Exploration on what constitutes an effective detective in South Africa

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to contribute to the knowledge on the police detective's work practices, and account on how police general detectives view their performance and understanding regarding what skills needed to handle variety of general cases in their line of duty. The research question that directed this study is what constitutes an effective general police detective? To address this question, this study followed a qualitative ethnographic methodology with fifteen (15) general detectives. Social constructivism, utilising a purposive sampling was deemed appropriate for the nature of this study. The results produced four (4) themes that indicate that detectives' sensemaking of casework take place through two (2) principal practices: a concluding practice and supporting practice. Furthermore, the findings show that detectives' work is highly social and procedural. This suggests that detectives' work practice is of a social nature and that contacts between police investigators or detectives are important to take into account in the organisation of an investigative department.