SOUTH WALES POLICE Employee Reviews

This job can be extremely challenging and demanding but also supremely rewarding. The emergency calls dealt with range from deeply disturbing, to exhilaratingly exciting to hilarious/ mind-blowing and sometimes all of these within the same hour.There is always someone to refer to for the more complex situations but be prepared to constantly be alert, think on your feet and act immediately with confidence. Negatives - you will be micro managed within an inch of your life. On a 10 hour shift, you're entitled to a 45 min mealbreak and a couple of very quick toilet breaks. It is very full on with no downtime (except maybe towards the end of a busy nightshift). It can be very draining.Positives- there is no feeling like playing your part in saving someone's life or assisting your caller whilst they are experiencing the very worst moments of their lives. It can give you an enormous buzz and feeling of satisfaction. N.B being a radio dispatcher is unbearable at the moment. The volume of incidents you are expected to deal with is impossible for even the most experienced member of staff. If things go wrong, the results can be catastrophic for both members of the public and the dispatcher. The Organisation spout all the right platitudes but if things go wrong, expect to be in the firing line.

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Interesting work but stressful

Clerical Assistant (Current Employee) - Bridgend - 17 September 2023

What is the best part of working at the company?Job Security. Nice friendly colleaguesWhat is the most stressful part about working at the company?To much work not enough staff to do itWhat is the work environment and culture like at the company?Okay. Good work environment. Friendly people What is a typical day like for you at the company?Stressful. To much work. Not paid enough

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Insights into SOUTH WALES POLICE

Based on 28 survey responses

What people like

Support from manager
Ability to meet personal goals
Ability to learn new things

Areas for improvement

Time and location flexibility
General feeling of work happiness
Supportive environment

Ruined

Police Constable (Current Employee) - Cardiff, Cardiff - 1 July 2023

Used to be a great job, joined at a young age and sold a dream. Turns out it’s full of incompetent arrogant deeply dissatisfied people. Avoid at all costs if you have any self respect

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Relaxed and productive.

Apprentice Vehicle Technician (Former Employee) - Bridgend - 31 May 2023

You will always have the support of most of the managers in the building. If you need something, nine time out of ten, it is given to you with no questions asked.On the downside, if you do not fit into the mould, you tend to be treated differently by the management team.

Pros

Secure parking.

Cons

Repetitive.

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Very fast paced

Public service centre advisor (Former Employee) - Bridgend - 6 July 2022

The role can be extremely stressful and fast paced. There is room for progression and change in roles however some positions require a 2 year work period prior to changing to new position.

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Not for everyone.

Custody detention officer (Current Employee) - Cardiff - 8 June 2022

You will be based at 1 of the 4 custody suites, each has its own pro's and cons. Will be required to cover where needed. Staffing levels is a big issue, especially with sickness....stress.Need to be able to deal with detainees who can be very challenging. Mixed bag of compliant detainees and uncooperative ones. It can be very stressful, constant flow of detainees, banging cell doors, constant abuse and having to process (fingerprint, photo) them. There are days where you get plenty of downtime so enjoy those moments, you deserve it!Pay is good now they finally realised the work custody carry out. Shift work 4 on 4 off, there are staff with flexible working in place to suit there needs. Colleagues are good, can't fault them. Just senior management can push you to much. If something goes wrong, even if it's out of your hands, you're made to feel guilty.No career development, no progression as a cdo and will be so lucky if you're able to go on a course.It's not for everyone, it's a secure job. After a couple months you will get into the flow of things and have support from colleagues.

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A crumbling bureaucratic, rudderless organisation

Detective Constable (Former Employee) - Wales - 24 May 2022

Unfortunately the core function of the role has been lost. Serving the public and the protection of life and property is no longer its key function. Public safety is very much secondary with political veil of competence is more important than protecting the public. Sadly after 25 years I wouldn’t rejoin nor would I recommend it to others.

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Quite stressful and long hours

Police Community Support Officer (Current Employee) - Cardiff - 16 May 2022

Quite stressful and do not feel appreciated on times. Shifts can he hard when you have a family and hours are long. The feeling of not feeling appreciated can wear you down and make you feel quite anxious on times. On times though it can be rewarding when you have helped a member of the public and made them feel that bit safer.

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Draining and demoralizing

Police Constable (Current Employee) - Swansea City - 7 April 2022

I have worked for south wales police for 30 years. What started off as a fun and exciting job has turned into a job that is top heavy with managers and bureaucracy and light on workers. Many of the managers don't know what they are doing and task you to do things they know nothing about. The pressures on a police officer today are immense. Police seem to be accountable for everything to anyone. The publics expectations are unrealistic and expect officers to go outside the law when no such law exists to deal with their particular issue. The support from within is poor at best with just a few caring individuals. I have been fortunate to have worked with some great colleagues over the years and still do. The most enjoyable part of the job, other than going home, is seeing someone brought to justice for their actions, but that rarely happens today.

Pros

Working unsupervised

Cons

Being retained on duty because they can.

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Stressful but rewarding

Police Officer (Former Employee) - Swansea - 20 December 2021

Officers are under a lot of pressure, have high workloads and constantly being dragged from pillar to post. Management are on your case all the time and there is a culture of shouty emails and telling off for falling behind (which is inevitable given the workload). The people in the organisation are incredible, and a credit to Policing.Uniform and kit is hard to come by, but of decent quality. Vehicles are of reasonable condition and fit for purpose. Double crewing policy is in place so safer and more sociable than some other forces.

Pros

Great people. Occasional satisfaction from the work completed.

Cons

Antisocial working hours, no work life balance, Management can be a bit oppressive (above inspector level), not enough officers, and dealing with utter grief every day

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Jobs at SOUTH WALES POLICE

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No two days the same

Police Officer (Retired) (Former Employee) - Bridgend - 18 December 2021

Over thirty years things are bound to change some for the better some not but as long as you are willing to adapt and adopt these changes overall an excellent employer.

Pros

Job Security

Cons

Shift Work

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Exciting and rewarding role

Accounts Assistant (Former Employee) - HQ - 12 June 2021

South wales police is a wonderful place to work, the team spirit is excellent and the rewards are excellent.

Pros

Staff wellbeing is very important at SWP

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Good for job security and pension

Operational Support Officer (Current Employee) - Cardiff, Cardiff - 13 November 2020

There is a wide range of jobs you can apply for, including roles that require shift and weekend work which you get paid extra on top of your basic salary. Some roles can be worked from home too.There's also opportunities to gain experience and participate in events which come up from time to time as long as you have your line managers approval.

Pros

Job security. Work unsupervised to a certain extent.

Cons

Long hours. Unsociable hours

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Dont apply

Police Officer (Former Employee) - Bridgend, Bridgend - 27 October 2020

Stressful, extremely difficult to have any family time. Rest days constantly cancelled for court/training/extra duties. You are 1 person trying be a robot,doing the job of 5 people. You have to love the job&want to help people. You quickly realise you are just a number & can be replaced quickly. No time to investigate anything thoroughly

Pros

None

Cons

Long hours, no work/life balance

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Good employer

Fraud and Financial Investigator (Former Employee) - Cardiff, Cardiff - 7 June 2020

Good working environment with no discriminatory practices and excellent collaborative working. Given latitude to pursue enquiries and flexible working.

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work life balance

Police Constable (Former Employee) - Cardiff, Cardiff - 28 April 2020

If you intend to join the police force be prepared to work night's, weekends and bank holidays, also be prepared not to go home on time where you have planned a family or social event because

Pros

team effort

Cons

rest days cancellation

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Can be a very Poisonous place to work and bullying atmosphere

Police Officer (Former Employee) - Every where - 25 March 2020

Retired after 26 years and can say i loved the roles and job i actually did as a police officer. However, the management and Hr and legal services are mentally bullying, no care for staff or officers, SMT need to be investigated by outside forces and independent organisations (IOPCC) or crime commissioner as they are just corrupt.

Pros

Proud to have supplied a service to the public

Cons

No support, no welfare support, no mental health support, Corrupt SMT and HR departments and Complaints department

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Could do better

Police Officer (Current Employee) - Cardiff, Cardiff - 20 February 2020

As a police officer you are providing a critical front line role in the prevention and detection of crime. Promoting law and order, reducing the fear of crime amongst communities.

Pros

Pay and career progression, for some

Cons

Long hours, no work life balance not family friendly

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Family friendly

Intranet & Website Manager (Current Employee) - Bridgend, Bridgend - 28 January 2020

Good working from home opportunities, flexi etc. however not a place to work if you expect to excel up the ladder. Some of the work is interesting such as building applications that assist with policing.

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Stressful but rewarding

Custody Detention Officer (Current Employee) - Cardiff, Cardiff - 5 January 2020

A stressful environment to work in, however the support provided by other colleagues and management is really good. A unique and rewarding role.......

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Something once held in high regard no longer worth pursuing.

Police Officer (Former Employee) - Wales - 12 October 2019

In today's climate it is not a career worth pursuing. Pension has become worthless and other investement needed to create a viable secured future. Wage not representitive of the amount of work your doing. You can make the equivalent wage managing in mcdonalds. Risk management not adequte with todays culture. Disciplinary system very intrusive into personal life and does not respect privacy.

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