Considering becoming a Detective? Good thinking Sherlock…For fans of Inspectors Frost, Morse, Gadget et al, it’s easy to imagine the world of detectives being all about stakeouts and high profile crime cases. However, there’s much more to the profession than fast cars and fancy hats.Detectives are plain-clothed police officers, specialising in investigating serious crimes, such as murder, manslaughter and fraud. They usually work within the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), but could also work within specific units depending on the type of crime they are investigating.Cases are allocated on a rotating basis, but typical responsibilities may include:
- Investigating crimes and visiting crime scenes
- Interviewing witnesses and suspects connected to the crime
- Monitoring suspects and carrying out undercover surveillance work
- Examining records, preparing case files, and completing any other paperwork
- Liaising with other members of the police force to help close their cases
