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.
