Tuesday 5 February 2008

Early Turn


I hate starting work at 0600hours. The traffic is less, I agree, but I just can not get used to getting up at half four in the morning. That is very definitely night time, even on nights I get tired then.

The work isn't my favourite either - there is a lot of lower graded calls, the less exciting stuff; basically a lot of it is finishing things no one wanted to do before, or doing little tasks like picking up CCTV for CID officers (some CID officers aren't capable of going outside the police station during office hours). And as rush hour hits getting anywhere without the nee-nar button takes a long, long time.

The good points do exist. The best thing by a long way for me is the fact that as the call volume is (usually) lower, parts of the team get to meet up sometimes, usually over a health packed breakfast of pig and eggs.

Oh, and how could I forget... Doughnuts. Over a set of Early starts there is nearly always a late arrival to the party. And, in the traditional way, it is their job to turn up with the doughnuts.

As my friend once said to me, "This job is the only one I've ever had where if you are late to work, you take the time to stop off at a bakery or supermarket on the way - it saves time and grief later."

My Inspector is like the rest of his team, and is not a happy bunny when we parade at 0545hours. Any person foolish enough to make a joke, wise crack or stupid comment on Early parade will be met by a group of blank looks from the majority of PCs, a sigh or two from the Sergeants, and no reaction at all from the Inspector. But guaranteed he will remember, and come time for the next crappy posting, the foolish officer is to the forefront of his mind.

Guess who that foolish PC often is?


Foolish, silly Area.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Our early shifts start at 0700, which is bad enough. I remember the days of 0600 starts and shudder at the thought of ever having to go back to that!

If a CID officer asked one of my team to collect CCTV, I would like to think the suit would be told in no uncertain terms the directions to reach the control room all by themselves. If they didn't - I would!

Sparkly Dancer said...

And here was me thinking it was just a huge rumour about the doughnuts thing! :P

PFFFT. Knew policemen were all wasters! :D

Have to say... half four in the morning, that's just painful and mean!! I shall think of you, when I'm in bed, and asleep... oh wait, I won't, COS I'LL BE SLEEPING!!! :D

(I'll stop being a bitch now :D )

Sure at least you have time to do things you normally wouldn't, and you get to see daylight! :D That's always good! :D

Anonymous said...

Love it when people commit doughnuttable offences. Serious offences are cream-cakeable.

Anonymous said...

Hi Benji - how you doing. Got so bad at our old station the cake shop opposite only had to see a pc approach and the doughnuts were in the bag and rung up on the till. Never again the 4.30 alarm. Not unless I am going fishing.

RandomPinkness said...

Ugh I'm a morning person but 4.30? Too early even for me. And Area my dear, why am I not surprised it's allway you the Inspector thinks of?

Anonymous said...

Guess thats the duffer....It was a damn fine cake shop!
Remember our early starts.....rock hard cold toast! Our fave!
I think Area would have loved the barbequing inspector!

Anonymous said...

0400 was my getting up time, shower, shave, drink the coffee the missus made while i load my pistol and check my duty belt for full magazines and a fresh radio battery. hit the road by 0500 stop to fuel the car then 62 miles to work arriving at 0600. "pre-flight" the truck, load money, guard truck exit door with drawn pistol as truck pulls out, jump on board then head out for the doughnut shop... retirement is much pleasanter.
"gunner"

cogidubnus said...

Now that picture accompanying your posting...that's really MY idea of a sound breakfast too, (though a duck egg rather than a hens would make it the creme de la creme)...

Big Pleb said...

there are 'doughnut' offences and then there are 'getting a round in at the bar' offences such as major prang of a marked car, losing your pocket note book, losing a prisoner etc etc

Metcountymounty said...

you should petition for 12 hour shifts 7-7. You do feel like a bag of beaten up crap by the end of them and even more so if you have court or the suchlike but you end up with lots of rest days to actually have a family life. I've worked quite a few patterns and the 12 hours shifts are by far the best.

Anonymous said...

why wont this thing work........

thoughts running through my head.... said...

**Love it when people commit doughnuttable offences. Serious offences are cream-cakeable.**

I love that-doughnuttable offences!!!I prefer earlies,it doesnt bother me getting up that early-its the blokes that cant hack it!I cant believe you dont tell the suits to get their own cctv!

Anonymous said...

Aaah!

Doughnuttable offences, thems laid down on statute them is. Where I work, anyway.
Only committed one cream cakeable one meself, and I aint tellin!

Anonymous said...

Benji, there ain't no secrets between us. Was it the one with you, the donkey and the stick of celery. See you soon.....

Mark said...

Area, you are the British incarnation of Skippy (http://skippyslist.com/list/) and I claim my five pounds.

thinblueline said...

I have only ever asked "once" for some one to pick up cctv for me,
the reason, "well I had me breakfast yet to eat..."

Sorry I mean *ahem* I was about to start a marathon key witness's taped interview of 9

What I have found happing more and more of are the the good ol responce stating on the CAD " cctv to collect inform CID telephone xyz" and good old metcall (CCC) then tasking that to some poor sod on the relief to collect it at an appointed time...

I didnt ask :)

Oh and up in the "office" the doughnuttable start at the 3 box per team rule... no wonder we no longer get plain clothes allowances :)

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