AO1

Two Contrasting Public Services

In this AO I am going to ‘describe the main work roles and

investigate the main work function of two contrasting public
services’ The two public services I am going to look at is the Police
Force and the Coastguard.

By Thomas Davies

10SD
 Police Force

Jobs in the police force include:

o Police Officer
o Bomb Squad
o Traffic Officer
o Riot Police
o Drugs Squad
o PCSO
o Dog Trainer
o Dog Handler
o Prison Officer
o CID
o Public Relations Officer
o Security Officer/Guard
o Detective
o Forensic Detective
o Emergency Service Control Room Operator (receives 999 calls)
o Helicopter Pilot
o Ministry of Defence Officer
o Under-cover Officer
o Police Constable
o Sergeant
o Inspector
o Chief Inspector
o Super Intendant
o Chief Superintendent
o Deputy Chief Constable
o Chief Constable
o Commander
o Deputy Assistant Commissioner
o Assistant commissioner
o Deputy Commissioner
o Commissioner

Dog Handler
Police dogs working with police dog handlers in one of the many police dog units in
forces around the UK perform many essential tasks.
The Police Dog Unit is a support service that can be called upon to assist in missing
person searches, searching for criminals or property, locating drugs or explosives,
hostage situations and crowd control.

Other functions that police dog units regularly perform include:

o Crowd management at major sporting events

o Searching buildings and open ground for missing and wanted people
o Searching for evidence
o Drugs detection and explosive detection
o Tracking suspects
o Victim recovery dogs
o Tactical firearms operations
o Supporting community-based initiatives
o Public order response
o High-profile, proactive, intelligence-led patrols

Police and security units all over the globe rely on the formidable powers of dogs –
namely their senses of smell and hearing – to tackle the problems that would
otherwise prove near–impossible for their human counterparts. Police dogs are a
huge asset to the police service. Not only do they help to deter criminals and
safeguard the public they also offer an amazing sense of smell.

A dog’s nose is many, many times more sensitive than a human’s, and so is ideal for
tracking or detecting, whether it be drugs, criminals, bombs, stolen property, or
people who have lost their way. The canine sense of smell is so finely tuned that you
can train to detect a number of different substances.

Through intensive training both the police dog handler and the dog itself learn a
series a commands and hand signals to determine a particular behavior. Becoming a
police dog handler is a big commitment and one that normally lasts for 7 years, which
is the length of service the dog will undertake. The commitment often involves the
dog living with the handler and taking full responsibility for the well being and health
of the dog.

Despite this commitment a police dog handler is one of the most exciting and
challenging careers that an individual can undertake within the police:
 o Each day is different from the last and brings with it a new challenge.

o With a career as a dog handler most of the work takes place outdoors, which
certainly beats the 9 to 5 office routine.

o Your hours of work will vary and depend upon the task that you are required
to. (While they can include evenings, nights and weekends the rewards are
there.

o The chance for a rewarding career that can pay up to £25,000 per once with
experience.

Types of police dogs

Perhaps the most common perception of a police dog is the German Shepherd.
These are, indeed, the most popular General Purpose dogs as used by the Surrey
Police (and most police forces), as they not only have the combination of size,
controllable aggression, stamina and will to work, but they also accept training
willingly.

o We will also consider other breeds, such as Rottweiler, Doberman and Giant
Schnauzer.

o The kinds of roles we can train for are:

o Passive Dogs – used in the detection of drugs on persons

o Proactive Dogs – used in the detection of drugs in a specific area, such as a

warehouse, airport baggage control, nightclubs, schools or offices

o Explosives Dogs – used in the detection of bombs or explosive material

o General Purpose Dogs – what most people recognize as a police dog, used
for tracking, searching for persons or property, and the chasing and detaining
of fleeing offenders

The role of a police dog handler is to assist the police in the prevention and detection
of crime and often to locate missing people or offenders that are trying to hide from
the police to avoid being caught.

Over time the role of the police dog within police work had grown hugely and they are
now used as part of a wider strategy, which includes the following:

o To search for explosives, weapons, narcotics, money and dead bodies

o to aid in the search for missing or injured people

o to protect people and in some cases their own officers where a situation is
becoming out of hand such as controlling crowds at football matches
 o to track and detain offenders who are on the run from the police searching for
people in buildings or open areas and chasing and detaining offenders

o Locating dead bodies and blood, either buried or on the surface

o Are often used at the airport as part of the customs team and border force to
detect illegal substances that are being brought into the country by
passengers

o Salaries for private security dog handlers range from at least £15,000 a year
up to £25,000.

(Different dogs are trained for the different roles)

Riot Police

Riot control refers to the measures used by police, military, or other security forces to
control, disperse, and arrest civilians who are involved in a riot, demonstration, or
protest. Law enforcement officers or soldiers have long used non-lethal weapons
such as batons and whips to disperse crowds and detain rioters. Since the 1980s,
riot control officers have also used tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, and electric
tasters. In some cases, riot squads may also use Long Range Acoustic Devices,
water cannons, armored fighting vehicles, police dogs or mounted police on horses.
Officers performing riot control typically wear protective equipment such as riot
helmets, face visors, body armor (vests, neck protectors, knee pads, etc.), gas
masks and riot shields. However, there are also cases where lethal weapons are
used to violently suppress a protest or riot.

For protection, officers performing riot control will often wear protective helmets and
carry riot shields. These are designed to protect the wearer from those dangers that
come from direct melee and hurled objects such as bottles and bricks. To provide
even greater protection, the protective equipment often provides ballistic protection. If
tear gas or other riot control agents are to be used, gas masks may also be worn.
 HM Coastguard

Jobs in the coastguard include:

o Coastguard
o Search and Rescue Officer
o Enforcement of Maritime Law
 o Safety of Vessels
o Maintenance of Seamarks
o Border control

And…….

Chief Coastguard Principle officer

Inspector District officer

Assistant district officer Watch officer

 Watch assistant Station officer

Deputy Station Officer Rescue officer

Former rank structure

• Temporary Extra man

• Permanent Extra man
• Boatman
• Commissioned Boatman
• Chief Boatman
• Chief Officer
• Chief Coastguard

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is an executive agency responsible

throughout the UK for implementing the Government’s maritime safety policy. That
includes coordinating search and rescue at sea through Her Majesty’s Coastguard,
checking that ships meet UK and international safety rules and preventing coastal
pollution.

Typical emergencies to which the Coastguard is summoned include:

o Sailboarders too exhausted to reach the shore;

o Walkers and animals who slip from cliff paths;
o Boats losing rudder control;
o Crew stranded aboard a container ship battered by freak waves;
o Medical emergencies;
 o Incidents involving oil rigs (such as fire);
o Suicide victims that have jumped from cliffs or bridges;
o Missing adults and children around the cliffs or beach area;
o Broken down Merchant Vessels in English waters;
o Evacuating injured persons at sea;
o Locating missing persons and vessels at sea;
o Fires on Board Merchant vessels;
o Groundings;
o Collisions at sea;

Search and Rescue

The job of the search and rescue is to search and find anyone in immediate danger
and in need of rescuing. It also involves the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution)
At times and in serious rescues they will both work together. A team of 4,500
volunteers all over the UK are there 24/7 what ever the weather to keep everyone on
the water safe. The RNLI is funded by voluntary donations, and 6 out of 10 launches
are thanks to legacies. There are man different types of lifeboats for example:

The Tamar class lifeboat is the RNLI's latest design and will
gradually replace the Tyne class.

The Severn class lifeboat was introduced to the all-weather

fleet in 1995. It is the largest boat in the fleet!

The Trent class lifeboat is designed to lie afloat, either at

deep-water moorings or at a berth.

The Tyne class lifeboat was the first fast slipway lifeboat.
The Mersey class lifeboat was introduced in 1988 and was the
RNLI's first fast carriage lifeboat.

The Atlantic 85 is a rigid inflatable lifeboat, introduced in 2005

as the latest development of the B class.

The D class has been the workhorse of the service for 40

years.

The E class lifeboat was introduced in 2002 and is the fastest

lifeboat in the RNLI fleet.

Hovercraft was introduced to the fleet in 2002 and can operate

in mud, sand and very shallow water.

The Arnica is an inshore inflatable rescue boat used by the

RNLI's lifeguards.
 Search and rescue ‘Sea King’ tanning with
the RNLI

This is a search and rescue helicopter called ‘India Juliet’

Coastguard 4+4s
Coastguard watch officer

Tim Bowman is a watch officer for HM Coastguard, based at a maritime rescue co-
ordination centre. He is part of a team responsible for organising all coastal search
and rescue operations within the area.
There are certain jobs and procedures that are common to most days but these
routine jobs can be disrupted if an emergency arises. For instance, I may be
broadcasting a routine weather forecast to a fishing boat when a call comes in from
the captain of a vessel on the other side of the world, requesting medical assistance
for an injured crewman.
I started as a coastguard watch assistant, which allows people without specific
maritime experience into the job. After passing my qualifying exams, I spent a few
years gaining experience and knowledge, before applying for, and gaining promotion
to, my present position as a watch officer.
I work a 12-hour shift for four days, which consists of two during the day and two
at night. I then get four days off before starting the cycle again.
When coordinating a search and rescue operation it depends on the incident. For
instance, I may receive a distress call on the radio from a sailor whose boat was
sinking. My first action will be to decide how many lifeboats to send out and whether
they would need helicopter support. Also, it might involve coordinating our efforts with
those from other emergency services such as the police and ambulance. Not all
incidents take place at sea – we often send out search and rescue teams to locate
people who have had accidents on the shoreline, such as falling down a cliff.
When coordinating a search and rescue operation I use long- and short-range
radios as well as ultra-modern satellite communications equipment. Rescue centres
are high tech places – computers and maritime specific software and programs
feature very heavily. Computerized data allows me to see and control all the
resources I might need such as lifeboats, helicopters or towing vessels. We also use
good old-fashioned paper maps, charts and pencils!