- Masters in Law - The University of Law
- Graduate Diploma in Law - The University of Law
- Degree in Criminology and Psychology – Open University
- Detective inspector - Kent Police
- Police officer for 18 years
Alumna Danni Driscoll completed her Graduate Diploma in Law (now known as the PGDL) and Master of Laws (LLM) with us and has gone on to have a successful career within Kent Police. We caught up with Danni to discuss her career path and how students considering a career in policing can follow in her footsteps.
As a detective inspector, I oversee teams who investigate burglaries and robberies. My teams specialise in offences where weapons have been used or there are several offences all linked, which we classify as a series of offences as opposed to isolated offences.
I also manage investigations into county line drug offences, which includes investigations into drug supply and safeguarding of those who may be exploited as a result of this crime type.
My teams are what you call proactive in nature, so we identify a problem and then devise a plan to manage that situation. It is my role to be the senior investigator providing direction and risk management.
On joining Kent Police, I wanted to get a good understanding of what it was like to be a uniform patrol officer, responding to calls from members of the public which were both urgent and non-urgent in nature. I wanted to get a good grounding which could then be used as a solid foundation to make decisions as to what I wanted to do.
I decided relatively early on that I wanted to pursue the detective route. However, I had not considered a promotional journey, which changed later on. Having got a good grounding and experience as a constable, both in uniform and as a detective, I am now focused on promotion as well as lateral development.
As a detective constable, I managed a number of child abuse investigations where perpetrators had committed sexual offences against young children. One investigation in particular saw a family member being sent to prison for 16 years for sexual offences against several victims. The rapport you build with the victims and lasting impact on their lives, as well as locking up somebody who poses a significant risk to the public, is significant. I was really proud of this investigation, as well as the many others I had the opportunity to investigate in that role. While children may not understand the reason for your actions in this role, you know you are really making a lasting difference.
As an inspector, the most rewarding aspect of my career is seeing my staff develop their skills and knowledge to support them in their journey.
However, as a detective and a sergeant you gain daily first hand experience of dealing with the public, investigating crimes, providing a service and putting safeguards in place. It provides the opportunity to make a genuine difference.
I chose to study with The University of Law because I wanted to develop my knowledge and understanding outside the confines of criminal law in policing. Additional studying provided the opportunity for me to do that, and I liked the University environment.
The University of Law provides a range of learning and opportunities to accommodate everyone. I completed mine at both the (former) Guildford and London campuses as a distance learner. I felt I had access to what I needed and when. The support was there if I needed it, but it was flexible according to my needs.
My studies were some time ago now, however, I did have a tutor who was a criminal barrister. They made me see things from a different perspective, which I have taken away and pass on to my staff now. It is imperative to consider all viewpoints, and this is something that I developed from my experience with this tutor.
My advice to students wanting to work as a detective is to get a good grounding and range of experience in different areas of investigation. They all enable you to investigate offences in different ways, utilising different skills. Bringing all of this together ensures you have a vast toolkit to draw from and consider during investigations. It is also important not to make a quick decision as to any particular area of investigation you are interested in. I would never have chosen public protection or child abuse early on in my career, however, having done this role, it was the one with most fulfilment. It was challenging, complex and multifaceted.
Students considering becoming a police officer should research the role and speak to people in that position. It is hard work with long hours, shift work and you are exposed some things others will never be exposed to in their lifetime. In my view, you need to understand what you are committing to. Once in the role, there is so much you can do, from uniform policing, investigating crime to specialist areas and departments, such as firearms or serious crash investigations for example.
Kent Police are looking for individuals who are willing to learn, take ownership of their development, who commit and take personal responsibility.
It’s important to have good people around you when it comes to supporting mental health in the workplace. Within a team, there is an excellent culture of being open and honest about how you are feeling, but also about recognising changes in others. We ensure regular team meetings and de-brief challenging matters. There are also excellent processes in place to refer yourself or colleagues for support.
Forthcoming challenges I see from a detective perspective; investigations are getting ever more complicated to deal with. The increased use of technology and complex nature of the investigations puts pressure on investigators to fully investigate offences promptly and effectively.
If I could give 18-year-old self any advice, it would be - remember to think about yourself. It is very easy to get caught up with achieving new things, developing skills and knowledge and always seeking something new in terms of development. But there must be a balance in order for this to be achievable and effective. Otherwise it is not sustainable.
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By Cara Fielder. Published 19 August 2024.
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