Investigating austerity : an examination of the effects of austerity and additional changes between 2010 -2015 on detectives, their role and the CID investigative process.

The aim of the research was to examine the perceptions of Crime Investigation Department detectives surrounding their views of austerity on; the investigative process, their role and identify further changes experienced by detectives to their role and the investigative process, outside the remit of austerity.

The methodology used was a single case study and carried out within a British police service. Participants were invited to be interviewed through a prospective criterion and snowball sampling approach. Semi-structured interviews were used to collate data from fourteen detectives of varying rank and grounded theory was used to analyse the data.

The analysis highlighted, that austerity had led to a decline in Criminal Investigation Department detective numbers surrounding issues with retention, recruitment and an increase in abstraction due to stress and mental health. Detectives identified increased workloads from a reduction in detectives and assimilation of police staff roles, more complex crime types, delays in the investigative process and changes to the quality of investigations.

Conclusions were drawn from the analysis suggesting austerity and non-austerity changes from 2010 to 2015, have interacted to effect the role of the detective and the investigative process. Future recommendations and research proposed to address these issues.