Intro - Lee Doolan

Hello everyone

I initially heard about CPD through the grapevine as I'm sure most of us on here did? I'm also a member of CP world and thought I'd join this forum as well in the hopes meeting like-minded people to network and knowledge share with for this new career I'm embarking on.

I am essentially just starting out on the new career path having done 10 years in the Metropolitan Police Service. After joining up immediately after university and working 10 years solid I felt I wanted a change after asking myself 'their must be more to life than the job'? So, after taking a career break and doing, what appears to be the usual, Executive CP / FPOS(i) / paediatric first aid / course route, I find myself eager to start my first RST job on the 8th of June, in the hopes that it will be a foot in the door, and will lead onto other things?

I have lived and worked in London all my life, so am lucky enough to have a very good understanding of the road network and points of interest, particularly central and South. As previously mentioned, I did 10 years in the Met, mainly working on response teams or in the public order world as a Public Order Medic (or shield medic, for those ex-job that may read this), and finished off in CO19, working on the ARVs (armed response vehicles) that cover pan-London. Due to this I have quite extensive knowledge in public order situations, serious medical emergencies, firearms and driving (for which I was lucky enough to receive commendations and QSRs for.) My hobbies and interests mainly lie in fitness and training, I'm a big fan of circuits and body weight training and will be completing my personal trainers course (REPs 3) in August.

As it stands I'm mainly interested in Executive Close Protection work, and am hoping to get onto a busy, hard-working and enthusiastic CP team...ideally, like most, I would like to get involved in long-term or permanent contracts. I live in South East London and am single with no dependants so travelling or being away for long periods at short notice would not be an issue. However, depending on how things turn out, I would possibly like to get into some PSD work, however, with no military background I know I may be struggling there...but that's the aspiration.

As previously mentioned, I'm new to the industry and am just waiting to begin my first RST job so if anybody has any tips or advice, not matter how small or 'egg-sucky' (I know that's not a word) :-) please feel free to message me and pass it on, anything will be greatly appreciated.

I hope this message finds you all well, and hope to hear from you soon? Take care and stay safe

Lee Doolan

Welcome to the forum Lee, nice introduction. Congratulations on starting out with your first RST task.
My first tip would be to buy Rich Aitch`s book , if you haven`t already! A lot of good info and some good advice/tips on working RST.

All the best
Stuart.

Hi Stuart

Thanks for getting back to me, I really appreciate it. And thanks for the advice...I bought it and read it before doing my CP course; along with a couple of others on soft skills, anti-surveillance etc. It was a really interesting read, and like you say, full of good advice and tips. I would recommend every one to get hold of a copy and read it if they can! Can't wait to get stuck in now and get my feet on the ground!!

Thanks again
Lee

Hi Lee,

Thanks for your kind words re the book. May I ask why you left the Met?

In another life I would have loved to have joined them. As in the RMP, there are so many roles that suits many interests. 10 years is a fairly long time in a job to give it in for a 'career' path that at best is left to the element of luck.

You can be the most highly trained guy in the world but if you don't have that 'right place - right time' factor then it will remain a continual job hop.

I understand the level of difficulty in slotting on to a National Police Protection Course but its down to perseverance as in the commercial sector.

Good luck with your decision - it's not all doom and gloom. Just stay away from the numpties and surround yourself by good people. Work with noshers and your rep will be tarnished. The Police have a good rep but also one that could work against itself insofar as 'others watching their back' ! Just go out and prove them wrong.


R

Hi R

That's okay about the book compliment? Genuinely enjoyed it and have put a couple of friends in the job onto it. They're also looking to get into close protection, and after asking my advice, that was the first thing I told them to look into. From my very short time in the industry, I have noticed it appears to have been received really well and I know several people that have or a reading it right now.

Why I left the job: I think mainly due to the massive restructuring it's going through. I'll try and cut a long story short, but I was basically being asked to work an extra 10 years for less money yearly, and less pension at the end?! Instead of working until 51 and being able to retire into other fields, it was increased to 61 (I don't really want to be a police officer at 61). So at 32 years old I thought, if I don't try something new now, I may never have the opportunity again? I left university and went straight into the job. Unfortunately the MET is full of very unhappy officers at the moment, and you'd be surprised at the amount that are trying to get out right now.

I had done everything I wanted to do in the job, and got driving, public order, medic, firearms and tactics qualifications but still wasn't really happy. I felt like I needed a new challenge? CP is not the only avenue open to me; I'm currently working on my SOCA application, along with various other organisations. To be honest though, I was going to give it year or so to see how things go, and if I don't end up 'in the right place at the right time' like you say, I may well put my papers back in and go back as a rejoin (which I can do up to four years from leaving).

With regards to working with the wrong sorts, I am hopeful I can not end up in that situation? So far, I have met a lot of normal, friendly people that seem eager to work and to make a good impression...as I hear regularly, your're only as good as your last job, and it will be the first port of call for a future employer to make contact with the previous.

Thanks for the post Richard, I really appreciate any help or advice at this stage. I hope I can follow your advice.

Thanks for the words of encouragement, it's greatly appreciated.

Kind regards
Lee

Hi Lee,

Well you're off to a good start with your background. The industry is absolutely swamped with muppets and that's the international industry - not just UK.

It is very much a magnet for muppetism and when the benchmark for entering is so slow it is no surprise that the dross start to begin to outnumber the good.

There are many training providers and contract service providers with ex-R&DPG background and I would advise that these should be your first port of call. It's the same for specific mil units and no doubt a 'jobs for the boys' ethos will remain for those ex-job too.

Good luck and stick with it - there's an excellent life to be had!

R

Thanks R.

I'm hoping to make a good impression with my first contract provider and then we'll see where we go from there I guess? My training provider seemed very happy with me and could see how eager etc I was. I have made a few good contact recently, and had some promising feedback on other job opportunities.

I really hope this muppetism you speak off isn't contagious?! :-) I guess it'll be like any industry, they won't be too hard to spot? You wouldn't have thought it was too hard to stay professional, have good manners and use a modicum of etiquette in the right context??

Thanks again for the words of encouragement R, all the best

Lee

Welcome to the site Lee and good advice from Rich.

Research is key

Thanks Jomac.

Absolutely research is key. That seems to be a widely shared consensus amongst everyone I've spoken too! Thanks for the advice and the welcome.

Kind regards
Lee

Lee,
I'm in the same position but have 15 years in the job however I'm in Northumbria so have limited knowledge of London. I feel exactly the same about the way our job is progressing . My last 7 1/2 years specialist firearms and due to being too specialist now can't apply to be a CPO in the job. So like you career break and looking to get an 'in' which like Rich says is an element of luck.
All the best . I'll follow your progression with great interest.

Wayne

Hi Wayne

Thanks for the words of encouragement. You're certainly not the only one following my progression with interest, several colleagues from my old unit are essentially using me as a guinea pig and paying attention to how I get on. They require a blow by blow account of courses etc, they're all very keen to get regular updates. The more I speak to them, the more I keep thinking I've done the right thing. Everyone is looking for a way out at the moment.

Their's a saying I've grown up with in the Met, 'the job's f*****?!'...not sure if it's circulating around Northumbria, but it seems more true than ever at the moment in London. And with the direction the job is being taken in, it can only get worse? Anyway, this is probably no the right time or place to really start venting my feelings on this topic.

Thanks again for the encouragement and please feel free to contact me whenever you wish?

Kind regards
Lee

Lee,
Understood that saying has been around for last few years, I'll message you

Stay safe

Wayne

Welcome to the forum Lee, thoroughly enjoyed reading the thread so far and it was one of the best introductions that the forum has seen up until now...

Hi Ted

Thanks for the welcome to CPD. I appreciate the kind words. At the moment it all seems to be going quite well with regards to work and job offers, thanks to people who have been very generous with their time, advice and help. And the opportunity to network on sites specifically designed for CP/security work are a huge help, so I'm sure I speak for everyone on here, when I say, thank you for taking the time to design this site and making our lives a little easier. :-)

Unfortunately, at the moment, I find myself in the position where I feel I am letting some people down as I am having to turn down their job offers as I have already committed to work elsewhere. I just hope they understand I have to remain loyal to previous obligations and I'm not burning any bridges?

Hopefully the word will continue to spread and their will be many more introductions to come?

I hope this message finds you well?

Kind regards and thanks again,
Lee

I too enjoyed reading that Lee, if for nothing else but Rich's use of the word muppetism..  You are no doubt well set up for good things in the industry.. 

I wouldn't describe having to turn down job offers as unfortunate, there are many who would love to be in that position but I get what you mean.  Good luck.

Hi Booster

Thanks for the kind words. Yeah 'mupppetism' was a new one on me. Sounds like something you need medication for? :-) I hope you're right and that is the case.

I appreciate what you're saying, and it is a fortunate position to be in; I'd certainly prefer it that way than the other. I just feel I'm reaching out to people regarding work, and when they do get back to me, the first thing I'm doing is letting them down and saying I can't help them out. I do try and explain and let them know how much I appreciate them asking me to get involved but I just can't help but feel in some cases it may be the last time I hear from them?

Anyway, thanks again for contacting me and the kind words. I hope this message finds you well.

Kind regards
Lee

The good thing about this forum is that it hasn't attracted muppets so far and has stayed very professional since its creation and I like that very much.

Ted, I totally agree! Without mentioning any other names of forums or websites (Facebook?!) CPD does seem so much more professional! I think the main problem with CPD is the fact you can't post any photos of yourself in body armour and sunglasses, holding an airsoft gun?! :-) Of course, that's just my opinion...someone with less than 8 weeks on the circuit?!