If we want more detectives, then we need more uniformed officers first, says Federation Chair

SPENDING time in uniform and on the frontline – rather than direct entry – is the best way for detectives to get the experience they need, says Essex Police Federation.

A recent HMICFRS report into the sector nationally showed that less experienced uniformed officers are now having to investigate more crime, because there aren’t enough detectives.

It’s a situation recognised by Essex Police Federation Chairman Steve Taylor who says while the force is struggling to recruit and retain investigators, it does mean PCs are gaining valuable experience.

“We can’t ignore the fact that we are struggling to recruit and retain,” he said, “but I firmly believe the best path for detectives to take is through the traditional entrance to the organisation, where they spend their time in uniform, on response, learning the basics of the job, and then go away to specialise further in the more advanced crimes that we expect CIDs to look into.

“And if you accept that position, we are naturally going to have PCs investigating crimes, because they’re cutting their teeth and learning the trade. We shouldn’t be afraid of that, provided the service doesn’t suffer, provided they’ve got the right oversight and provided the most serious cases are escalated properly.”

A shortfall in recruitment has been recorded across England and Wales and a lack of people in CID has been labelled as a crisis on some forces –  a difficult situation to reverse says Steve.

“The recruitment and retention question is a sticky one. I don’t have any bright ideas as to how we’d go about making or improving that situation, but I do firmly believe that traditional entry into the organisation, rather than direct entry, for detectives is the way that we should be going.

“The fact that relatively inexperienced or experienced officers who aren’t detectives are investigating crimes that traditionally detectives would investigate, is because we don’t have enough detectives,” he added.

“I don’t think the quality of the investigation is necessarily inferior. It’s still more than adequate, more than capable, and they have to learn somewhere. So, I’m loathed to start criticising PCs investigating crimes because it’s part of their job. Just not the more serious ones, I accept that.”