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About the job
Overview of the role
Being a detective is about uncovering the truth and delivering justice to those who need it most. You’ll step into a role built on trust and integrity, working behind the scenes to piece together evidence and crack complex cases. The work is demanding and unpredictable, but the impact you make and the sense of purpose you gain are second to none.
You’ll work at the heart of our communities, engaging with a wide range of people every day. You’ll take full ownership of an investigation from start to finish which means locating and arresting suspects, identifying and interviewing witnesses, managing crime scenes, and using digital evidence to build your case. You’ll collaborate with experts including pathologists during post-mortems as well as other forensic specialists.
Supporting victims is a huge part of the role and you’ll work closely with victim services, intermediaries, social care, and other support agencies. You’ll prepare high-quality case files and navigate the criminal justice system by working alongside barristers and judges in court to secure the best possible outcome for victims and bring criminals to justice.
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You’ll investigate serious and complex crime as part of a team and carry out actions to a high standard
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You’ll identify and implement interventions to maintain the safety and security of victims, witnesses and offenders at risk of harm
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Interviewing witnesses and suspects in accordance with PIP2 standards, gathering all required evidence and information within the criminal law and the legal framework to help bring offenders to justice
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Liaise and work with partner agencies
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Work alongside other investigators in the preparation and completion of case files and crime investigations
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Work as OIC for serious and complex investigations
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Maintain and complete all requirements as per the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act
Gaining valuable experience on the frontline
Our route to becoming a detective follows a ‘uniform first’ approach, giving you the opportunity to gain valuable experience on the front line as a police constable for 14 months before moving fully into the role of a detective. There is also a requirement to complete your PIP1 portfolio during this time. This initial experience is designed to equip you with a solid foundation of policing skills, practical knowledge, and real-world exposure. By understanding the challenges and responsibilities of frontline policing, you’ll develop the context and confidence needed to become a well-rounded officer and an effective investigator.
Please visit our entry routes section for more details.
Life as a detective
The starting salary is £31,164, plus additional benefits including a favourable pension scheme and holiday entitlement (view all benefits here).
After qualifying as a detective constable, there are so many opportunities available to suit your skillset and interests. We have spaces all over the county in our Criminal Investigation Departments (CID) and Public Protection Units (PPU), but also further career opportunities with specialist teams including serious organised crime, fraud / cyber, financial, surveillance, modern day slavery, county lines, major crime, serious collisions, Professional Standards Directorate, Counter Terrorism and more. Within our PPU you can also gain further specialist accreditation in dealing with serious sexual assaults and all our detectives have the opportunity to train and become family liaison officers. Once you are PIP2 accredited, there is also the opportunity to develop by becoming a detective tutor and supporting trainee detectives which comes with a bonus payment.
You will be fully supported to complete your PIP2 qualification which includes a five-week PIP2 course, National Investigators Exam (NIE) and PIP2 portfolio. We currently have one of the best support programmes nationally including study leave, the PolicePass Gold package, study clubs, revision books and crammer courses with ongoing continuous development training delivered by our dedicated crime training team.