Police Revision: So how was today’s early turn?

It was a busy one. The team (James is one of three detective sergeants in the CID of the county’s North Division) and I walked in at 7am, it’s our first of a set of four earlies. One of my team was on a course and the other three all had bail returnees needing interviews so the last thing we needed was a three handed dwelling burglary. But it’s all good. We got a great result in the end.

Police Revision: A team of three and yourself with all that going on, how does that work?

Well we have a really good team mentality in our office and the nick generally actually. Get on great with the teams on section and SNT, so when it’s needed we all muck in and help each other out. To be honest compared to the rest of the county we are a fairly quiet division. It’s quite rural but that comes with its own challenges, like burglars coming in from other parts of the country picking on rural affluent isolated large houses with expensive cars, just like they did last night. You say three but we’re quite focused and organised and that’s the key, you’ve got to be, we have a SharePoint site with the runners and riders on it which is important now more than ever because of the reduction in bail, in favour of RUI (released under investigation). It helps to keep track. But actually everyone gets a real buzz off a day like today. The boss comes in and we have a briefing over a brew with the team and it’s his job to oversee and make sure we don’t struggle with resources. We actually ended up calling the late turn in a bit early to help out with the interviews, we’re all really flexible in that sense, always help each other out and like I say when it’s a decent job everyone jumps at it and loves getting involved. We ended up remanding all three who were nicked after a pursuit last night away from a dwelling where they took jewellery and the Aston. The helicopter and traffic earned their money last night, boxed it in nicely on the M1. Was a great handover as well. One of them was wanted on recall anyway. They all gave false details, but it all came good. Late turn are getting them charged after a couple of hours on the phone to the CPS. Little Aladdin’s cave in the 18s up north where they’re from as well, so a really good job.

Police Revision: That’s sounds really refreshing, you often hear officers are being worked relentlessly at the moment and the resourcing cutbacks are having a real effect. Has that hit your team?

You know what, it has in terms of numbers, yes we’ve see a reduction, but I’ve been a DS here for three years and we just get on with it. Like I say it’s a really supportive nick, real sense of almost family, but it does just work. You just look after each other and help each other out when you can. I still miss the blats and when I can, I’ll always grab a set of keys and help out. My stab vest is getting a bit tight around the middle now, because of these brownies but I still love it.

Police Revision: You clearly love the job. What would you say to younger in service officers or others thinking about joining the police?

I joined 13 years ago when I was 25. I was plastering before that and had a few mates who were in the job and used to tell me the stories over a pint. Eventually I said you know what, I like the sound of that, so I hung up my hawk and trowel and decided to apply. I know it’s changed a bit now with the routes into the job, but back then it was an application form, tests, carousal scenario based thing and an interview. I ended up doing some ‘Specialing’ for 6 months before that as well, just to give me a bit of an taster properly but also it gave me some amazing evidence for my assessment, so I’d definitely say think about that to start with or in fact don’t necessarily go straight into an officer role. Look at all the other options too, especially at the beginning, DEO, assistant investigator, PSCO. There are lots of options. Definitely get some advice as well, speak to someone in the job, email me if you like and I’ll tell you how to prep for getting in. There’s loads of people in learning and development and workforce planning that can help and advise. Our force I’d imagine is much like many others, they’ll do recruitment events and stuff like that as well. And you know what else, I’d look at cadets early on as well, depending how old you are, but we had an officer join from cadets. That’s really good grounding in your teens. I wish I did it.

Police Revision: So tell me about the journey you took from when you joined to where you are now.

I did my two years on the front line like everyone does. Took my turn making the tea, washing the cars, cooking the bacon sarnies on a Sunday morning for the team. Loved it. Made some great mates along the way. You really feel part of the team. It’s exciting putting all that training into practice as well when you come out of training, and honestly before you know it, five years has flown by and you’re one of the senior area car drivers on the shift and your tutoring new officers, it’s crazy. So honestly without making light of it, it was a whirlwind. It was brilliant. You really learn to work as a team and end up honing your communication skills like you never thought you could. One minute you’re dealing with bereaved relatives, the next you dealing with a domestic or at a GBH outside a pub. Then after a few years of pulling together some serious jobs, I requested to sit in on some interviews, CID agreed and the DS spoke to me and talked me into applying for the trainee investigator programme. So I did. A portfolio, exam and a DC course later, I found myself on CID, taking the arrests to court and seeing people being sent to prison for years from what I was doing around my investigations. It’s great. I don’t like bullies and we have put some nasty people away for doing horrible things to people who are weak and vulnerable. It does feel like you actually make a difference and the victims are so happy. Sometimes it can be difficult if CPS won’t run with it and that can be frustrating, and the family liaison side of things there can be difficult, but I really love it. So then I took my sergeant exam a few years ago and passed that thankfully.

Police Revision: What other advice would you give to anyone thinking about a career in CID?

I would say go and speak to CID, get yourself known, get it into your PDR for the year, something bespoke to you. Design it so it gives you the ammunition to argue for that little attachment for a few days. Soak up what you can from DCs, watch, learn, and ask loads of questions. Oh and don’t ever be put off by those older in service cynical DCs who have been around for ever, who just moan all the time. Ignore those mood hoovers. Don’t let them get to you and don’t become one. Be positive and get stuck in. Get yourself some reference material to read, get some on line stuff you can dip into for knowledge. Make use of things like the College of Policing website, that’s really good. I use Police Oracle to keep up to date, I find that really useful. There’s loads of great material out there. Try and keep on top of a changes in the law, or policies locally. Try and volunteer to get onto any working groups as well. But honestly just spend time in the CID department, read their MG3’s and 5s. Get to know what works, what ‘good’ looks like. Listen to the interviews if you can and learn and ask loads of questions. It’s a great career move. Personally I haven’t looked back. Best thing I’ve done. Prisoners one day, out on enquiries the next, managing an attempted murder scene the next day, crown court trials, getting some early morning warrants sorted and executed, honestly you could do a lot worse than working in CID. And let’s not forget the DC qualification really does open doors. I’ve got my sights set on serious and organised crime at HQ next year. The risk and seriousness of the jobs you are dealing with really does get the old grey mater working. It’s great. And what you’re exposed to does lend itself very nicely for evidence on application forms for promotions as well. It’s all about risk management.