Do you have what it takes to be a detective?

What steps would you take to investigate the following crime?

You’re faced with a case looking into what started as a theft of a motor vehicle but escalated to the car being driven recklessly and abandoned dangerously on a train track, potentially endangering lives.

What are your first thoughts? How would you approach this situation?

This is the exact scenario Detective Constable Jim Simpson faced one day, carrying out an investigation that lasted 12 months, from start to finish.

During an online detective’s insight session last Friday (10 November), Jim explained and discussed with people interested in joining the police his approach to this case.

There were multiple avenues to explore throughout the investigation, including identifying the individual who stole the vehicle, locating where the car was stolen from, finding and arresting the suspect, recovering the car from the train tracks and returning the stolen car to its rightful owner.

But how would you do this?

Did you consider the following:

• Carry out CCTV enquiries in the area the car was stolen from?
• Conduct a forensic exam of items left in the vehicle?
• Run checks using the Auto Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system?
• Take DNA samples from the driver controls?

These are just a few lines of enquiry the Specialist Investigation Team focused on during the case.

Thankfully, the investigation had a positive outcome, and the suspect was located, arrested and subsequently received a jail sentence.

Detective Constable Jim Simpson said: “I joined as a police officer 23 years ago and have been a detective for 15 years – it’s a brilliant job! We investigate and solve more complex and serious crimes, which always keeps us on our toes. It can be challenging at times, but making a positive difference and keeping our communities safe is what drives us all.

“If you’re interested in becoming a detective, please reach out to us. You can contact us via email at [email protected].”