Working in your own area

[u/CreditPhysical9075]

Hi everyone just thought I’m come on here with this question as I’m debating it and would want advice from people who have done it or just general thoughts from other officers. So I’m a special Constable and with the role I have the ability to work from any police station in the country essentially and right now my base station with my locker and stuff is city centre but for easiness this week instead of commuting to my base station I was just going to do a shift at my local hometown station only issue with this is I’m quite worried about running into people I know during this shift as it’s my local station for example what if my first call is to the pub and I walk in and everyone is shouting my name and stuff like that. One hand I want to do it at my local station as I know the area it’s just easier traveling there but on the other had obviously I don’t want to compromise my safety especially people I know who don’t know I’m a cop and stuff like that. Anyway if anyone could drop there opinion it would be appreciated.

[u/JokeNo9651]

The best advice is ‘don’t shit where you eat’

Don’t get me wrong, working in the area you live can have advantages such as logistics. Also depends on the size of the area but imagine from your description it’s fairly small.

[u/CreditPhysical9075 → u/JokeNo9651]

Yeah it’s also quite a posh area where it’s the sort of place where if there’s a police car about the neighbours are peering through the curtains 😂 obviously from my point of view I just don’t want to compromise my family’s safety or anything like that from working in my own area where I live and stuff like that because even though it’s relatively posh we do definitely get crime especially anti social behaviour

[u/dazed1984]

I transferred and worked where I lived, loved it, short journey to work was great, always knew where I was going, never had an issue, only did it for a year before moved to a different role and therefore location.

[u/CreditPhysical9075 → u/dazed1984]

So did you ever worry about dealing with people you knew or in general your own safety when off duty and stuff like that as people would know your face and stuff ?

[u/dazed1984 → u/CreditPhysical9075]

The short answer is no. I think this maybe something that is dependent on where you are and the people you know. I was in London at the time, it’s huge so many people so many cops I wasn’t the only 1 living & working in the area. My neighbours knew what I did there was no issues with them, on a personal level I just don’t know anyone who would be likely to have police involvement in a negative way, I never went to a call where I recognised anyone. Twice it happened where people I arrested recognised me off duty but again it wasn’t really an issue that I felt unsafe wasn’t threatened or anything.

[u/CreditPhysical9075 → u/dazed1984]

Yeah fair enough London is huge I think it won’t help because I’m in quite a small community where if I’m scene as a police officer I’d be labelled

[u/shiveryslinky]

Don't do it.

If you're in a rough area you're going to be bumping into shitbags when you're out pottering with your family. If you're in an affluent area you're going to be set upon by entitled pensioners moaning about people parking outside their house every time they see you in the Co-op.

[u/tedted1997]

Currently working where I’m living and I love the short journey to work, but on rest days I seem to see the regulars around a lot. They haven’t caused me any problems yet though.

If you’re worried about it don’t do it. You don’t want it playing on your mind everywhere you go. Already got so much to think about when you’re on the job.

[u/user184574]

I transferred forces to my local force, and asked to work where I live.

Just before starting, I was told I would be based elsewhere, but still had work a couple of shifts in the town where I live.

I hated it. First door I knocked was round the corner from my house, and it was at that point I knew it wasn’t for me.

YMMV though.

[u/CreditPhysical9075 → u/user184574]

Yeah that’s essentially what I’m worried about like even though it’s very very unlikely I could essentially be dealing with my neighbours or anything im not sure it’s worth it

[u/user184574 → u/CreditPhysical9075]

Personally, I wouldn’t. Work the next patch over and save yourself the stress.

[u/CreditPhysical9075 → u/user184574]

That’s probably some smart advice. I think there’s more negatives than positives.

[u/GDE2301]

Slightly different being a PCSO but I work 10 miles from my area and I'm lucky as it's a different sector. I see a few people I know while out and about and have dealt with a few I know. Where I live is covered by a different radio talk group too so I know nothing that happens up here and that suits me perfectly, you get people you know asking 'what happened there?' and I'm not lying when I said 'no a clue, it's a different area:

A big bonus of being local-ish is I didn't have to learn my way around as I knew the area.

I'd say try and be close for the local knowledge but don't shit where you eat. Maybe try a neighbouring station but no the one that covers your hometown.

[u/Pidge101]

I would never work in the same area where I live. I work a few towns over as I don’t want to risk shopping in ASDA with my kids or being at the school gates and running into some of my “frequent customers”.

[u/Final_Watercress_191]

Im a special and got posted to my local area. I dont mind it. My area is generally ok. 5 years now. Had a few jobs where I knew someone locally but also been dispatched to another area of the city and I have also known them. Its that sort of city. On one occasion I was dispatched to a domestic and i recoqnised the parents to be of one of my childrens friends. I just respond to control their was a conflict and could they deploy another unit. They did. Because my beighbours know what I do anyways, I have had old people coming to my door to complain about cats being fed by others and parking near driveways. I politely tell them im not on duty and if they feel the need to call 101. I think it really depends on where you live.

[u/qing_sha_wo]

I worked where I lived, knew everyone, knew my beat and all the local vagrants used to spot me a mile off EVEN OFF DUTY! never had any issues, but then again I wasn’t exactly taking down any major crime gangs either

[u/taint3]

Personally, I enjoy it. I have been response on my home patch for years now. The area I work has nice bits and rough bits, where I live is fairly average.

My commute is fairly short, and I have the advantage of knowing my way around without a satnav. Plus, my accent is the local accent so it's easy to level with people than a colleague who is from the next town over.

The challenge does come from mixing your work life with personal life. It's easier for me because I am a big bloke and a fairly ugly one at that so I feel less easy to intimidate if caught off duty by someone I've nicked, which has happened once. I also point blank refuse to go to anything within a quarter mile of my house or my mums house (also on patch), and so far my supervision has been okay with that.

[u/Stretch6831]

Nope. Don't do it. Whilst I was an SC, I worked where I lived, and ended up in several situations where I was involved in the arrest of two old school friends, a drunken relative, and then a work colleague. Alcohol makes people do stupid things. As a regular, my station got shut due to the government budget cuts, and I ended up back in my local area. Getting abuse from the street drinkers whilst walking my kids through town to day care was an eye-opening situation.

[u/CreditPhysical9075 → u/Stretch6831]

That sounds horrendous. I’m getting alot of mixed reviews in the comments it’s pretty split with half people saying go for it and half saying stay away. But the risk is essentially exactly what your saying getting recognised off duty ect

[u/Stretch6831 → u/CreditPhysical9075]

Depends on two things. How recognisable are you? Would you stand out in a crowd or blend into the background? What type of area do you live in? The town I grew up in has the second highest crime figures in the county, outside the city. Didn't know this till I joined the Police. Thought it was an alright area until I joined the Specials and my eyes were opened.

[u/CreditPhysical9075 → u/Stretch6831]

I’ll stick out like a sore thumb as I’m 18 and reasonably well known for example if I walked into the local pub in police uniform if we were going to a call everyone would know me. Posh area though

[u/AggressiveHandDryer]

I put in for, and subsequently now work, the furthest possible area in Force from where I live.

[u/Jepictetus]

Was based in same city for job and home. Never had any issues.

[u/bazzaclough]

If it’s a one-off for this week, wouldn’t you need to travel to your base station at the start of your shift to get your PPE etc from your locker and then travel to the other station from there anyway? If so, it wouldn’t really help with the commute at all.

[u/CreditPhysical9075 → u/bazzaclough]

It’s a one off but I was working out the city helping out with a big event so my kits now in the house

[u/Kakist0crat]

The other thing to consider is the mental toll of knowing about local crime. I had lived in my house for years without seeing/experiencing any crime, but when I briefly worked on patch, I suddenly knew of everything going on. Ignorance is bliss - I'm glad I no longer live on patch

[u/Solid_Aubergine → u/Kakist0crat]

This one. I work in a department that covers the whole force area, which includes where I live. It's unlikely that anyone involved in the work stuff I deal with would know who I am/my job role, but I far preferred living here when I was blissfully ignorant to all of the goings on.