I'm a Detective on a CSE team...AMA!

[LookCloser]

Been in the 'job' 5 years, 3 on response, got my detective exams under my belt and moved onto a specialist CSE (Child Sexual Exploitation) team.
I won't be answering any questions about specific jobs obviously, but CSE awareness week is coming up and I'm happy to shed any light I can.

How did you get in to your job?
Is it something you have always wanted to do?

I started as a special constable (volunteer police officer with same powers), did that for two years and then applied for the regs.
It definitely wasn't something I even thought about growing up - I was an actor for 10 years! Then I applied for the specials because I thought it would be cool and that was that.

Do you get distressed by your work? Do you ever feel like taking justice into your own hands?
(In my eyes you and your colleagues are heros because for me it would be both - incredibly distressed and ready to kill.)

Thank you @Sinuhe
Of course it's distressing at times, especially when they're very young. Grooming is such a complex crime and the victims don't realise what's happening to them until it's too late.
Rotherham did a lot to raise awareness, for good and bad, but there's still a lot more to be done. I have 30 crimes in my tray and not one of the victims want to talk to me or will support police action. Not one. They think they're their boyfriends. They hate us for trying to 'split them up'
It's only with a lot of work and engagement that they start to come through the other side.

I take my hat off to you.

I have just finished a level 4 course in CSE and it really shifted my thinking. We had to study one case which was semi-made up and semi based on truth. I went back to the hotel on night 2 and cried.

What are your thoughts on the ‘paedophile hunters’ that you see and hear about?

Why has so much been covered up, ignored and not investigated by the police? Rotherham etc.