Are you considering joining the UK police force? The great news is that there is a range of career options that you can choose from. Keep reading to learn more about what these options are so that you can make the right career choice that you will love.
Police Officer
Police officers are on the frontlines, preventing crime before it happens and keeping people safe during a crime that is in progress. An officer’s exact role will vary depending upon the specific force that he or she is on. You can perform your initial police training and decide upon the specialisation, if any, that you would prefer. However, you will need to work two years on the beat, no matter what. Many police officers will even spend most of their careers focused on patrol. Click here to learn about some of the gear that you will need to wear as an officer to make your job easier.
Scenes of Crime Investigator
A scenes of crime investigator or scenes of crime officer will work from a divisional office or police force headquarters. These individuals will spend the majority of their time on investigations, and they will write up reports, as well as prepare statements, about whatever it is that they find regarding a criminal case. Expect that you will work in a variety of weather conditions and environments as a crime scene investigator, and your hours will be at any time of the night or day. You will need to establish evidence, obtain evidence, and take charge of a crime scene while directing the order of the work to be carried out there. You will also take evidence from a scene, such as fingerprints and photos, and submit it all for analysis so that you can come to accurate conclusions about what exactly happened there.
Police Intelligence
While there are plenty of professionals within the police force that are focused on figuring out how a crime happened and who is to blame, there are also police intelligence departments that are filled with professionals who are in charge of tracking and predicting crime in order to curb it. As an intelligence analyst, you would collate intelligence that you receive into patterns for how, when, why, and where crimes are being committed, and by whom they are being committed.
Civilian Investigation Officer (CIO)
A civilian investigation officer, also known as a CIO, will be trained in the many techniques that are involved with criminal prosecutions. These include PACE and PEACE, as well as a variety of investigation techniques. In this position, you would work with detectives to gather evidence and take statements from witnesses. You will primarily be conducting initial investigations, particularly of low level cases, house-to-house or over the phone. And you could also be put in charge of the recovery and documentation of exhibits.
These are just a few of the many career options available within the UK police force, so consider joining today if you want to make a difference in your community.
