Information on TDCs in charge of complex cases
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.25.042981
I note you seek access to the following information:
- What I would really like to know are at which stage of the two year DC programme are officers able to take on/'lead their own (not straightforward but relatively complex as in PIP stage TWO) investigations as a named officer in charge.
- Whilst on the programme are they classed officially as a trainee or as a DC- so what I am asking if they introduce themselves to a member of the public to they need to state they are in training.
a. If they interview a suspect do they need to state they are training. And so forth. - How are the trainee DCs supervised whilst taking on cases. By a DC supervisor/sergeant.
a. Does this person need to sign off paperwork like an interview/statement alongside the trainee to prove supervision took place - for example I am a nurse, when I have a student they write up their notes for the patient, I read it and Co sign to show I have supervised and in agreement. - I think irrelevant if my case, and taking away focusing on that particular officer I just find it strange it isn't made public knowledge a TDC is a TDC and suspects/public don't need to know this information. Legal correspondence/paperwork like a statement doesn't have to state TDC.
- So is this normal procedure across the Met. I have not come across any organisation where staffs grades are not made clear at the time and on paperwork hence I wonder if the DC programme whilst on it does not request these things or they are already just classed as a DC if that makes sense.
This is in regards to the Safeguarding team at Holborn, so an alledged harassment/stalking/threats to kill case- certainly not a straightforward PIP 1 Level case, so even if you could layout exactly what TDCs can/can't do, what they have to disclose on regards to their job grade, to suspects/public/defence, when they start LEADING (not being part of but named OIC) PIP 2 level cases in the 2nd year of 2 years of training (fast track programme), what cases they lead and with whom (if anybody supervising), and how this supervision is usually evidenced for legal purposes should somebody query decisions made and simply want assurance decisions were overseen and signed off.
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full. Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
Q1 - What I would really like to know are at which stage of the two year DC programme are officers able to take on/'lead their own (not straightforward but relatively complex as in PIP stage TWO) investigations as a named officer in charge.
Officers would have been signed-off as PIP1 accredited and would have received their initial PIP2 Detective training course and working within a supervised CID department before being allocated PIP2 offences to investigate. This won’t be until sometime in year 2 as the PIP1 programme takes a year to complete.
Q2 - Whilst on the programme are they classed officially as a trainee or as a DC- so what I am asking if they introduce themselves to a member of the public to they need to state they are in training.
a. If they interview a suspect do they need to state they are training. And so forth.
Detective is a title not a rank, according to the NPCC, the title Detective can only be used when a substantive Police Officer has both a current PIP2 Investigator Accreditation and is posted in a PIP2 Investigative role. When moving to a non-PIP2 investigative role the officer would revert to Police role. They do not have to state they are in training. They should introduce themselves as a Police Officer in interview.
Q3 - How are the trainee DCs supervised whilst taking on cases. By a DC supervisor/sergeant.
a. Does this person need to sign off paperwork like an interview/statement alongside the trainee to prove supervision took place - for example I am a nurse, when I have a student, they write up their notes for the patient, I read it and Co-sign to show I have supervised and in agreement.
Investigations are allocated to officers to investigate under the supervision of their line manager (Detective Sergeant) who will have oversight of all their investigations and provide investigative direction on their crime reports.
Q4 - I think irrelevant if my case, and taking away focusing on that particular officer I just find it strange it isn't made public knowledge a TDC is a TDC and suspects/public don't need to know this information. Legal correspondence/paperwork like a statement doesn't have to state TDC?.
This question is invalid under section 8 of the FOI act as it is more of an observation than a request for recorded information.
To assist please note our response to question 2.
Q5 - So is this normal procedure across the Met. I have not come across any organisation where staffs grades are not made clear at the time and on paperwork hence I wonder if the DC programme whilst on it does not request these things or they are already just classed as a DC if that makes sense.
When officers start on the DC Programme they start as Police Constables.
Q6 - This is in regards to the Safeguarding team at Holborn, so an alledged harassment/stalking/threats to kill case- certainly not a straightforward PIP 1 Level case, so even if you could lay out exactly what TDCs can/can't do, what they have to disclose on regards to their job grade, to suspects/public/defence, when they start LEADING (not being part of but named OIC) PIP 2 level cases in the 2nd year of 2 years of training (fast track programme), what cases they lead and with whom (if anybody supervising), and how this supervision is usually evidenced for legal purposes should somebody query decisions made and simply want assurance decisions were overseen and signed off.
Officers complete initial training, obtain PIP1 accreditation prior to entering PIP2. PIP2 offences are serious and complex investigations. Once within PIP2 they investigate PIP2 offences as Officer in the Case under the supervision of a Detective Sergeant.