Do you have an eye for detail and an inquiring mind? Can you read people and communicate well? How about solve problems? If so, you may have what it takes to become a trainee detective constable – a key pillar of policing that protects some of society’s most vulnerable people.
The need for detectives is great. In 2018, there was an estimated shortfall of 5,000 detectives nationwide. What’s more, there’s a direct entry training programme for university graduates who want to make an impact on society. Participants on the programme start work as trainee detective constables on day one of a three-month residential academy programme where they experience top quality training and development from operational police officers and current detectives.
The Police Now National Detective Programme is open to anyone who shows potential and meets requirements, regardless of their background. And it’s designed to attract much-needed diversity into policing.
“Diversity is not just a moral imperative, it’s an operational imperative,” says Junior Dann, chief inspector at Greater Manchester Police. “The better we understand the communities we serve, the better we can protect them.”
The big draw is the chance to make a positive impact on society, says Peter McDonald-Smith, a leadership development officer at Police Now, a social enterprise that delivers the programme. He says his job, coaching the next generation, has a great positive impact on society.
“The trainee detectives work in some of the country’s most disadvantaged communities,” says McDonald-Smith.
Safeguarding vulnerable people is a prominent part of detective work, says Dann. This requires empathy and emotional intelligence – being able to understand people’s emotions and adapting your communication style accordingly.
“You could be interviewing a three-year-old victim of domestic abuse. You might spend an hour building trust before you even start to talk about what happened,” Dann says.
“You are dealing with serious crimes and protecting the most vulnerable people,” he says. “When you get justice in court for the victim, it’s very satisfying.”
What’s more, technology is making the job more innovative and enticing. “A lot more crime is happening online. It’s harder to detect, as cybercriminals can mask their digital identity,” says Dann, for instance by changing their IP address. “Historically, everything we did was on paper, but now detectives need solid IT skills.”
This is in addition to confidence and analytical skills. “You have to be able to understand large amounts of information and make decisions that can have an impact on the victim and the case, often with minimum supervision.”
If that sounds daunting, recruits on the National Detective Programme are well prepared for the job. In fact, 85% of participants pass the National Investigators’ Examination (NIE) first time, which is 23% higher than the national average pass rate.
The programme lasts for two years. Recruits spend 12 weeks at an academy, learning a range of things, including the law, how to gather evidence, search and arrest people, as well as interview techniques. This strong theoretical foundation is followed by two months in a response team. Then participants start to investigate crimes as trainee detective constables and are coached by experienced investigators.
The programme is different to the traditional route of becoming a detective, which involves being a police constable for two years first. Those who apply need a first-class, 2.1 or 2.2 undergraduate degree and must demonstrate core competencies and values throughout a rigorous selection and assessment process to join the National Detective Programme. They don’t need any prior policing experience.
Rigorous entrance standards are one reason for the high exam pass rate, says McDonald-Smith: there were 40 applications for every place on the 2019 programme, resulting in just under 4,000 applicants. He puts the high demand down to graduates wanting to help the most vulnerable in society and make a difference.
“You can’t be what you can’t see,” says Dann, who adds that more role models are needed to make strides in changing the historic underrepresentation of ethnic minorities in policing.
Graduates apply for a place on the programme online, and successful candidates display skills such as resilience and problem-solving during an assessment. They roleplay policing scenarios with actors to showcase their skills in being able to develop trust with victims of crime.
McDonald-Smith adds that successful candidates need integrity to avoid compromising an investigation when in the job.
Those who successfully complete the programme become detective constables and have bright career prospects. They can stay in their role as detective, explore different types of investigation, look for promotion or move to other areas in policing. Dann says there will be plenty of impactful, thrilling and challenging job opportunities for “years” to come.
