Criminal Investigation Department (CID)

The section of the MetropolitanPolice at ScotlandYard that deals with crimes and their investigation. Known as CID. Incorrectly referred to, often, as the CriminalInvestigationDivision.

From the Official Encyclopedia of Scotland Yard

Successor to the DetectiveBranch^?, and ever since its formation the normal term for PlainClothes^? detectives in the UK. Founded as Department of Crime under solicitor J.E. Davis, 1877, following the TrialOfTheDetectives.

Founded by HowardVincent on 8 April 1878 following TrialOfTheDetectives. Initially Vincent, as Director of Criminal Intelligence, was directly responsible to the HomeSecretary, an anomaly which was corrected on the appointment of JamesMonro to succeed him as AssistantCommissioner (Crime), but which led to friction when Monro tried to reassert his independence of the Commissioner. Since Monro's resignation in 1888, it has never been questioned that the CID is under the authority of the Commissioner.

Vincent's study of continental police methods, and his adoption of a direct translation of the French title Directeur des Recherches Criminelles, aroused some initial fears that he might introduce suspect continental investigative methods such as spying, the use of agents provocateurs, or very long remands in custody to secure confessions. But although he and some of his successors openly envied the French their freedom from habeas corpus and their right to search private premises without a warrant, the steady hand of Superintendent AdolphusWilliamson at the head of the detective police prevented him from overstepping acceptable bounds.

Vincent inherited a small body of detectives in ScotlandYard, with others in the Divisions under the command and control of Divisional Superintendents. His new Department proposed for the first time the formal establishment of permanent Divisional Detective sections who would liaise with the central Branch at ScotlandYard. The 60 Divisional Detective patrols and 20 Special Patrols commanded by 159 sergeants and 15 Detective Inspectors would be an improvement on the occasional PlainClothes^? or "winter patrols" of two working a monthly shift system in the Divisions. Back in ScotlandYard, the old DetectiveBranch^? was remodelled with one Superintendent (Williamson) commanding three ChiefInspectors^? and 20 Inspectors^?, and an office staff of six Sergeants and constables. The CID were granted slightly higher rates of pay than uniformed police, and could claim a number of allowances. While Vincent successfully used his personal charm to overcome grumblings from uniformed officers, he left in place a situation which could lead to unharmonious competition and an undesirable belief on the part of CID officers that they wre inherently superior to the uniformed branch. It became a Met tradition that CID offifcers normally remained in the CID for the whole of their careers until Sir Robert Mark's interchange system and Sir Paul Condon's tenure system were implemented to introduce an element of Divisional uniform service.

In 1883 Vincent set up the SpecialIrishBranch which, as SpecialBranch, would become the first of the multifarious specialized squads and units spun off from the CID. By the end of the century, the SpecialBranch was pioneering protection duties.

• Fido, Martin, and Keith Skinner. "CID." The Official Encyclopedia of Scotland Yard. Rev. and expanded ed. London: Virgin, 2000.

Ranks within CID

• AssistantCommissioner (Crime)
• ChiefConstable^?, CID (as of 1888)
• Superintendent^? -- sometimes CID, but not usually
• ChiefInspector^? (CID) or Detective ChiefInspector^?
• Inspector^? or Detective Inspector
• LocalInspector^? (CID); later DDI or Divisional Detective Inspector
• Detective Sergeant
• Constable -- it appears that some constables were regularly attached to CID officers

-- ChrisLehrich^? - 26 Jan 2005