(UK police) CID in smaller police stations

onesecondglance · Jul 3, 2012

I have some questions relating to the organisation of CID (criminal investigation department) officers. This is a UK-specific structure so, whilst - as always - I appreciate viewpoints from other countries, knowledge of (for example) US law enforcement would be less useful.

My WIP is set in Bath, a rural city in the south of England (population 38,000). The WIP is set in the very near future, so I'm looking for information regarding the present day.

My main characters are a pair of detectives - one detective inspector, and a detective sergeant who works with her. I'd imagined that their immediate boss would be a DCI, and that they would be attached to Bath police station. The total number of CID officers (including these three) within the station would be no more than a dozen.

For context, this link shows the most recent crime stats for the city: http://www.police.uk/crime/?q=Bath, Bath and North East Somerset, UK#crimetypes/2012-05.

Okay, here come the questions:

1- are CID officers actually attached to particular police stations, or are they based at the district constabulary level (Avon & Somerset police)? I've assumed the former.

2- if they are based at police stations, would the structure and number of officers I've given above be realistic?

3- when CID aren't investigating murders (there are a handful each year in Bath), which crimes on the list in that link would they be investigating? I'd assumed violent crime, arson, and drug-related crimes.

Any other general views on CID are also welcome.

Thanks in advance!

Shakesbear · Jul 3, 2012

CID, in the Met, are called suits. They may have regional nic names. You could get in touch with a copper in your own or in B and A's force and ask them the questions - I've found that they are mostly helpful. There may be a press officer/public relations person who would help. You should also check if you can use the name of the force - the tv series Morse used to use Thames valley, but the newer series Lewis, still set in Oxford, is not allowed to do so.

In the mid 80's I used to visit Bath a lot. I was at a 'do' and moaned about how difficult parking was in the city centre. The bloke I was moaning to was the chief of the Bath police and he told me that I could park in the station car park when ever I visited the city. I took him up on that and it was great fun!

Peter Graham · Jul 3, 2012

1- are CID officers actually attached to particular police stations, or are they based at the district constabulary level (Avon & Somerset police)? I've assumed the former.

Some are, some aren't. Different forces have different approaches, but up here we have targeting units made up of CID detectives who are attached to a divisional station. I'd imagine that Bath might well be a divisional station, but you might ring them to ask them. The detectives themselves often cross over from "uniform" in the same station.

Some more specialist units - like fraud or computer porn - will be based at county HQ.

2- if they are based at police stations, would the structure and number of officers I've given above be realistic?

Structure OK, numbers less so. They do pretty much everything which isn't routine beat work, so there tend to be quite a few of them.

3- when CID aren't investigating murders (there are a handful each year in Bath), which crimes on the list in that link would they be investigating? I'd assumed violent crime, arson, and drug-related crimes.

Sexual offences, drug dealing, white collar crime, fraud, burglary, porn, perverting the course of justice etc etc. In most UK towns, chasing down drug dealers and sex cases is what they spend most time doing.

Any other general views on CID are also welcome.

They tend to know the people they are chasing around and are often fairly matey with them - first name terms with villains and a few gags before the tapes go on are common. It's no longer like The Sweeney, so they don't tend to drink Scotch at their desks, think female coppers are a novelty, beat up detainees or use any of that awful mockney copper slang.

Regards,

Peter

onesecondglance · Jul 3, 2012

Peter Graham said:
It's no longer like The Sweeney, so they don't tend to drink Scotch at their desks, think female coppers are a novelty, beat up detainees or use any of that awful mockney copper slang.

Thankfully, I should be all right on those fronts! I think my FMC would lamp anyone who called her 'sweetheart'

Thanks for the responses. I had been a bit nervous about just calling them up in case it came across oddly. I might give it a go though.

Shakesbear · Jul 3, 2012

onesecondglance said:
Thankfully, I should be all right on those fronts! I think my FMC would lamp anyone who called her 'sweetheart'

Thanks for the responses. I had been a bit nervous about just calling them up in case it came across oddly. I might give it a go though.

They probably have quite a few 'odd' calls. The Met CI I worked with on community projects in London said he could write a book about them!

Steve Collins · Jul 3, 2012

They tend to know the people they are chasing around and are often fairly matey with them - first name terms with villains and a few gags before the tapes go on are common. It's no longer like The Sweeney, so they don't tend to drink Scotch at their desks, think female coppers are a novelty, beat up detainees or use any of that awful mockney copper slang.

Thanks for the memories of the good old days Peter. Having been one of those CID guys in the late 70's and 80's you pretty much hit the nail on the head. Most CID guys do go from uniform into plain clothes at the same station because they know the area and the villains. They are based at the station and yes, generally they fall under the remit of a DCI. Onesecondglance, if I can help with anything please let me know.

onesecondglance · Jul 3, 2012

Steve Collins said:
Onesecondglance, if I can help with anything please let me know.

That's very kind, thanks. I've managed to dredge up some officer numbers for BANES (Bath And North East Somerset - seriously, who comes up with these names?) so should be all right for now, but I'll definitely drop you a line if I think of anything else (I probably will!)

onesecondglance · Jul 5, 2012

Another thought... I'd imagine the DCI might get his own office, but what about the rest of them? Would it be unusual if a DI had her own office? Or would there be a pool where all the DIs, DSs, and DCs were based?

It's not going to wreck the plot either way, but it would be nice to get the little things right.

Steve Collins · Jul 6, 2012

The DCI would normally have his own office as he'd also be in charge of a lot of sensitive information such as names and addresses of informants etc. The DI would also have his own office near to or in the corner of the main CID Office. There would likely be 2 or 3 DS' who would be in the main office, normally each would have a team of DC' reporting to them.

onesecondglance · Jul 7, 2012

Thanks Steve, great info.

Shakesbear · Jul 7, 2012

The way offices are allocated can depend on when the station was built and how the interior has changed to meet the demands of modern policing. I know the Bill was fiction, but a lot of research went into making it realistic*, including the lay out of Sun Hill Station - the floor plans are here: http://thebill.wikia.com/wiki/Sun_Hill_Police_Station/Layout If you Google 'police stations London', or put your location in instead of London, you will see a wide variety of architectural styles and sizes.

* see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11563246

onesecondglance · Jul 9, 2012

Guys, that's really helpful. Thank you!

(UK police) CID in smaller police stations

onesecondglance

pretending to be awake

Shakesbear

knows a hawk from a handsaw

Peter Graham

Arise Rheged!

onesecondglance

pretending to be awake

Shakesbear

knows a hawk from a handsaw

Steve Collins

onesecondglance

pretending to be awake

onesecondglance

pretending to be awake

Steve Collins

onesecondglance

pretending to be awake

Shakesbear

knows a hawk from a handsaw

onesecondglance

pretending to be awake