Met to recruit detectives directly

The Metropolitan Police have launched a new detective recruitment campaign, recruiting people directly to become detectives without them working as beat officers in uniform. Hoping to attract talented applicants from a range of backgrounds who can bring diversity, skills, knowledge and a wide variety of experiences to the organisation - as well as those who may not have been previously attracted to a uniform policing role. In light of a policing ‘crisis’ across England and Wales due to the ‘severe shortage’ of detectives, up to 80 detectives will be taken on initially, with further recruitment rounds likely to follow, with candidates not required to have experience in uniform doing street patrol and response work. Applicants are required to: have lived in London for three of the last six years; hold a degree level qualification; pass the National Investigators Exam within 12 months of joining; and complete a two-year development programme before becoming a substantive detective constable. The initial salary will be just under £30,000. Detective Chief Superintendent Stephen Clayman, lead for the detective recruitment programme, said: "London continues to change and so do its criminals. Increasing complex crimes such as cyber-criminality and the pressing need to protect vulnerable people mean our investigators need to develop new expertise. "To meet these challenges and to face future threats, the Met will need to equip its officers, present and future, with the right skills and capabilities. We will need to ensure we are even more innovative in the way we recruit, and that we look and feel like the Londoners we serve." David Tucker of the College of Policing, which sets standards of training and ethics for police in England and Wales, said: "We are aware of the difficulties in recruiting officers and staff into investigative roles, and we are working with colleagues, including the national policing lead, to support our members. The College and the NPCC are looking at the extent of this issue and we are currently working with a number of forces to develop a range of initiatives to address the problem."