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Head of South Holland CID supports new Detective Fast Track Scheme




South Holland's most senior detective is encouraging people to consider a career in detecting crime and bringing serious lawbreakers to justice.

Detective Inspector (DI) Paul Coleman, head of the area's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) based at Spalding Police Station, is one of the team behind Lincolnshire Police's new Detective Fast Track Scheme.

Aimed at cutting the period of time it takes to qualify as a Detective Constable (DC) from an average of two years to just 42 weeks, DI Coleman said the scheme was also designed to address a national shortage in the number of DCs across the 43 police forces in England and Wales.

DI Paul Coleman (centre), with C Paul Rhodes nd DC Dave Asher at work in the Protecting Vulnerable Persons Unit in May 2018.
DI Paul Coleman (centre), with C Paul Rhodes nd DC Dave Asher at work in the Protecting Vulnerable Persons Unit in May 2018.

DI Coleman said: "We're struggling to get people into DC roles and, additionally, it's recognised that there are people who may not necessarily want to do the job of a Police Constable (PC), with all of the dynamics that go along with the role.

"All of the forces have been looking at this, with the College of Policing, to see why this is and what we can do about it.

"There have been different approaches throughout the 43 forces, with some having adopted a direct entry route.

"But Lincolnshire Police has taken a different approach, going for a fast track route and getting people to the rank of DC within approximately a year."

DI Coleman's own route to the top of the area's CID team started in 2004 when he joined Lincolnshire Police as a PC, aged 30.

"I was probably a late starter but I always had an eye on wanting to become a detective and although I enjoyed the uniformed role, I also took on some slightly more complicated jobs to get the experience and knowledge.

"After a number of years, I was approached by the local detective sergeant (DS) who invited me to apply for a DC role.

"I took an exam, which I passed, and then I came to work in the Spalding CID office."

After completing specialist CID training, DI Coleman went on to work at the Major Crimes Unit, as a uniformed sergeant, DS, uniformed inspector and the Protecting Vulnerable Persons teams where he dealt with adult and child sexual abuse cases.

He said: "I returned to Spalding, my home station, as a DI in January this year to manage South Holland CID.

"I absolutely love it and there's no other role I'd rather have."

For more details about the Detective Fast Track Scheme, go to www.lincs.police.uk/about-us/join-us/detective-fast-track-scheme/



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