Tracey Green

Towards a more effective detective

The characteristics that detectives believe are required to be an ‘effective detective’ were explored in this study. A Repertory Grid Technique and Critical Incident Technique were used to explore in detail the views of experienced detectives (N = 30) from five different police services in Australia and New Zealand about what makes an effective detective. The findings suggest that detectives hold a complex and challenging role that requires 11 key skills. By far, the most important factor was communication skills, particularly how to communicate effectively with a variety of people varying from victims and suspects to colleagues and scientific experts. High levels of motivation and thoroughness closely followed communication as essential skills. The implications of these findings for the recruitment, training and management of detectives are discussed.

The prospective detective: developing the effective detective of the future

This study explored the challenges to ensuring that detectives are effective in the future. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 experienced detectives from five different police services in Australia and New Zealand. A content analysis of the interviews identified four main challenges for the future – the retention and recruitment of detectives; the rapid growth of technology; training and ongoing professional development; and accountability. The implications of these findings for having an effective and efficient detective workforce and developing practice-relevant research agenda are discussed.

Drug-related Complaints Against Police: Some Findings from a New South Wales Study

Purpose – To examine the incidence and prevalence rate of drug‐related complaints against police in the New South Wales Police Service (Australia) and compare these rates to officer demographics.Design/methodology/approach – Seven years of complaints data (1993‐2000) are examined. The data showed that of nearly 40,000 complaints amounting to over 80,000 allegations, less than 2 percent relate to drug‐related allegations. These allegations were isolated and the pattern of officer demographics from these incidents were compared to the police service as a whole, with the aim of exploring if particular groups (such as length of service, age, gender etc.) were particularly susceptible to attracting drug‐related allegations.Findings – The most common drug‐related allegation was for supplying drugs. The distribution of drug‐related complaints follows the general demographic pattern of officers in the police service, though female officers attracted fewer drug‐related allegations. Adverse findings, while rare, ar...

Down Under: Police Education at the Charles Sturt University, Australia

Policing and Higher Education in Australia have a long-standing and complex history. Whilst progress towards a full professional model has been made, levels of resistance are still evident in some quarters. This chapter focuses on the progress which has been made towards policing achieving a professional status and discusses some of the changes and enduring partnership which have evolved ‘down under’. In particular, the authors describe the collaborative recruit program between the New South Wales Police Service and Charles Sturt University which has endured for over 15 years with a new 10-year contract recently signed. This program has stood the test of time whilst other such initiatives have failed to thrive. This chapter explores the features of the collaboration in an effort to identify the factors that may have led to the ongoing resilience and success of this model for police recruitment within a higher education program. In addition, the author explores the patterns and trends of serving officers engaging in continual professional development within higher education throughout Australia.

Developing employability for policing: An international undergraduate comparison

How employability is developed in students is of immense importance to the individual and to potential employers. Sharing practice in relation to the development of employability for policing helps shape curriculums to prepare students for their future careers and inform policy makers. Four universities teaching policing undergraduate programmes provided qualitative details of how employability is embedded within their studies. These were compared and contrasted to provide an international comparison. The findings suggest similarities in the ways in which the generic employability skills and broader professional skills, such as ethics and reflective practice, are taught. However, differences in how technical/vocational skills are developed.