To ask if you can become a detective without being a police officer?

[LardeeLar]

Or do you have to go out on the beat for a few years first? I think solving cases would be fun but wouldn't fancy wandering around council estates trying to pick kids up for selling weed. Or hitting the streets and intervening in punch ups.

You can become a direct entry DC in the Met, but you do need to do some time in uniform first.

I'm a DC and rely on my past experiences in uniform every day. It really is where you get your grounding.

You can really see the differences in knowledge and output between the direct entry DC's and the "old sweats".

And unless you go to a specialist unit (which you'll have to have a board for, evidence, references) you'll be dealing with thefts and burglaries all day long.

It really isn't what you see on telly.

I’m a Met officer, you can go in directly as a detective but I wouldn’t suggest it. Detective is more of a specialist role and you are better of learning the basics as a PC first. You don’t get any additional fitness training to the regular training all officers get!

@JorisBonson
You say you do need to do time in uniform, but then say theres direct entry?

If it's not too indiscreet, what aspects of your past uniform experience do you think inform your work as a detective, that you wouldn't have access to through other experiences?

@JorisBonson

You can become a direct entry DC in the Met, but you do need to do some time in uniform first.

I'm a DC and rely on my past experiences in uniform every day. It really is where you get your grounding.

You can really see the differences in knowledge and output between the direct entry DC's and the "old sweats".

I was going to say the same thing. The police officers in my family say the general impression of direct entry recruits is not very good. You learn too much doing a few years of traditional policing.

@JorisBonson
Do you mean a kind of "criminal mindset"?

There are other organisations that have similar roles. HMRC has criminal investigators, or GCHQ if you're more interested in desk-based snooping 😉

@LardeeLar

You learn legislation and law by going out and responding to things and arresting people. There's only so much book learning can give you.

A new DC will be dealing with the most basic and dull of jobs - shoplifters, burglars, pub punch ups. It's not like TV, you don't spend your days thinking about "criminal mindset". It's a revolving door of prisoners and crime reports.

@Thurlow

DH is a police officer too and we have that conversation regularly!

My force do a civi investigations role. Im ex pc in a staff role now but its something id probably apply for in a few years when DD is old enough for me to go FT again

I agree with @JorisBohnson that you do need time in uniform to develop the skills you need as a detective. A DC ought to be able to walk into the scene of a fairly major crime, prioritise very quickly what needs to be done, identify investigative leads, and remain calm when you're getting grief from all sides. You need to take charge of complex reactive investigations, interview vulnerable victims, witnesses and suspects. You can't do that from a standing start, in my opinion. As a uniform constable you get practice in dealing with minor crimes so you know the processes, you meet all sorts of people and refine your communication skills. And frankly if you're going to fuck up an investigation that you're in charge of, its a lot better that you're a uniform constable dealing with a shoplifting than a detective constable in charge of a GBH.

And frankly if you're going to fuck up an investigation that you're in charge of, its a lot better that you're a uniform constable dealing with a shoplifting than a detective constable in charge of a GBH.

Couldn't agree more @ComplaintsComplaintsComplaints (also given me some terrible flashbacks 😂)

was going to say the same thing. The police officers in my family say the general impression of direct entry recruits is not very good. You learn too much doing a few years of traditional policing

Same for direct on the job training for teachers...not enough background knowledge ( unless they've worked as a TA or similar), too little time to develop skills and too dependent on the quality of the mentor ( who is often giving up there own time to support)

I think the issue is where you say that 'solving cases would be fun'. Being in the police isn't necessarily about 'fun', rather wanting to help people, and you have to start at the bottom and work your way up. It's not like a game of Cluedo.

If you have the skills and abilities to be a detective, how come you’re asking for info on a parenting forum? Not exactly demonstrating great fact finding skills OP 😆

@Misandrylovescompany

If you have the skills and abilities to be a detective, how come you’re asking for info on a parenting forum? Not exactly demonstrating great fact finding skills OP 😆

On the contrary, the OP has been given all the info she needs and background stories from people who have experienced it, far more informative than a shiny recruitment website.

I get the impression you want it to be like the TV dramas, catching serial killers, exciting cases every day etc... It's not.

And as per PP (have close family member at quite a high rank in GMP), the impression of direct entry detectives is not good. I actually think it's imperative to have background in uniform to gain the required skillset and knowledge to be a decent detective.

Essentially you want what you deem as the 'fun' job without doing any of the actual graft to get there...

@LardeeLar

Or do you have to go out on the beat for a few years first? I think solving cases would be fun but wouldn't fancy wandering around council estates trying to pick kids up for selling weed. Or hitting the streets and intervening in punch ups.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure you can just rock up at a police station and ask if they've got any fun cases that require solving and they'll employ you right away. Pop in tomorrow and see what they say.

Good luck!

The exam is hard, the job is hard. I only enjoyed being a DC when I got onto a specialist unit, which took years.

We don't run around going "woo I solved the case!" and high fiving. It's bureaucratic and it's hard.

I ultimately love it, but I don't wear rose tinted specs or think it's going to be like an episode of Call of Duty.

That's my summary of life as a detective.

(You also need several marriages under your belt 😂).

This has to be some top level job trolling surely?

So you dont like physical confrontation, 'petty' crime or any form of interaction outside of the confines of an interview room?

Brb just cowering from a nasty suspect in interview

Brb just fumbling my way through the caution whilst the duty solicitor and suspect give me withering looks

Brb asking a 5 year uniform to do all external enquiries on my job

Brb hiding in fingerprint room whilst everyone else in custody deals with a violent detainee/cell relocation

Brb not using ranks at all and feeling vaguely superior to the shift sergeant

Brb never working nights

Brb going off with stress after picking up a griefy involved job

Yeah, you'll be great

@legenddruss

This has to be some top level job trolling surely?

So you dont like physical confrontation, 'petty' crime or any form of interaction outside of the confines of an interview room?

Brb just cowering from a nasty suspect in interview

Brb just fumbling my way through the caution whilst the duty solicitor and suspect give me withering looks

Brb asking a 5 year uniform to do all external enquiries on my job

Brb hiding in fingerprint room whilst everyone else in custody deals with a violent detainee/cell relocation

Brb not using ranks at all and feeling vaguely superior to the shift sergeant

Brb never working nights

Brb going off with stress after picking up a griefy involved job

Yeah, you'll be great

😂😂

Mic drop

(You also need several marriages under your belt 😂).

But is it essential to be an alcoholic? The ones on the telly always are.

Yes, the job is fucking hard. I never once got a good nights sleep as a detective. Too much stress. Too much chance you'd mess up somewhere and somebody would be seriously hurt or die. It was (for me) all of the crap parts of police work and barely any of the enjoyable parts. There's a reason the Met has introduced a non-traditional entry route for detectives; if the role was that good they'd have no trouble filling it internally but people would still rather do early late and night shifts, stand on cordons, get assaulted and spat on as part of a uniformed team.

@legenddruss
Okay, I have to admit that made me laugh 😂

I have a friend who joined last year or the year before on the direct entry detective programme in the Met. Very competitive to get in.