not........

cymru craig

Dear all,
I have sent my application off and am just seeing how it goes.
If you dont put your foot in the water then you don't know how its going to be??
I am not hoping to go to the caymans to further develop my career. I want to have a change and experience living in a different culture and environment for a couple of years. In return I will be providing my services to the best of my ability in the RCIP dealing with whatever incident comes my way and using whatever equipment I am provided with.
I have limited contacts on the island who are not police connected and have heard only positives.
The only negative things I have heard come from different web sites and chat forums and are all from police officers.

With regards to the pension problem I have today spoken to the pensions officer in my force and they have categorically stated that if I were to take a career break when I returned i would be on the current pension scheme and would not have to change to the new scheme. He also stated that any officers currently on a break would return to the old scheme also.

Whether this is a force specific thing or not I don't know but to be honest I can't see that being the case.

geordiebloke

Although I haven't looked into the pension aspect of things as much as some
people, I do seem to recall reading somewhere that you would remain on the
old pension scheme whilst on a career brake, however if you resigned from
the service and then rejoined you would then be on the new scheme.
Also, whatever pension you have built up under the old system you would
retain regardless. Therefore you would still end up with an enhanced pension
even if you went onto the new scheme.

Steve

limegreen

So whats happened since. Its all gone very quiet. In the same boat as everyone else wondering what the real situation is. Interviews are coming up next week. Is anyone into that process. Very happy until read all the negative press in this and particularly the last thread. Can anyone shed any light on what the interview is like/about ??? Help!

Chastity

I've got an interview on the 13th. I'm still not sure because of the pension, according to my force if I freeze the pension (career break) on my return I'll be on the new pension............ I would have thought that all the forces were the same???

I've got quite a few questions for them in the interview - cost of living, chances for promotion and pay scales for starters.

Good luck for the interview!.

geordieboy88

Hi
I've been following this and the previous thread with growing concern..... I have an interview on !3th also, and I really didn't appreciate the genuine concerns posted by all til I stumbled on the previous thread, especially the pension!!!!!!

certainly gives me something else to think about

Steve

limegreen

Chastity/Steve,
Think we've all been surprised by what what we've read, lets not get hung up on it. The interviews will give you an opportunity to discuss these issues. There's been nothing further from apparent current serving officers surprisingly. Remember there's no confirmation whom we are speaking with. Spoken with non police resident who does not support the views that crime is out of control and believes new chief is making a difference. Knew island pre Ivan and all seemed well then and officers spoken with then did not give away anything negative. Hence confusion!. Pensions is a weigh up but current pension will never be bettered , thats the bottom line. Its a personal decision, you do you want to do. If you're that concerned don't go. Career breaks are all very well but remember there is ,if from experience of others, no guarantee you will be taken back! Suggest a visit , and contracts / proper job description will be all important before decision made.

All the best,
Limegreen

Pat Butcher

Lime green,

The reason that currently serving Officers are no longer posting is because they have probably been warned........... freedom of speech in Cayman is not allowed and if you work for the Government expect to be denied a contract renewal if you do speak out.

The non police resident - well he / she probably lives in a nice condo, works nice hours for a bank / law firm, and probably doesn't know where
Dog City, Windsor Park or other delightful areas are. It's like saying "I live in Chelsea and I don't see any crime there..............."

Think very carefully the people that 'love it' they are only there because they hate England more.......

limegreen

Dear Pat,
Thanks for your comments, appreciate you may not confirm your still there, if so why, other than censorship ? We've heard some pretty disturbing things us budding new recruits what we should expect.!! Understand non police resident might only see rosey but what else have we got to go on.? Just trying to get a balanced view which was lost on the last thread when taken over by some half wit. Surely not every officer from the UK with a diversity of skills is expected to go on the plod. Contracts are two years so extensions should not be expected but there are many concerns as seen. Has there not been change since the new Chief arrived.? After 'on the ground advice' not just whinging, been at the coal face too long, understand? How can you help??
Regards,
Limegreen

cymru craig

Hi again,

I really think you must be getting some dodgy info regarding the pension thing.
I checked again last week with another pensions officer from my force and they stated that if I took a career break then if I were to come back I would be allowed onto the old/current pension scheme. And as a few have said already I am sure that all forces must be the same. I wouldn't be wanting to go if I couldn't be guaranteed to return on current pension.

On many web sites and discussion forums there is negativity regarding being an expat working in the RCIPS, and on occasions alarming because they are from past officers. However it is a case of suck it and see. You never know the real reason why peole are being negative about something unless you know all the info. The RCIPS is not the UK police service but they are a professional organisation in their own right who know how to police their own island.

Good luck to all in the interviews.