Question for UK police officers

[FinnGuard]

- How much training do you get for expandable baton and for OC in police academy?
- Do you get any firearms training in the academy?

thanks for any answers

[Cockney Corner.]

I didn't receive training in either at our equivalent of the academy but we did when we returned to force before going on the streets. Call it, say, a day on batons and OC (CS as it was then, though we now use PAVA) with a further day on firearms incidents (with the exception of a couple of specialist forces on the mainland, British officers aren't routinely trained to use firearms). We re-certify on baton and handcuffs every 6 months.

[FinnGuard]

Thanks for the answer

We re-certify on baton and handcuffs every 6 months.

What exactly does this mean? Do you have to do some kind of test or something?

[Cockney Corner.]

Yes, it's a test. You get a quick refresher on technique and then you have to demonstrate to officer protection trainers that you can handcuff properly, use take downs, hit a pad with your stick, things like that. There is also a written "test" for what it's worth. I know of one patrol shift who deliberately failed it to see what would happen. This should have meant everyone was taken off the street. They just ignored the result and passed them.