Ask a police detective anything...
Discussion
I may regret this, but as I’m off long term sick at the moment, I’ll give it a go. It’ll potentially give me something to do. Of course, if it does just descend into a weapons grade whinge fest, I guess I can always ask the mods to either lock or delete the thread.
Anyway, to get the ball rolling, a bit about me. I’ve been on PH since April 2004. I joined the police in 1996, having done five years before then as a special. I did a little over ten years in uniform and latterly I’ve been on CID as a detective. I worked in frontline response, acted as a tutor constable and did about five years on traffic, before taking the plunge into CID. When I first joined, I planned to get onto either traffic or become a dog handler, but CID became an option, so I went that route.
To get on CID, I had to take and pass the National Investigator’s Examination, which is similar to the Sergeant’s promotion exam, with the exception of the traffic questions (the sergeant’s exam has four subject areas - Crime, Evidence and Procedure, Road Policing, and General Police Duties). After that, there was a six week residential course and a competency based portfolio against the National Occupational Standards for detectives. Up to completion of that lot, you’re known as a “Trainee Investigator” and it’s only on successful completion that you’re officially a “detective”.
I work in a largeish county provincial force in the North West of England. The population is around one and a half million, spread over about 1,200 square miles. There is a mixture of rural and urban, ranging from abject poverty to the very wealthy. The county has some of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in Europe and some of the highest levels of alcohol dependency (and deaths) and drug dependency in the UK. There’s coast, with one of the UK’s biggest/most popular resorts, AONBs and a few hills (no real mountains).
There are various motorways and the West Coast main rail line. There is a broad spread of industry, including defence and nuclear, as well as the more traditional industries. There are a number of football teams, from Premier league down.
Day to day, I might deal with anything from murder, robbery, rape, domestic violence, people trafficking, drugs supply, fraud - what are known as “serious, serial and linked” crimes. My rostered shifts are 8 or 10 hours, but when I’m on the “duty team”, finish times are when the job is done, however long it takes. In addition to my “normal” duties, I’m a “Tier 3” witness interviewer (dealing with vulnerable victims of crime - elderly, physically or mentally handicapped and serious sexual offences, including child victims of sexual abuse). I’m also a nationally accredited drugs expert witness so I can give evidence of opinion to a Court. I provide training on a semi regular basis, mainly on statement taking, interviewing and file quality/completion.
Apart from a couple of weeks in 2016 following some minor surgery, up until a serious road traffic accident last year, I’d never had any time off sick since I joined, despite being diagnosed with severe work related PTSD in 2013 (I was removed from frontline duties while I was treated for that). Due to the nature of my injuries, I’m about to go on half pay, having accumulated six months off sick since the accident at the end of May last year.
Anyway, over to you lot. Fire away. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll let you know. All views expressed will be my own, rather than “the party line”. Of course, sometimes the two will be close, others, less so.
Anyway, to get the ball rolling, a bit about me. I’ve been on PH since April 2004. I joined the police in 1996, having done five years before then as a special. I did a little over ten years in uniform and latterly I’ve been on CID as a detective. I worked in frontline response, acted as a tutor constable and did about five years on traffic, before taking the plunge into CID. When I first joined, I planned to get onto either traffic or become a dog handler, but CID became an option, so I went that route.
To get on CID, I had to take and pass the National Investigator’s Examination, which is similar to the Sergeant’s promotion exam, with the exception of the traffic questions (the sergeant’s exam has four subject areas - Crime, Evidence and Procedure, Road Policing, and General Police Duties). After that, there was a six week residential course and a competency based portfolio against the National Occupational Standards for detectives. Up to completion of that lot, you’re known as a “Trainee Investigator” and it’s only on successful completion that you’re officially a “detective”.
I work in a largeish county provincial force in the North West of England. The population is around one and a half million, spread over about 1,200 square miles. There is a mixture of rural and urban, ranging from abject poverty to the very wealthy. The county has some of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in Europe and some of the highest levels of alcohol dependency (and deaths) and drug dependency in the UK. There’s coast, with one of the UK’s biggest/most popular resorts, AONBs and a few hills (no real mountains).
There are various motorways and the West Coast main rail line. There is a broad spread of industry, including defence and nuclear, as well as the more traditional industries. There are a number of football teams, from Premier league down.
Day to day, I might deal with anything from murder, robbery, rape, domestic violence, people trafficking, drugs supply, fraud - what are known as “serious, serial and linked” crimes. My rostered shifts are 8 or 10 hours, but when I’m on the “duty team”, finish times are when the job is done, however long it takes. In addition to my “normal” duties, I’m a “Tier 3” witness interviewer (dealing with vulnerable victims of crime - elderly, physically or mentally handicapped and serious sexual offences, including child victims of sexual abuse). I’m also a nationally accredited drugs expert witness so I can give evidence of opinion to a Court. I provide training on a semi regular basis, mainly on statement taking, interviewing and file quality/completion.
Apart from a couple of weeks in 2016 following some minor surgery, up until a serious road traffic accident last year, I’d never had any time off sick since I joined, despite being diagnosed with severe work related PTSD in 2013 (I was removed from frontline duties while I was treated for that). Due to the nature of my injuries, I’m about to go on half pay, having accumulated six months off sick since the accident at the end of May last year.
Anyway, over to you lot. Fire away. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll let you know. All views expressed will be my own, rather than “the party line”. Of course, sometimes the two will be close, others, less so.
OK I'll have a go 
I recently did jury service and it took us 15 mins (after 6 days of evidence) to find the defendant NG on all 12 counts. He'd been on bail for 3.5 years waiting for the trial. We couldn't believe it had even got to court.
So do the Police have much control over what does and doesn't or is it all CPS? Is there perhaps evidence we wouldn't have been shown for one reason or another?
Also, the guy was a self confessed drug dealer (few arrests here and there but no jail time) could it have been a case of BiB just wanting him off the streets as he's a PITA and so they'll have a crack at any allegation?
I recently did jury service and it took us 15 mins (after 6 days of evidence) to find the defendant NG on all 12 counts. He'd been on bail for 3.5 years waiting for the trial. We couldn't believe it had even got to court.
So do the Police have much control over what does and doesn't or is it all CPS? Is there perhaps evidence we wouldn't have been shown for one reason or another?
Also, the guy was a self confessed drug dealer (few arrests here and there but no jail time) could it have been a case of BiB just wanting him off the streets as he's a PITA and so they'll have a crack at any allegation?
Do you feel your job is hindered in any way by judges, defense lawyers or "the system"?
In as much as the impact of effectiveness of the police and the sentiment that it may award the crims the upper hand at the expense of society?
I know police numbers are a big issue and although public spending has had to be cut due to the previous irresponsible spending of Labour, the Tories are also rightly criticized due to too much of a cut. But without going too much in to politics, I am wondering if our system is in favour of the crims or in favour of society in your view?
In as much as the impact of effectiveness of the police and the sentiment that it may award the crims the upper hand at the expense of society?
I know police numbers are a big issue and although public spending has had to be cut due to the previous irresponsible spending of Labour, the Tories are also rightly criticized due to too much of a cut. But without going too much in to politics, I am wondering if our system is in favour of the crims or in favour of society in your view?
Genuine question, so please don't take it the wrong way:
What proportion of your colleagues do you think genuinely do the job "to make a difference" as opposed to those who merely see the job as a career and their best shot at making their way in life?
Not that there is anything wrong with the latter, just curious.
What proportion of your colleagues do you think genuinely do the job "to make a difference" as opposed to those who merely see the job as a career and their best shot at making their way in life?
Not that there is anything wrong with the latter, just curious.
Apart from the hours of paperwork that you have to do, which is never shown or mentioned in novels, how accurate are some of the police based crime dramas on TV or novels?
Specifically in regards to real life. Do you spend endless hours on stakeouts because the 'Super has signed off the overtime' or is you job more a case of talking to old dears and other witnesses over endless tea and custard creams?
Specifically in regards to real life. Do you spend endless hours on stakeouts because the 'Super has signed off the overtime' or is you job more a case of talking to old dears and other witnesses over endless tea and custard creams?
I used to respect the police even though I was a skallywag in my teens.
I was also a business owner (up until I left the UK) and a law abider.
The new breed of cops seem more interested in their status rather than the job they signed up for. I’ve met some very unpleasant cops and not many good ones.
What has happened to policing in the UK? Why are the members of the police now not very good at communicating with the general public?
Why do they hire egotistical arrogant t
ts?
Thanks for your candor. Hope you get well soon.
P.S I’m paying for your bloody time off!
I was also a business owner (up until I left the UK) and a law abider.
The new breed of cops seem more interested in their status rather than the job they signed up for. I’ve met some very unpleasant cops and not many good ones.
What has happened to policing in the UK? Why are the members of the police now not very good at communicating with the general public?
Why do they hire egotistical arrogant t
ts?Thanks for your candor. Hope you get well soon.
P.S I’m paying for your bloody time off!
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