Specialist units
Prisoner Handling Team
Prisoner Handling Teams (PHT) are based at the four custody hubs in Durham Constabulary and deal with most prisoners arrested for less serious or complex offences. The department comprises police officers and investigation-trained police staff overseen by a sergeant.
Local Priority Crime Team
A Local Priority Crime Team (LPCT) focuses their investigations on offences deemed to have the largest impact on the victims and communities they serve, such as dwelling burglary and theft from motor vehicles. These priorities are based on public and community issues fed through crime trends, crime hotspots and community input such as PACT.
Serious Crime Teams
Serious Crime Teams (SCT) are the more traditional face of crime investigation and were known as CID. Each team is managed by a detective sergeant and in Durham Constabulary a detective inspector usually oversees two SCT, a LPCT and PHT.
Major Crime Team
The Major Crime Team (MCT) provides Durham Constabulary with a highly professional and specialised response to major crime investigations. The purpose of the MCT is to deal with particularly large, complicated, and high-profile investigations. The MCT deals with homicide investigations, suspicious deaths, and kidnappings. The team also supports the SCT, safeguarding investigation team, and other investigations throughout the force when requested.
Criminal Justice Unit
The role of the criminal justice unit is to enhance the overall efficiency and quality of criminal justice processes within Durham Constabulary.
Roads and Armed Policing Unit
The unit includes many different teams and specialisms like:
- the road policing unit (RPU)
- safety camera section
- traffic management
- firearms training
- motorcycles
- dog support unit
- the collision/accident investigation unit
Dog Support Unit
The Durham Constabulary Dog Support Unit provides invaluable policing support to the force. Our canine colleagues and handlers are a specialist team that works around the clock to assist officers with various issues. They are always keen to help with a wag of the tail.
National Police Air Service
On 6 November 1962, Durham Constabulary commenced limited air operations. The Chief Constable Alec Muir CBE was the chair of the ACPO research committee. It used Durham Constabulary as the pioneer force to use a helicopter to support policing operations on the ground ​service.
Integrated Offender Management
The Integrated Offender Management Units (IOMUs) are part of Community Safety Partnerships efforts to reduce reoffending and operate under two project titles: Change Track for Darlington & Castle Project for the Durham, Chester-le-Street, Derwentside, Peterlee and Seaham, Sedgefield and Wear Valley areas.