Interview with Constable Tisha Harriott
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Constable Tisha, 25, has been with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) since 2020, when she joined as police staff and then as a regular in February 2021.
Before joining GMP she studied criminology at the University of Manchester and then worked as a paralegal for a couple of years. Tisha later applied for a role in GMP’s crime reduction unit, which she saw as a good opportunity to use her degree. Whilst working in this unit, a position became available on the direct entry scheme to become a Detective. Tisha jumped at the chance and has never looked back. Read on to hear more about her experience of the scheme so far.
Why did you apply for the fast-track scheme initially?
“I was interested in doing the investigations and fitting the pieces together to solve crimes – kind of like how a puzzle fits together. I was also looking for something a bit more intellectually challenging and policing was the field that I wanted to be in.”
What does a typical day look like?
“You listen to ongoing jobs and the response teams that are attending them radio in to make the Detectives aware of what might be of interest – for example, firearm jobs, murder, serious sexual assault. Depending on where it’s happened, we might then need to turn up and put together a plan of action.
“If you’re on an early shift, you might have actions from the night logs as well – such as reviewing CCTV and getting witness statements.”
What’s the best thing about the role?
The variety. You come in and you could be dealing with anything from kidnapping to false imprisonment to suspicious deaths. Every day is so different, and it opens so many doors - recently I worked with the complex safeguarding hub, which is a unit focused on preventing child criminal exploitation and child sexual exploitation. What I really liked about this unit was its multi-agency approach. In this one unit they had healthcare, social workers, psychiatrists and so many other people who are all working together to find a pathway for a vulnerable child and offer them support.”
What’s the most challenging part of the job?
“I’m on a fast-track scheme so my process has been accelerated and I’ve had to learn policing processes very quickly. I had just 6 months on response rather than 2 years which was the norm for other Detectives to complete.
“It can feel like a lot but knowing who to call when you need help takes some of the pressure off - everyone is happy to help so it’s important to reach out if you need it.”
Would you recommend the fast-track scheme?
“Absolutely! I think I’m further ahead in my career than I would have been had I been on response the whole time. The fast-track scheme is intensive, but means you pick up policing powers and legislation much faster."
How can you succeed in the fast-track scheme.
“Get involved in as much as you can. A lot of it is about experience – once you’ve seen a case once, you can use that and apply it to new cases.”
Greater Manchester Police is currently recruiting new Detectives. If you hold a Degree, you could be eligible to apply for our Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP) for Detectives. It’s a fast-track scheme that will give you the training and the tools to become a fully qualified GMP Detective in 2 years.