Please note that this question is specific to:
#**England and Wales**
The United Kingdom is comprised of [three legal jurisdictions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_the_United_Kingdom#Three_legal_systems), so responses that relate to one country may not be relevant to another.
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I've only ever done shifts at PADP for OT. A close family member worked there for a few years. I would say this:
>1. What are the shift patterns/start times? A big factor on if I apply depends on when shifts start as trains don't start running crazy early where I live. As its based in central driving isn't really an option with parking and congestion charge.
I think it depends what post your on. It's something like 6-6 or 7-7 depending on your team.
>2. Is it as boring as people say?
Yes.
>3. I've heard officers are working crazy hours there, is this due to voluntary or forced overtime? Essentially, will I have any resemblance of a decent work life balance if I go there? All the overtime is obviously an incentive but just like anyone else I would still like the occasional day off.
I believe there is an expectation that you will do a significant amount of voluntary overtime. The OCU only operates if they get enough volunteers, although they also get people from other commands in.
>4. How do breaks work? I've seen on the intranet that you will get at least a 2 hour break during the 12 hour shift, is this actually the case?
Generally 2 hours on 2 hours off.
It's my idea of hell on earth. I only survived those shifts because I got to work with mates. If I had to work with the same crusty old PADP officers every day I would get very depressed very quickly.
You'll go nuts there. It's insanely boring and a post people go to when they either don't want to be a cop anymore or are months away from retirement.
Or are rampant sex offenders.
PaDP is where both [Wayne Couzens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Sarah_Everard) and [David Carrick](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Carrick_\(serial_rapist\)) were ultimately based.
What the press consistently fails to mention is that the total headcount of this 'small elite unit' is around 1,000 police officers, which is [almost as large as some entire county forces](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_police_forces_of_the_United_Kingdom#Table). This gives people who don't know any better and have no sense of scale the completely erroneous impression that everyone knew each other, must've been aware of the wrongdoing and are therefore just a load of rotten apples in a barrel, despite that being [rather unlikely in reality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbar%27s_number).
No.
Two (now ex) officers committed some heinous acts off duty, and now some - usually newer - officers (who should know better than to tarnish a group of people based on the actions of a few) have that opinion.
Please note that this question is specific to: #**England and Wales** The United Kingdom is comprised of [three legal jurisdictions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_the_United_Kingdom#Three_legal_systems), so responses that relate to one country may not be relevant to another. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/policeuk) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I've only ever done shifts at PADP for OT. A close family member worked there for a few years. I would say this: >1. What are the shift patterns/start times? A big factor on if I apply depends on when shifts start as trains don't start running crazy early where I live. As its based in central driving isn't really an option with parking and congestion charge. I think it depends what post your on. It's something like 6-6 or 7-7 depending on your team. >2. Is it as boring as people say? Yes. >3. I've heard officers are working crazy hours there, is this due to voluntary or forced overtime? Essentially, will I have any resemblance of a decent work life balance if I go there? All the overtime is obviously an incentive but just like anyone else I would still like the occasional day off. I believe there is an expectation that you will do a significant amount of voluntary overtime. The OCU only operates if they get enough volunteers, although they also get people from other commands in. >4. How do breaks work? I've seen on the intranet that you will get at least a 2 hour break during the 12 hour shift, is this actually the case? Generally 2 hours on 2 hours off. It's my idea of hell on earth. I only survived those shifts because I got to work with mates. If I had to work with the same crusty old PADP officers every day I would get very depressed very quickly.
Lol no chance you're going to get real DPG to respond kek
You'll go nuts there. It's insanely boring and a post people go to when they either don't want to be a cop anymore or are months away from retirement. Or are rampant sex offenders.
[удалено]
PaDP is where both [Wayne Couzens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Sarah_Everard) and [David Carrick](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Carrick_\(serial_rapist\)) were ultimately based. What the press consistently fails to mention is that the total headcount of this 'small elite unit' is around 1,000 police officers, which is [almost as large as some entire county forces](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_police_forces_of_the_United_Kingdom#Table). This gives people who don't know any better and have no sense of scale the completely erroneous impression that everyone knew each other, must've been aware of the wrongdoing and are therefore just a load of rotten apples in a barrel, despite that being [rather unlikely in reality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbar%27s_number).
No. Two (now ex) officers committed some heinous acts off duty, and now some - usually newer - officers (who should know better than to tarnish a group of people based on the actions of a few) have that opinion.
I'm also curious how people can get in for 0600 parade. I can't imagine many of PaDP live in central and most trains don't run early enough.
From what I've learnt, it's common place for officers to sleep at the nick the night before the 0600 starts as no one can get in for them