dreadsoc

I wish you all the best SFBR.

It's a sad indictment of the times that career breaks are being taken away. It's even sadder that forces are willing to lose experienced coppers who just want or need a brief change.
It saddens me even more that the Chief's 'bagman' can get a career break but others can't !

All the best to all of you in whatever you decide to do.

Dread - x

martinrobinson1490

Dread,

I couldnt agree more with your comments, I feel exactly the same.

I remember being so exited and keen when I first started at Greater Manchester Police and again when I joined Northumbria Police.

I now feel though that the job has gone rapidly down hill. Theres a queue of PCs through Sgts part 1 and 2, little chance to specialise due to a lot of cops on specialist posts being disbanded and put back on response / 24/7 and salaries and pensions are now under threat.

On top of this the suns never out! Haha

Got to emmigrate!

Short fat Black rat

Hiya Dread et all!

Well to keep you updated, I had a reply back from RCIPS HR, and was somewhat surprised. They revised their offer upping the salary by 3.2% then added another CI$2200 on top of the annual salary, making the annual salary CI$44616. They also mentioned a CI$650pm housing allowance and a CI$41pm call out allowance.
Needless to say on receipt of the email, after expecting a big fat pill, it didn't seem to bad.
As you can imagine it provoked several hours of discussion within the household and I made steps through my line managers to expedite the career break ( even though I'd been told unofficially it was unlikely).
Then comes the catch, I re-read the email, properly this time, and they'd actually asked me to confirm, that if I accept this new offer, that I would seek to resign immediately rather than wait for a career break to be approved.
On those conditions, and in the current climate over here, I really feel that I cant take up the offer. especially with having two young children as well. I could cope with having to come back on the new pension scheme after the career break ( if we didnt end up staying...) but to bin that safety net before I'm even there? nah! If It was just me, or me and the wife, then maybe, well probably actually, but with young children as well?
The wife is worried as well, having read some of the older forums, about the kids being subject to racism and abuse being the immigrant white cop's family, but I'm sure its not that bad is it?
It's a hellava opportunity, but there's more to think about than just me, even though I'm sure it'd great to get over there and get stuck in....
So I've declined their offer, kinda regretting it, but financially, as it stands I think its a no brainer.
I didnt get a reply from RCIPS after my previous email to them until after my last post on this forum, and Im still awaiting a reply after turning down the offer. So I'll see if I get a reply after this post. I suspect that someone may be watching this thread!

Baz

I served in the RCIP and really enjoyed my time there, and i would not change it for the world. I recognize some of the issues that have been highlighted on this forum, but personally i do not think they are that bad. I never observed any corruption, or blatant racism within the force. Yes some people were favoured, but that happens in every police force in the world, and is not necessarily related to race. There are also a number of ex-pat cops who have gone to the RCIP and climbed the promotion ladder, one i know is a Chief Inspector, another one is an inspector, and there are a number of Sgt's. Its just a case of whether or not you are willing to commit to staying in the RCIP and do the promotion exams. Don’t get me wrong, the RCIP is far from perfect, and i agree with allot of the issues cited like being called in on time off, no effective union, procedures / consistency, some poor management (having said that one of the best bosses i have ever worked under was a Caymanian Inspector), but i would suggest these are not significant enough issues to stop you spending a couple of years in the RCIP.

The real issue is if you don’t get a career break. The reality is that for whatever reasons the majority of ex-pats who serve in the RCIP spend between two and four years with the department, and then either head back to their home force or move on elsewhere. I would also highlight that there are a number of ex-pats who have left the RCIP to return to their home forces, realized the grass was not necessarily greener back in the UK, and returned to the RCIP. However if you do not have a guaranteed job to go back to because you were not granted a career break you could really struggle if your home force do not take you back, particularly given that it would appear no one is recruiting at the moment. Another consideration, as cited on this forum is that the RCIP generally operate on two year rolling contracts for officers, which does not give you much job stability. The likelihood of your contract not being renewed is highly unlikely (i only knew two people who ever suffered this fate while i was there, one some would argue was deserved, the other was not), but obviously this is still a consideration if you don’t have a job to go back to.

So i guess what i am saying is that if you are granted a career break you really don’t have much to lose by taking the plunge, if worst comes to the worst and its not for you – you can always head back to your home force. However if you are not granted a career break you are taking a huge risk.

dreadsoc

Very good advice Baz - and nice to hear from someone who has a positive outlook on their time with RCIPS.

Dread - x

Sunny Dee

[QUOTE=Baz;9793330]Another consideration, as cited on this forum is that the RCIP generally operate on two year rolling contracts for officers, which does not give you much job stability. The likelihood of your contract not being renewed is highly unlikely (i only knew two people who ever suffered this fate while i was there, one some would argue was deserved, the other was not), but obviously this is still a consideration if you don’t have a job to go back to.
[/QUOTE

Ouch deserved?.

Could it be that that person's contract non renewal was more to do with sexism? I'm sure she would have had her contract renewed if she was a bloke.

Beware to those who are going to take the plunge. If you question the incompetence or corruption your contract doesn't get renewed. They don't want foreigners rocking the boat and questioning the Caymanian Way.

Turn a blind eye and as well as a new contract you'll probably get promoted!.

The rampant corruption within the RCIP is not an exaggeration. Read up on the anti corruption investigations by the Met Team sent over a few years ago. Nothing has changed.

Baz, you were lucky with your short stint to have avoided many of the negatives but then you were only filling in time before Australia.

Tropicana90

Hi, I'm looking for some advice on the RCIP recruiting front. I notice that most of you on here submitted your applications some time ago now. With some of you lucky enough to get job offers. Unfortunately I only came across this site in the last week or so and I'm a bit worried that I may have missed the boat! I checked the RCIP website but it’s rather illusive as to wither there actively recruiting overseas officers at present (other than those who have already applied). I sent them an email seeking clarification but was wondering if anyone on here had any info on this front.

I've got just over 5 years’ service, I’m young, single and this seems like an opportunity worth taking at least for the experience of it if nothing else. Having so little service I won’t lose out two much by having to resign (no careers breaks being offered by my force at all) and in all honestly I’ve no emotional attachment to my job at the moment due to the cuts, restructuring and general lack of support from any level of management moral seems to be at a record low!

dreadsoc

Hi Tropicana

I see this is your first post so welcome to BE.

I think the RCIPS has just done a recruitment drive, so you may have to wait until they advertise again. Keep an eye out on this site and in Police Review as Bermuda also advertise for UK coppers from time to time.
That said, it seems a lot of those who have been offered jobs there have actually turned the job down, so if you don't hear anything in a week or so, I would e mail them again - at least that shows your interest.
From what you say you seem to be in a slightly different position to many others - not too much to lose on the pension front and no dependants - certainly creates less risk.
Just a word of caution - I sense the disatisfaction with UK policing that you feel (like pretty much most officers are feeling at the moment) but before you go racing in, check out EVERYTHING to the smallest detail, and bear in mind the grass isn't always greener .... but at least they have lots of sunshine in the Caymans.

All the best

Dread - x

Baz

[QUOTE=Sunny Dee;9796988] I stand corrected, i know of three people who did not get their contracts renewed (one i forgot about happened after i left). Two out of the three were male.

All the ex-pats i know who got promoted put in the effort to pass the promotion exams and interviews, and made a commitment to stay in the RCIP, and deserved their promotions.

Operation Tempura investigating ‘police corruption’ did untold damage to the RCIP’s reputation, i feel really sorry for those officers names who were dragged through the mud for no reason, especially when it uncovered nothing more than the usual small island gossip and rumours - see : http://www.caymannewsservice.com/hea...ration-tempura for the general gist, you only need to do an internet search on ‘Operation Tempura’ to get the full story and see what a joke the whole thing turned out to be.

I did indeed move onto new pastures, this had less to do with the RCIP, and more to do with other personal factors which meant Australia was a more favourable option for me. As i said in my post i indicated that for a variety of reasons people (for the most part) spend between two and four years in the RCIP and then move onto pastures new, including myself, this for me at least was not a reflection on the RCIP.

I'm sorry you have such bad memories of the place.

RSthetruth

My guess was that 'Baz' was somewhere near the bottom of the rung and was not there too long to know this case was not based on 'gossip and rumours'.
The Dept Comissioner was charged but aquitted. As this is a public forum I will be careful of what I say. Suffice to say, has anyone else seen one of their suspects walk free at court? I guess it means they didn't do it afterall....eh?

The then Commissioner decided he wouldn't answer any questions and assist with the investigation. Make of that what you will....

But it's like Baz says, there was no reason for any of this! (roll eyes)

Baz

Your correct on the first count, I was cannon fodder, not so sure about the second, I did three years which is more than some, less than others.

If anyone can be bothered they can trawl the Internet and make their own minds up with regards to the productive investigation that was Operation Tempura.

Tropicana90

Dread Thanks for the quick reply. I'll hopefully get some kind of reply to the email by next week. If not I may just submit the application speculatively and hope for the best!

Sunny Dee

[QUOTE=Baz;9797317] So 3 'Highly likely contracts' not renewed that you know of. Quite a few really when you consider the turnover and the fact that it is only overseas Officers on the rolling contracts.

Operation Tempura started at the top weeding out Corruption and was working it's way down the ranks. As RS said just because you don't get a conviction doesn't mean it didn't happen. Two Senior Officers lost their jobs and an MLA (Equivalent of a local MP) lost his position. The Investigators had bad legal advice. If they had better advice they would probably still be there and the RCIP would be a completely different Force. Don't believe what you read in the Cayman News Service BLOG it is local opinion.

I cannot believe that you never saw or knew of any corrupt activities while you were there.

dreadsoc

Hey Tropicana

You can only try - and as the saying goes, if you don't ask you don't get.
I say that if it's what you want then go for it as you have nothing to lose by doing so. The worst that can happen is they say no or say nothing, but all that means is you will have to wait a while until the next recruitment drive.
For a young single person with a free spirit, I would think it is a pretty good adventure, and whatever else, the sun shines most of the year and the beaches are amazing....

All the best to you

Dread - x

Short fat Black rat

Hey Baz,
Thanks for the reply matey! I've turned down the job as they wanted me to resign with immediate effect. It just so happens I've been told this week that the career break is a no no. The force wouldn't support me doing another job but I could go to university or something......
If my personal circs were different then I'd be off like a shot, but without the comfort of a career break, I really dont think I can, especially with young children.
There's been some great advice on this forum, though I do still sense some bitterness. I guess you just have to be opened minded and prepared.

Hopefully, the opportunity will arise again when I've got a bit less to lose from the pension pot, but I 'declined' the offer by email Monday last week and having not had a confirmation or a response from RCIPS I'm guessing they've got the humf!

I spose they'll just go to the next person down the list..

Anyway, regardless, Merry Christmas Everyone and all the best for the future. Let hope the new year brings some better things for us all
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