Detective

Tasks & duties

Detectives may do some or all of the following:

Specialisations

Detectives may specialise in a range of areas including:

Skills & knowledge

Detectives need to have:

• knowledge of police procedures, including how to investigate crimes
• knowledge of police policies and the laws relating to police work
• knowledge of how the court system works
• knowledge of a range of cultures
• good communication and people skills, including interviewing and listening skills
• conflict resolution and negotiation skills
• problem-solving skills
• skill in analysing information and preparing written and verbal reports
• record-keeping skills

Entry requirements

To become a detective you need to have:

• spent two years as a probationary constable on entering the NZ Police
• be invited to become a uniformed attachment (a constable who works alongside a specialist unit) to the Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB)
• been accepted into, and have passed the CIB selection and induction process (three and a half weeks long
• completed two and a half years of detective training (mostly on the job)

New Cops website - information on how to become a police officer

Secondary education

Although there are no specific secondary education requirements for entering police officer training. NCEA Level 2 English and maths may be useful as the police entrance exams test both subjects to this level.

Training on the job

Detectives gain skills on the job and on police training courses.

Useful experience

All detectives must first gain experience as police officers. Experience in dealing with people or being part of a team environment (such as a sports team) is also helpful, as is a reasonable amount of life experience.

For more information, please refer to Career Services.