Professionalizing criminal investigation: an examination of an early attempt to support specialization in criminal investigation

This article explores perceptions of individuals involved in an early attempt to professionalize detective work in Kent, UK. In 2000, Kent Police developed a Strategic Policing Doctrine incorporating a learning and development strategy. These ideas resulted in a partnership between Kent Police and Canterbury Christ Church University producing the Advanced Detective Training (ADT) programme including a university qualification, the BSc (Hons) in Applied Criminal Investigation delivered between 2001 and 2006.

This research, conducted in 2016, used semi-structured interviews with 27 participants including: trainers, academic staff, students, and the Chief Constable. The research revealed that there were challenges in the selection of candidates, use of the term ‘advanced’ in the programme title and the abstraction of ADT trainees. A very high proportion of ADT officers valued the ‘training’ part of the programme with the majority valuing the ‘academic input’. This research provides a useful analysis of previous attempts to develop detective professionalization and accredited learning relevant for programme designers responding to the introduction of the Police Education Qualification Framework and direct entry and fast track detective training.