SOUTH WALES POLICE Employee Reviews in Bridgend

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

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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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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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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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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Twice the work with half the staff

Call Centre Agent (Former Employee) - Bridgend - 2 June 2019

The job in itself was great. I felt like I was doing something good not just for myself but others. The issue was office politics and cutting corners. Everyone was expected to be a Jack of all trades, master of none. When I joined SWP in the control room, you had to wait for a vacancy..... which meant either waiting for someone to retire or get promoted........ Now they have halved the staff, maybe more and I witnessed so many people being stressed to the point of experienced and brilliant people leave. Rest days were cancelled. Booking holidays a nightmare. Any days where big events were on, you were made to work. The department became so bad, that by the time I left, I hardly new anyone as everyone who started working there only used it as a stepping stone to get into the police.

Pros

Relatively good pay

Cons

Long hours, High demand, Stressful environment

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Challenging and demanding role

Police Constable (Current Employee) - Bridgend, Bridgend - 6 January 2019

South Wales Police is a regional police force. The role of a Police officer being a challenging and demanding job providing an emergency response to the public,upholding law and order through the detection, prevention and investigation of crime, engaging with members of the public and keeping the public safe.

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Work Experince

Stable Hand (Former Employee) - Bridgend - 22 July 2018

I went down to the stables and kennels for a week of work experience. Over all I enjoyed spending time with the animals and attended a dog training course that was very interesting. However, the staff of the stables (civilians) sometimes got into arguments over rotas in front of myself and another student down on work experience. This made us often uncomfortable.

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Jobs at SOUTH WALES POLICE

in Bridgend

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Vehicle Recovery Unit Supervisor

Bridgend

8 days ago

Public Service Centre Intelligence Officer

Bridgend

6 days ago

Receptionist 3-month Fixed Term Contract

Bridgend

6 days ago

Engagement Support Officer (12 Month Maternity Cover)

Bridgend

10 hours ago

Serious and Organised Crime Community Coordinator

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20 days ago

Hard stressful job

Control Room Operator (Former Employee) - Bridgend - 14 May 2018

I personally found it unfriendly, harsh with long hours and constant criticism. Would have excelled at job if workplace culture was less critical and managers were more supportive rather than out to get new people for making mistakes after only 12 weeks training.

Pros

interesting

Cons

Poor support from collegues or managers

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Excellent

Switchboard Operator (Current Employee) - Bridgend, Bridgend - 23 April 2018

Excellent company to work for but they can’t give me extra hours and this is something I am looking for, although on a part time basis only Thank you

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Friendly staff

Work Experience Student (Former Employee) - Bridgend, Bridgend - 27 February 2018

Enjoyed working with the dogs and horses and getting to learn about how they are trained and where they go on duty . It was a fun experience and I would like to do it again

Pros

Being with animals

Cons

Not getting to ride the horses

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Modern Policing?

Police Officer (Former Employee) - Bridgend, Bridgend - 9 August 2017

From a 'frontline' perspective, police management have gone far too much toward pleasing everyone except their own staff. Today's Political Correctness is stretched to include idiotic matters which reduce the effectiveness of those tasked with keeping law and order.

Pros

Comradery

Cons

Modern managers

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enjoyed working here

Personal Assistant/Administrator (Former Employee) - Bridgend - 28 June 2017

Enjoyed working at South Wales Police, opportunities to progress if you so wish to. Lots of training to go on if you were interested in progressing yourself.

Pros

good pension

Cons

hard to get into different departments

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Avoid at all costs

Police Constable (Former Employee) - Bridgend, Bridgend - 6 June 2017

Very damned if you do, damned if you dont culture which looks to serve the purposes of those in favour i.e the masons. Again, I cannot stress enough. Avoid at all costs as the work life balance will be completely ruined.

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An excellent employer.

Detective Inspector (Current Employee) - Bridgend, Bridgend - 17 April 2017

An excellent employer which provides great career opportunities supported by the ethos of the Police family and the support networks in place. This is a challenging opportunity for someone who is driven and motivated to serve the public. South Wales Police will do the rest and provide training and equimement enabling you to deliver quality a quality service to the public.

Pros

Great Police family environment

Cons

Heavy workloads and long hours.

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Reliable employer

Civil Controller (Former Employee) - Bridgend - 9 March 2017

i enjoyed time with SWP, especially the camaraderie of the staff. Exciting job with fairly good prospects and job security. Fun atmosphere with fellow colleagues.

Pros

Good salary

Cons

Shift work

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Fun Workplace

NCALT Administrator (Current Employee) - Bridgend - 13 July 2016

Very Good Work Colleagues Hard Working Teams Poor Communication from Management Most enjoyable part of the day is working together to acheive our deadlines with very good products. Hardest part of the job is lack of communication whilst going through job uncertainties.

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work expirience

Work Experience (Former Employee) - Bridgend - 29 March 2016

it was work expirience i didnt get paid but pverall i really enjoyed it, may consider it in the future. long hours were hard though

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Interesting, Challenging and Rewarding

Performance Analyst (Current Employee) - Bridgend - 18 August 2015

Multi-tasking and prioritising your workload daily to deal with demands. You have to negotiate your way through your priorities. I have learnt the importance of team work and being confident in putting my change ideas out there for consideration. I have learnt that different managers have different styles and understanding this can assist in your delivery of products. The hardest part of my job is dealing with the demand within a set time frame. You have to be confident to make the tough calls and believe in what you do and that it is the best you can do. The most rewarding part of the job is seeing your ideas come to fruition. Being asked to brief others on your ideas and getting positive feedback and guidance. A flattened management structure that allows you to develop your skills and take on new challenges.