Police detect no recruitment crisis in CID

Police chiefs say they are increasingly taking on new detectives to plug gaps in the CID in Greater Manchester.

Reports have suggested that Greater Manchester Police is struggling to fill CID vacancies across all its divisions.

Long hours, a heavy workload and the possibility of a pay cut are said to have encouraged recruits to opt for more regular hours in uniform or join more glamorous specialist squads.

There are fears that it could lead to a recruitment crisis at a time when large numbers of the force’s most experienced officers are reaching retirement age.

But the civilian head of human resources, assistant chief officer Julia Rogers, says more detectives are being hired.

She said: “We currently have 88% of CID posts filled across the force, compared with 81% this time last year.

“We are constantly looking at ways to fill vacancies, and have recently recruited a number of highly skilled CCTV experts and exhibits officers to fill roles that at one time were carried out by detectives. GMP has been rated as excellent by HMIC in tackling serious and organised crime for the past three years.”