cid

[Andy008]

How do the police decide which crimes CID investigate, and which are with by uniformed officers?

[Octavius]

Contrary to practice in police forces of many other nations, CID or 'plain clothed' detectives are not automatically senior to uniformed officers and hold the same ranks. The head of the CID in most police forces is a Detective Chief Superintendent and it is usually he/she that decides who investigates a particular crime.

 

[Clare A]

Octavius is right. Most crime investigations are a co-operation between uniformed police - who are usually first on the scene and, importantly, protect the scene - and CID, who delve into the 'ins & outs' afterwards. As uniformed officers have other duties to which to attend, large numbers of them can't be tied up with one investigation (I'm guessing you're thinking of something on the scale of a murder here) - and have to get back to everyday policing. Therefore, the CID do the time-consuming house-to-house, etc., after the incident. It's a myth that all uniformed police want to get into CID. Loyalty prevents me from telling why the two do and don't envy one another! Let's just say each side has much to say about it!

Clare. Daughter of a retired policeman, not saying whether Dad was uniform or CID!