Domestics - Love 'em or hate 'em?

It's funny how alot of officers dread the words "Unit to attend....domestic incident" over the PR. Suddenly the radio goes dead. There is pin drop silence. And then the words, "(your callsign) are you free to deal?" are heard and unfortunately, you are. Now *deep breath* I'm trying to learn to not dislike domestics. 'Are you crazy?', you're probably all thinking. Possibly, and if so, crazy like a fox! (I always wanted to say those words, looks like I'll just have to settle for typing them instead.) I know the general concensus is that all domestics are just plain grief. Well, all those that can't just be squared up that is. In fact, on Another Constables blog, Political Uniform goes through the amount of paper work that we have to deal with and this is even if no-one's arrested. With an arrest, you have to do your notes as well. Well, it got me thinking.....is it really that bad? OK, the paperwork.
1. You have to do the paper report. - There's a section for the Victim/Witness statement for a brief holding statement. So you do this at the scene. You can also do the medical consent form at this time.
2. Pictures. - You call for a camera and if no one can bring one, then just record the injuries on the paper form along with the fact that there was no camera available.
3. 2 computer reports - you can just copy and paste from the crime report to the intelligence report and then make slight alterations.
4. One computer report per child present. - Just put on one report for the main child and then stick all the others in the Other Roles. Unfortunately no copy and paste available.
5. Arrest notes. - As per usual.
Step 1 is similar to recording details in your pocket book, just more detailed. The rest of the steps also have to be done for most incidents except step 4. BUT, and this is the big but, if your domestic meets the remit, then the Community Safety Unit get to take it over! How can we not like this? We don't have to justify the arrest as its a positive arrest policy, infact, we have to justify if we don't make an arrest and there's an arrest figure in it for you. It sounds win-win doesn't it? Then why do I still hate domestics?

PS. We had another raid a few days ago. This time it was at a brothel. We'd received a call saying that the informant was being held against her will. So a couple of days later, within about 2 hours, a raid was planned. It involved walking to the venue as it was just down the road from the nick(and I never even knew!) and knocking and going in. It was a bit of an anti-climax(!) but I got to see the inside. There were two girls there and neither of them had called us. The decor was, dare I say it, tasteful, but then I'm a bloke so what do I know? There were mirrors on the ceiling and all. The most surprising thing was the price. For an hour is more than I get a day! Now, granted the girls may not get alot of it but thats still a large hourly rate. Anyway, the upshot was that nothing happened apart from experience gained.

The Raid

I've had a chance to relax, Princess P is sleeping, Mrs P is on a night out with her friends so whats happened today? Well, we did it! Fun as well. I did the Book 101 with a little help from the BSU guvnor, giving me a few useful tips. Anyway, we went to the briefing and got ourselves ready. BSU were kitted out in their level 2 gear and really looked the biz. They entered through the front door with a battering ram and I made my way into the garden with two dog section officers and their dogs. They're mean critters and the dogs can get pretty lively too! Anyway, we secured the male who lives in the shed(!) I had to be told a few times to 'stay away from the dogs' and 'don't get infront of the dogs'. I can see why. The rest of my team went in through the back door.

There were about 14-16 of them sleeping in the house. The main person we were after was there and so he got nicked. On a name check, one was wanted so he got lifted too. And the third was a female who couldn't explain the goods she had with her. She got taken as well on suspicion. All round, it was good. Three in. Of course Control were having a fit because there were hardly any units to attend to calls but hey, that's always their gripe anyway. On the way out,one of the BSU officers helpfully pointed out the damaged front door and wall and said that the family should get that fixed as he wouldn't like to live in a house with a broken door, so would they? The family asked us who would pay for the damage, the answer amused me and. snigger. Am I mean? I don't think so, as the chappie we were looking for is prolific and his family know that. When asked about items we seized, they all said it belongs to chappie and they know he's a junkie who doesn't work. It does't take a genius to work out that chappie is a slag.

Then came the downer after the excitement. The paper work, the cancelling of warrants, the arranging of briefs and interpreters, the going into interview and THEN them saying they want a solicitor. Thankfully, all I had to do was finish off my book and do the warrants. Its a funny old job, you get out there and when you get a call, the adrenaline rushes you, you go with it and get the job done. Then you get back to custody and down you come, fustration and all when it doesn't run like clockwork. Most of the time it doesn't, but the next shift, we do it all again. Why? For me its because no day is the same. You have your great days and you have your crap days (gaoler, station officer, take your pick) but every day is different.
PS. Its also because it pays the mortgage!

Initial Buzz!

Hmmnnn, the intial buzz of creating a blog is still there. I have so many things to put in it! Calm down, pace your self. If only! Anyway, what happened today? Yep, again it took me about 3 hours to get a car. Its getting to be a problem when cars are off the road and what you do have is at other nicks. And then once cars are found, its a hassle trying to get a lift to them. A single parade site? I may actually be looking forward to it.

I showed Mrs P my blog effort and also the other blogs. She was very amused by it all. But then she became all indignant and demanded that I blog about how those silly scrotes out there make her angry by making me go to court on my day off, necessitating her to take a day of Annual Leave (care-issues for Princess P) and then pleading guilty so I didn't really have to go in on my day of after all! Phew. Well, I had to do it, she's so cute when she gets all indignant.

Please check out the links on the side, if only to make sure they work. Don't worry about the 'edit-me' one. Its only there so I don't forget how to put links in.

I'm going on a raid tomorrow. I'm excited cos it'll be fun. I'm slightly less excited because I then have to fill in the Search Register. Boring! Ho hum, at least its experience. And it all counts. I think.

My first blog...

Woohoo! My very first blog. Well, I always wanted one but always had something better to ado. Those PC games don't play themselves! Besides, time is something of a premium with me and Mrs PotShot. Princess PotShot is normally asleep by about 1830 hours at the latest which leaves us with a tiny bit of quality time to call our own. I'm spending mine here at the moment while Mrs P is spending her's on the ironing while catching up with current affairs via the Beeb News channel.
What has motivated me to put out a blog? (I hear you type). Its all the other Police blogs that I've been reading. They will get a mention and a link. I just hope that I can write with even a tiny bit of their skill.
Anyway, here's to blogging!
(And may I never be found out!)