Are there any police detectives here?

[Teenytinytina]

I'm thinking about doing the National Detective Programme, a two-year training process to become a police detective. I have three requests from fellow MNers:

1. Any police detectives out there who could tell me about the job?
2. Anyone out there who can say a bit about this programme and what it entails?
3. I'm early forties, slightly overweight and very menopausal. AIBU to even consider applying?

Are you actually in the police already?

Is this the PIP course? If so, there are uses for it outside of the police or as a member of police staff. But I would not want to join the police as an officer in your circumstances.

Are you actually in the police already? Is this the PIP course?
No, this is aimed at people from outside of the police.

If so, there are uses for it outside of the police or as a member of police staff. But I would not want to join the police as an officer in your circumstances.

Do you mind saying a bit more about the last bit?

Basic questions would be can you pass the fitness test for the force you want to join? Different forces have different requirements (police Scotland is higher than other places for example).

I'm sure each constabulary does it differently, but in mine the direct entry course you will be a frontline PC for around 6 months before moving onto a detective role.

We've recruited quite a few, however they all seem to think they are going directly onto major incident teams and are disappointed to find they've been posted to the child abuse team (as that's where the biggest shortage of staff is).

I've known three people apply, and two drop out. I think it's a combination of what returnoftheowl says, and also a complete lack of understanding of what working for the police entails.

Call your local force and ask for a ride along- if they are still doing them for covid.

Or join as a special to get a feel for day to day policing. Or apply for staff roles- plenty in intelligence and admin working alongside detectives.

Or ask if anyone is willing to mentor you through the process.

Why direct entry? There are mixed feelings about them in our force. As a detective you will still beed to go out and get your hands dirty, making arrests, interviewing, many skills that are best learned on the beat.

Your age isn’t really an issue if you can pass the fitness tests.

Also be prepared that you will be expected to work frontline duties at times.

Whenever you see the headline "1000 EXTRA police officers on duty for XXX reason" (football/festivals/serious disorder in the area/New Year's Eve/whatever reason)... There are no extra police officers. There is a fixed number of officers, so that "extra" officers are either frontline officers who have had their days off cancelled, or non-uniformed officers put back in uniform for that period of time.

Non-uniformed officers have to meet the same fitness standards as uniformed ones.

Will shift work fit within your life? Working evening, full nights, Christmas, leave embargos, having days off cancelled.

I'm not trying to put you off, but it is a job you need to go into with your eyes open about what to expect.

I wouldn't go down that route. You learn your bread and butter in uniform. Definitely do your exam, but get your boots dirty first.

Why direct entry? There are mixed feelings about them in our force. As a detective you will still beed to go out and get your hands dirty, making arrests, interviewing, many skills that are best learned on the beat

I'm glad someone raised this one. Direct entry isn't the most popular route, as they miss out on the foundation skills and there were definitely some on the DE route who think they are better than people not in detective roles, even if those people have considerable more experienced than them.

I’m a detective however my force don’t do direct entry so I can’t help there, I’m afraid.

But I can’t imagine doing the things I do and seeing the things I see straight after joining without having learnt my trade in uniform.

Unless direct entry are given slightly “easier” roles?

Hey Op, you do the same basic training as others, ie you need to pass fitness test - bleep test to 5.4 and a physical exam.
The direct entry for DC means by the end of the two years you need to have passed the NIE exam (multi choice) and have completed your portfolio.
You will do shifts and be in uniform for a part of it just as all new trainees do. You will then end up in safeguarding, CID or similar.
You’ll work shifts, my force does earlys of 7-3 or 8-4 and lates of 16/02 or 17/03.

As a DC you also need to cover 2 sets of nights a year.

Nature of the beast is that overtime is expected….. a job comes in and you have to deal with it.

Also these days most officers are so young in service that they end up in CID or safeguarding within a couple of years or promotion.

My db is a police officer and I don’t think other officers have much respect for these fast track courses.
Unless you have a degree in something similar like criminology perhaps.
Your age shouldn’t be a factor, in fact in this instance life experience would be a bonus.

I left as a DC in 2015 due to burn out in my ten year career. 80+hr weeks were normal.

Working seven consecutive nights of call out once a month, ten consecutive night shifts twice a year, the full shift pattern of 6 on 4 off on CID or 5:2, 5:2, 10:4 on major crime and specialist departments is normal. And you don't get extra money for being a detective.

You'll need to be as fit as a uniformed officer, you'll still end up in the odd fight and dealing with violent offenders frequently so you'll need to be prepared for that.

It's fucking exhausting. There are some epic days being a copper, but for me, in the end, they didn't outweigh the cost of my mental health, physical health or total lack of balance in my life. The idea of starting it again now in my 40s makes me want to cry just remembering the constant stress and fatigue.

That said, I really miss elements of it. The absolute satisfaction of a bloody good investigation resulting in a brilliant arrest, a highly enjoyable interview and subsequent authorisation to charge and remand of a serious high.

It just wasn't enough in the end.

I’m a Trainee Investigator and hopefully shortly getting my DC qualification. I’m 50 this year so age isn’t an issue. We have direct entry DCs and mostly they’ve been pretty good, but I do feel they miss out by only doing ten weeks on patrol. You learn so much on the front line of it all

The work isn’t always as exciting as you imagine though. I’m on domestic abuse so we deal with the live prisoners from DV incidents. It usually is just job after job and you can get jaded.

Thank you all. From reading other forums, at this stage people seem most worried about the maths test and fitness test. Neither of these are an issue for me.

I presumed that the "fast track" would be an issue to many colleagues, as they tend to be anywhere where the rest have "worked up through the ranks".

I think that the work conditions are probably the deciding factor unfortunately. I have always needed my sleep and autonomy is important to me. Having leave cancelled would be a big deal. Thank you @SoddingWeddings for sharing your experience.

I wish there was a kind of auxiliary investigating role, more flexible, doing the dog work etc. The nearest I have seen are pretty industry-specific or niche, repetitive roles.

Thank you for mentioning that @kierenthecommunity, I'm going to look in to Trainee Investigator a bit further.

My Exh is a DS who worked his way through the ranks. Why EXH? See all the comments above. We had no family life, I had to get used to going to events alone and could never plan or buy tickets to do anything as overtime is expected. There were points where we didn’t see each other for a week at a time because of the hours he was putting in. If you want a home life or social life outside of the force then it’s not the job for you.

I wish there was a kind of auxiliary investigating role, more flexible, doing the dog work etc

There are plenty of roles like this. Look at your local force for police staff. Jobs like intelligence officer/ researcher are basically processing and developing intelligence, and as you say, doing the “dog work” of putting together suspect profiles, tracking vehicles etc.

Get on the job sites and police websites and do your research.

What was it about being a detective that appealed?

We have police civilian Investigators and Police Digital investigators of that's of any interest? It's a civilian role so no cancelled rest days etc. That might be more what you're looking for?

@Nicknacky I’ve done bits of investigative stuff and really enjoyed it. I’m socially responsible/motivated, have a good instinct and am methodical. I enjoy putting a case together, gathering the facts and justifying an argument.

Get on the job sites and police websites and do your research. You wont be surprised to learn that I’ve already been doing that.

@Teenytinytina All that should be a given for a police officer, never mind a detective. And case reporting is only a small part of my role, you have to consider the practical things you will be dealing with as a general detective (I’m assuming a cid role here).

Have you considered what it’s like to search a decomposing drug death victim for id, for example?

Attending suicides and all manner of deaths?

Dealing with victims who have the worst day of their lives?

Op - have you had a look at NCA direct entry? There's less prejudice there about direct entry but you will probably do a lot of child abuse cases.

Forces also do have civilian investigators- you might need to call the force you are looking at and ask. As many investigators don't need police powers and therefore the roles have been civilianised.

I'm not in the police though - although I work with them all day.

I am just coming to the end of the direct entry programme with West Yorkshire police in late 30s with children please get in touch if you want to speak about the programme and my experience