I've been a copper for about 10 years now, the job has changed massively in that time and it isn't the same career I joined all those years ago. When I joined up, I heard the 'old sweats' talking about how the job has gone to rat shit blah blah blah, but obviously then I didn't know anything different. In the time that I've been in, I've seen the red tape develop and grow, despite streamlining efforts, the job is now more conveluted than ever. As supra Gaz states, there has always been an element of budget cuts and money saving ideas since I started, things are worse now than they ever have been. They're tough on overtime, and run less operational policing (specialist units targetting organised crime) but the basic wage for a copper once enrolled, cannot be changed. As far as I've heard, they intend is to cut the admin staff in offices who are not police officers, those roles will then be filled with police officers who are currently on restricted duties through injuries (of which there are a good few). Not good news for civilian staff.
It still has its good points, I love helping people in need, and I love dragging the slag off the street and locking them up. I also still love the thrill of the chase, that adrenaline rush never gets old. Be it on foot, or in a car, there's nothing like living a hollywood style chase the bad guy scene involving dogs, helicopters and fast cars