Thank you for sharing that and I am sorry this happened to you too.
My MS doesn’t affect my life (yet), sometimes I think it was all a bad dream. I wish I could just tell them I am strong and healthy but I totally understand your point here, I think your safety should always come first. That’s a very valid point.
It’s impressive that you decided to work in response team, I think this is the only department I am a little concern about, I hate confrontations and you just never know what is going to happen during your shift. Don’t you think that stress caused by your job can trigger your relapse? Maybe is worth transferring to a bit more stable environment?
That’s good news that your condition doesn’t affect you too badly and a positive for them to take in to account when they assess you medically. I like being on response for the variety and we’re first to arrive at just about everything you can imagine. You’ll get used to confrontation and soon come to realise that nine times out of ten it’s just meaningless noise. I’m not built for fighting with people so just talk them to death - I think most come to custody just to shut me up. I don’t get too stressed at work thankfully and for now I’m happy on response. The more I’ve learned about MS the more I am convinced I’ve had it for years. Since before I joined the police 11 years ago. There’s no doubt in my mind that one day I’ll have to go in to a different role because of this but they’ll do their best to accommodate me I’m sure. You should go for it if you are able and if your doctor is onboard and agrees you shouldn’t have any problems through the application process - just declare it from the start.
Sorry for your dx. I did 30 yesterday with the Met. With the onset of my first symptoms I lost the ability to walk normally. My role was extremely pressured and demanding requiring 24/7 response. After several months they threatened me with disciplinary action. My managers were able to protect me but I was lucky. I’m sorry to say that I doubt you’ll be accepted but give it a try. Better to try and fail than not try. However your dx would potentially put you and/or your colleagues in danger unless you can demonstrate that that’s not the case I’m afraid youll be refused.
Adam, that’s really bad. On what grounds did they threaten you with disciplinary action? I presume you mean UPP or whatever we call it these days? If they knew you have MS then I’m surprised they started that process. I don’t work for the MET, I work for SYP and have been amazed at their supportive response to this. Home office guidance is clear on applicants to the police with MS they should not be marked as unsuitable. The recommendation is for further investigation/defer for 12 months from last onset of symptoms.
I`m so sorry those of you in the front line who have had to stop/change careers/or however it has affected you, due to the MonSter.
I want to thank you for the work you do, have done, or will do. You are the backbone of this country and face all kinds of horrors, Joe and Jane Public never think of in a day`s work.
Good that you are getting support. The policy you outline re further investigation is reasonable.
However I wonder if the police is a good choice of career for someone with m.s. There’s a lot of ‘physicality’ involved and this may prove problematic and may result in a change of career at some point.
(am not talking about serving officers who develop m.s. whilst in the force.)
Hi Thorpee, as you say different names, the Met called it Attendance Mgmt. As I said my managers managed to protect me. Sadly with all public services the systems don’t care for individuals. It’s not the worst I saw, there was a guy with a terminal brain tumor who was threatened with half pay, thankfully it didn’t come to that for him either. Regards Adam
Adam, I was expecting the job to sit me in a dark office somewhere but they did the opposite. I can’t drive on blues, work alone and they took me off of public order and CBRN so not bad at all. Maybe a sign of how short staffed we are. That is terrible about the guy with the tumor. I’m not one to defend the job at all, in fact I’m the fist to say how badly they treat us in many ways but I cannot fault their reaction to this at all. Cracowian, I see what you’re saying too but perhaps now is a good time for someone who has MS but no symptoms to get in to a job which will look after them later on if things get worse. Bouds, it’s nice that someone appreciates us. We get a lot of undeserved criticism - as do all of the public services at the moment.
I’m sorry this happened to you. I can only imagine how awful that was. I am actually very surprised by the response you got.
After my 2y degree program I’m planning to move to the office based job. I won’t put anyone in danger by sitting at my desk. There’s few social causes I’m passionate about and I can get involved only by joining the police.
I’m sorry, I don’t really agree with that. Joining police doesn’t mean I will be chasing criminals and fighting on the streets. There’s many departments where you are based in the office, Police is way more than Response Team. I know I will have to go through that during my 2y Policing Degree programme but I am totally fine now and probably in better shape than most joining the Police. After 2 years, there’s many options for me where I won’t put anyone or myself in danger. I’m not applying for firearms unit. My MS is relapsing remitting - not progressive, this is not the end of my career. Getting a job behind the desk for police isn’t different to getting a job behind the desk in marketing. At least I can do something good for society.
You said “job which look after them”. Can you explain what exactly you meant by that? Are you getting any special care or is there something available in the future?
Sorry, I should have been clearer. I think that in a large public sector organisation such as the police there is much more scope for adjusted duties or moving in to a different role entirely whilst staying within the organisation. The occupational health dept has offered all sorts of changes which they thought might help like shorter shifts, no night shifts and the like but I have declined so far as I don’t feel it necessary and I want to carry on working with my own team as long as possible. If I wasn’t able to pass my officer safety refreshers (self defence) that would mean I could no longer attend incidents but they’d find me something to do in a different department or in a not public facing capacity.
Thorpee - glad you are getting support in your job and it will be reassuring to know that you will be ‘looked after’ at work should some aspects of the job become too difficult.
You’re in a different position to Karolina - she isn’t yet in the Police Force.
I think the question I am asking is -
– you have a diagnosis of m.s. and you’re about to choose a new career. Do you select a job that if the m.s. worsened you would still, be able to do. Or do you go for the job you’ve set your heart on doing but you know that if the m.s. worsens you wouldn’t be able to continue with it?
(a friend, a HGV driver loves his job but knows that the day will come when he will not pass the medical to renew his HGV licence. He is now studying part time for a qualification in computer programming so that if he loses his driving job he has a good chance of getting a job ‘in computers.’)
I understand what you are saying entirely. However, a diagnosis of MS might mean that you could work as a response officer for quite a while before (if) it became to difficult or unsafe… At that point (if you have not already moved from response) you could work in one of many equally rewarding roles. Intelligence, Investigation, planning, training, admin to name but a few. The world (of policing) is still your oyster. Progression up the ranks is still a real possibility and courses in all manner of subjects are accessible to you and paid for. If a person with MS wanted to join the police and spend 30 years on response, traffic, firearms, dogs or any other “Frontline” role they may be disappointed at some point. But if you are young, fit and your symptoms are not too bad you may get a good few years in any one of those roles before you will be supported in to another role which suits you better. I am sure I had this when I joined 11 years ago and if I knew I had it back then I’d have still gone for it. Running has become difficult for me now so some day soon I will say goodbye to my response team - I’m hopeful that I’ll move to a role that interests me though and that they won’t just throw me out. I suppose that the answer to your question really depends on what Karolina really wants to do in the police.
I already sent that reply but I feel like it was lost.
“I don’t really agree with what you are saying. Joining police doesn’t mean I will be chasing criminals and fighting on the streets. There’s many departments where you are based in the office, Police is way more than Response Team. After 2 years of my Policing Degree, I will have many options where I won’t put anyone or myself in danger. I’m not applying for firearms unit and my MS is relapsing remitting - not progressive, this is not the end of my career. It upsets me that I am being labelled as someone who’s not suitable for the job”
Getting a job behind the desk for police isn’t different to getting a job behind the desk in marketing. At least I can do something good for society"
Thank you for saying that Thorpee. As I already mentioned I will be moving into office based position after my degree. I used to study social rehabilitation, worked with juvenile many years ago, I am sure I will find something suitable for me, there’s many things I am interested in and all related to Policing. My dad is also a cop, he was never a part of Frontline team but managed to have very successful and rewarding career during his years in the Police.
I am impressed that you decided to stay in Response Team after having a chance to change your work scheme. You should definitely do it as long as you love it and are able to. Don’t let anyone put a label on you. I refuse to think that MS is the end of the world, if this is what people think I am just sorry for them.
I commend anyone desiring to become a constable in these difficult times. Your dedication to the public is very commendable.
I will pass along a one story regarding my wife. She was still driving when I was in the car. As we approached an intersection (not a round about), she was pushing hard on the brake - she thought. But as I helped her get the car stopped we were in the middle of an intersection with cars coming from both directions. She freaked out and I am sure the other drivers did as well. I jumped out of the car, went to the drivers side and helped her hobble to the passenger side, as the other drivers just watched in shock. They patiently waited on me to get my wife settled in. I got in the drivers side, waved at everyone and I drove off. It was the last time she ever set in the drivers seat.
I understand that you want a desk job and good luck. Just remember, at some point in the future you may lose some of the strength in your legs and taking public transit or a shared ride maybe a necessity. I hope this never happens to such a dedicated person, but keep your eyes open, keep a journal and have friends tell you if they see changes in your body functions.
Good luck and best wishes to the Constable of the guard.
Hey Karol! I just want to say you are a breath of fresh air. You are positive, career driven and enthusiastic. You only live once, aim high and just follow your dream. Honestly fair play to you, keep yourself active and I hope you have a life time of good health
