If you’re a detective, is your job all consuming like on TV?

[Redlorryellow]

Just a question really. I love watching true crime or detective dramas (mainly set in the U.K.) and it seems like the main detective on cases (murders ans serious crimes like that) is always at work late, working on leads and evidence etc, and their cases are all consuming often affecting their family lives. Is this an accurate portrayal of the job? It makes me wonder how detectives or high ranking policemen and women have any time for hobbies, family, etc and it couldn’t be more different from my own work life (office based, pretty much 9-5, plenty of annual leave and working from home etc.) I find it fascinating and I know I definitely wouldn’t be cut out for that line of work for loads of reasons, but wondering if I’m real life it is more manageable?

I'm not police officer but I work with the police and know a few DCs. I think often their shifts overrun by several hours and it's just tough shit - it doesn't work well with childcare or other commitments. Most have no family or a very understanding partner at home. There is a time limit on how long you can keep someone in custody without charging them so if you have a serious incident the team needs to work round the clock to get the evidence up together. I think it's often a lot more mundane than it appears on the TV though - hours of paperwork, checking CCTV, witnesses who won't give statements and often someone is released if that evidence can't be found.

Great question OP!

I want to know if they really keep a bottle of whiskey in their filing cabinet.

I worked closely with an officer who said he lost his first marriage for a huge drugs bust...

Yes! That too @LunaNorth - just finished Des on ITV Hub and of course the detective had a whisky in the office at least once!

I kind of assumed their commitment to the job is slightly exaggerated, but the replies so far - and a bit of closer thought - is making me think otherwise.

I don't know the answer to you question OP but have you watched Unbelievable, with Toni Collette. You'd like it, if you haven't already.

@Guineapigbridge it’s on my list! Looks so good

My old neighbour was a DI in the Met. She has a family but her wife was the main carer. She was robbery then vice.

She worked really long hours and was extremely dedicated.

My other friend is a custody sargent and does set shifts so more family friendly. Her DH is also in the police. They have a lot of family nearby so always someone to do the school run.

@Guineapigbridge

I don't know the answer to you question OP but have you watched Unbelievable, with Toni Collette. You'd like it, if you haven't already.

I loved it and love her!

Please put a disclaimer on though it's a rape crime and very detailed

If you work somewhere busy it’s a complete grind. I’ve done shifts that were 24hours long… went home to sleep for 4 or 5 hours then came back and did another 24 hours. I don’t watch a lot of British Crime shows but I do find it irritating when senior officers are shown running around investigating. Inspectors and above do not chase leads they’re directing affairs from the station and in a million performance meetings. Murders are also not investigated by individuals they’re done by teams… when a “jobs on” they’re all working. I moved to a non-operational job when I had my DD.. it just wasn’t conducive.

@AdoptedBumpkin

I kind of assumed their commitment to the job is slightly exaggerated, but the replies so far - and a bit of closer thought - is making me think otherwise.

I think it exaggerated for dramatic effect at times, especially when the case is very close to home. But there are plenty of doco-dramas that show that detectives in some notorious cases have really had to get under the skin of the offender and understand the MO. I know of some real life cases recently where the questioning of witnesses and search for evidence has taken well in excess of the contracted hours with no prior notice - and the shifts are round the clock.

Yes, it's not pleasant viewing.

Brilliant question!

They never seem to stop working…even when they are at home they take constant calls…after a long day they head to the pub to talk over the case some more.

Unforgotten showed a bit more home life but even then the hours they put in were huge!

Loving the whiskey question 😂

Top of the Lake is another outstanding detective drama. (Sorry for thread derail).

I am a Chief Inspector. It is more than a job, I’m always a cop on or off duty, so when a drunk driver crashes into your hedge, you jump into the car to follow him in your pyjamas without thinking about it.
My job is mostly 9-5 now but I’m on call regularly, go out in the middle of the night, and if ‘stuff’ is happening at work I can’t and wouldn’t just leave and go home.
It is a balancing act and luckily have an understanding DH who now doesn’t even realise I’ve been out half the night

I’m a detective’s wife. It’s not about dedication, it’s about necessity. The hours are fucking brutal.

Yes. Very long hours. My youngest daughter has changed her mind about being a DS like me. I work in Domestic Abuse now, so deal with a lot of remand cases which can add hours to a shift. I love my job but I'm shattered a lot of time. I've seen it break marriages, people, careers, and I'm probably living on a brink a lot of the time. I have put my job first far too much because I care about the work and need to look after my team as we're short staffed.
Needless to say, I have a very understanding partner and he helps me with my children.

DH was a detective. It's absolutely not a family friendly role. Long hours, short turnarounds before being back in work. Sometimes we'd go for days without seeing each other.
You can totally understand why some police marriages fail. Without a doubt, you come second to the job.

@SuperCaliFragalistic 👍

My DH was a DCI on the Major Crime Unit. When we were first married I spent huge amounts of time on my own if there was a murder or other major crime. One particular well publicised murder was awful as he was hardly home for about 2 months. I used to feel him getting into bed with me in the early hours then when I woke up in the morning he was gone. I went to weddings, parties and dinners on my own.

My dad was also a DCI in Scenes of Crime (nowadays I believe SOCO are civilians but in the 70's and 80's they were police) so I guess I grew up with this lifestyle which helped me cope.

Great thread!

Friend of mine wanted to be a detective but didn't want the lifestyle. She now works in Aviation Security (airport checks) and loves it.

Sounds like my job…..I’m a midwife
I’m quite often out half the night and then back to work at 8am the next day for 12 hours. Will often pick up visits, phonecalls, emails on my days off.

I watch these detective programmes and thank god I’m not married to a detective as our poor DC would be really neglected between the two of us!

Amazing question!

Maybe I won’t refrain from being a teacher to being in the police, I like a solid 8 hours sleep and it doesn’t sound like that will be possible.