Detective

The desire to help people, fight crime and assist victims in finding justice should be the chief motivators for potential detectives. Detectives in Ireland are more management-focused, spending a great deal of time on supervisory and administrative tasks, but they are involved on high profile cases when a more experienced detective's skills are required rather than just the skills set of a police guarda.

To become a police guarda, the applicant must apply for admission into the guarda training program. Some of the qualifications potential guardai must possess are effective communication skills, show tact and diplomacy skills, show an acute focus on the community, possess a sense of personal responsibility, show integrity and resilience, demonstrate effective problem-solving skills and have a calm and confident manner. Candidates should also be literate, have the ability to work with a diverse group of people along with the skills to work independently.

Work Activities:

• Manage and conduct a range of complex investigations in your area of responsibility
• Gather, verify and assess all appropriate and available information to gain an accurate understanding of situations to an agreed case investigation plan
• Develop and evaluate strategies to manage investigations, working closely and communicating with staff at all levels
• Make decisions based on balancing risks, costs, benefits and the wider impact
• Use cutting-edge technology to help with the investigations
• Analyse and interpret data, examine records and documents
• Prepare, complete and submit accurate case papers and evidential files to the highest professional standard and within set time limits
• Handle and document exhibits
• Deal with forensic material and its submissions
• Conduct interviews and interrogations
• Participate in and conduct raids, searches or arrests
• Identify appropriate witnesses and obtain statements
• Assess and report the potential for recruiting informants, or exploring other useful sources of information
• Liaise with internal and external agencies relevant to your area of responsibility e.g. courts, schools, social work departments
• Keep up to date with changes in legislation and procedures as they affect criminal investigation