Developing the ‘effective detective’ of the future

The world is changing and the nature of detective work is changing with it. For instance, the rapid rise of technology has arguably changed how crimes are committed and investigated. Globalisation may mean that crime is more likely to cross international and domestic borders. An increase in the demand by global and domestic communities for government agencies to be more transparent and accountable may require police services to adapt criminal investigation processes to meet this expectation (Mulgan, 2000). A failure to do so may erode public trust and confidence in police. An additional challenge for any police service may be a greater value placed on the balance between work and leisure by prospective investigators. This may affect the ability of police services to successfully recruit detectives where the demands of work generally outweigh other facets of life (see Smith & Flanagan, 2000). Identifying the immediate and future challenges faced by detectives has important implications for the strategic planning of police services. The purpose of the present study was therefore to explore the views of experienced detectives in Australia and New Zealand about future challenges for ensuring that detectives remain effective.