Detective Sergeants CPD Conference, 25 and 26 March 2025

Agenda is now live for our first National Detective Sergeant’s Conference that aims to support the continuous professional development (CPD) of Detective Sergeants.

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It features a line-up of best practice presentations from operational experts who will debate current challenges, issues and opportunities relating to the operational role of the Detective Sergeant.

 

Our ‘must attend’ event aims to provide key learning for Detective Sergeants of all roles and all levels of service to inform their work in the operational environment.

 

It recognises the DS as a professional body that plays a pivotal part in the management and supervision of investigations across a range of departments and disciplines.

 

Held online Via Teams. Certificates of CPD is available.

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Key themes explored in the conference:

• Roles and responsibilities

• Professional identity

• Understanding roles and responsibilities under Police Regulations

• Current research to inform operational activity

• Managing and supervising teams

• Leading investigations

• Decision making

• Developing as a manager and a leader

• Personal well-being and well-being of teams

• Learning and development opportunities

• Contemporary challenges                               

• Working in a complex, risk-based environment

• Opportunities for ‘on the job’ academic study

 

AGENDA

Day One - 25 March

9.10am-9.20am: Welcome and introduction, Carol Jenkins, The Investigator

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9.20am-10.10am: Opening address: An overview of the current roles and responsibilities of the DS: challenges, opportunities and future evolution, Chief Superintendent Jamie Daniels, Crime and Criminal Justice Delivery Lead, College of Policing

 

10.10am-11am: Professional identity and the Detective Sergeant: understanding roles, and responsibilities, Dr Emma Spooner, Programme Lead, BA (Hons) Applied Investigation course, University of Sunderland, former investigator with the National Crime Agency and Wiltshire Police

 

11am-11.20am: Break

 

11.20am-12.10pm: New research that assesses whether DS’s are getting the best from suspect interviews in Rape and Serious Sexual Assault (RASSO) investigations, DS Jesse Conquest, Safeguarding Coordination Hub, Crime Directorate, Derbyshire Constabulary 

 

12.10pm-12.30pm: Break

 

12.30pm-1.30pm: Understanding your roles and responsibilities under Police Regulations, Ben Hudson, Chair of the Police Federation National Detective Forum and DI, Suffolk Police; Well-being support, Paul Williams, Wellbeing and Safety Leader, Police Federation of England and Wales

 

1.30pm-2.20pm: Making effective decisions and the Detective Sergeant, Stuart Blaik, retired SIO with Thames Valley Police and now trainer delivering The Investigative Supervisor/Manager Development Programme (ISMDP) to policing

 

2,20pm-3.10pm: Developing key leadership skills and an assessment of the difference between a leader and a manager, Matt Bonner, retired SIO with the Met Police Homicide and Serious Command and now experienced SIO trainer with the College of Policing

 

3.10pm-3.30pm: Final questions and remarks

3.30pm: Day one finishes

 

Day Two - 26 March

8.50am-9am: Welcome and introduction, Carol Jenkins, The Investigator

 

9am-9.20am: Undertaking academic study to develop and enhance in the DS role and to prepare for promotion, Professor Gary Shaw, MBE, Professor of Professional Practice, University of Sunderland and former NCA National Interview Advisor

 

9.20am-10am: Detective Sergeant’s experiences of complex demand, competing pressures and resilience, Abigail Salter, former DS and now Lecturer in Policing Organisation and Practice, Faculty of Business and Law, Open University

 

10am-10.20am: Break

 

10.20am-11.10am: Learning and Development opportunities for Detective Sergeants to help maintain annual accreditation, Andy Welbourn, Crime Training Manager, West Yorkshire Police

 

11.10am-Noon: Working as a DS in intelligence and digital analysis, DS Darren Murphy, Intelligence Manager, Major Crime Unit, Specialist Intelligence and Digital Analysis team, Joint Protective Services for Bedfordshire Police, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Constabularies

 

Noon-12.20pm: Break

 

12.20pm-1.10pm: Working as a DS at the forefront of digital and cyber investigations, DS Chris Haines, Digital Operations, Digital Strategy and Data Exploitation, Digital Intelligence Services. Met Police

 

1.10pm-2pm: An insight into how DS’s can use analysis to support a successful investigation, Lucy Rogers National Analyst Business Group and Intelligence and analytics lead and Olivia Beasley, Intelligence Analysts, Tackling Organised Exploitation (TOEX)

 

2pm-2.50pm: Managing your well-being and the well-being of your team, recognising and responding to trauma and PTSD, Paul Roe, Retired Police Officer, who now runs Blue Paw Wellbeing and Trauma Support

 

2.50pm-3pm: final questions and observations

3pm: Conference finishes

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HOW TO BOOK

Cost: £299.99 + VAT (GBP) per delegate (LEA and Government Agency rate). 

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Group bookings: We offer various discounts for group bookings depending on numbers, please contact us for details.

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Booking: Please send the delegates name(s), email address(es) and purchase order (made out to The Investigator) to booking@the-investigator.co.uk or telephone +44(0)844 660 8707 for further information. 

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Payment can be made by PayPal/debit/credit card (corporate card fees apply + 3%). ​The meeting link will be sent out 7 days before the event.