PFNDF
THE MYSTERY OF THE DISAPPEARING DETECTIVES
In the past decade the number of investigators has fallen by nearly a third. Now, says the Federation, bonuses are urgently needed to boost recruitment
Ben Husdon
Strategies are being drawn up by the Police Federation National Detectives’ Forum (PFNDF) to enhance the role of detectives and help tackle some of the issues surrounding this hard-to-fill position. The number of detectives in major crime
units has dropped by 28 per cent in the past decade, and while forces have put measures in place to boost numbers, there is still a shortfall of around 5,000 investigators. The Federation believes detectives
Ben Hudson, explained. “This is just another example of why
value needs to be put back on detectives. It used to be a role people aspired to, and now there is little interest in it. We can’t get people through the traditional method of frontline officers moving into the specialism. “There must be recognition of the
The Federation supports this idea but concerns remain over a potential postcode lottery whereby detectives may be rewarded in one force but not in another. Ben has been a detective for 15
“Recruitment is a huge concern, detectives are in crisis, and forces are struggling to fill vacancies”
should receive some form of additional payment which acknowledges their proficiency in order to boost recruitment and, just as importantly, retention. “Recruitment is a huge concern and we have been saying for a long time that detectives are in crisis, and forces are struggling to fill vacancies,” PFNDF Chair,
28 | POLICE | OCTOBER 2022
additional skills required and the qualifications people have to work towards to become a detective. We feel it is only right they are rewarded.” In June, Andy Cooke, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and former Chief Constable of Merseyside, said forces should consider offering “bounties” to detectives.
years, and first joined Suffolk’s Criminal Investigation Department on aid during the Ipswich serial murders of 2006, before helping set up and run the first rape and serious sexual offence units in the county. Ben, who is now a detective inspector and
secretary of the Suffolk Police Federation, has previously specialised in trafficking and sexual exploitation, and whilst a DC managed to secure the first conviction in the east of England for an honour-based abuse rape.
He has been on the PFNDF for seven years now and has recently taken over as
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