Criminal Investigation Department

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Charles Vincent, founder of the Metropolitan Police CID

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is the branch of all British Police and many other Commonwealth police forces to which plain clothes detectives belong. It is thus distinct from the Uniformed Branch and the Special Branch. CID officers must have spent at least two years as uniformed officers before applying to transfer to the branch and receive further training when they do so.

The Metropolitan Police CID, the first such organisation, was set up on 7 April 1878 by C. E. Howard Vincent. Originally it was only responsible to the Home Secretary, but since 1888 has been under the authority of the Commissioner.

CID officers are involved in investigation of major crimes such as rape, murder, serious assault, fraud, and any other offences that require complex detection. They are responsible for acting upon intelligence received and then building a case, from analysis of the initial incident through to arrest and prosecution of any suspects.

[edit] Ranks

Contrary to practice in police forces of many other nations, detectives are not automatically senior to uniformed officers and hold the same ranks. The head of the CID in most police forces is a Detective Chief Superintendent.

These ranks are common to most forces.