March 2023 Nie Study Guide

NIE STUDY AND REVISION GUIDE
This Study and Revision Guide has been produced to support your efforts
to pass the 2023 National Investigators’ Exam (NIE).
My colleague (Julianna Mitchell (Barrister)) and I wish you all the best for your study and revision
and hope to meet you on one of our courses.
Paul Connor
All of the material contained in this Guide is the property of Checkmate Training Limited
and may not be used, edited, altered or copied without permission.
© 2022 Checkmate Training Limited - All Rights Reserved
CONTENTS
Your best chance of success comes from being well-organised.
A well-organised approach to study and revision requires you to:
 obtain and rely on trustworthy RESOURCES;

 use those resources METHODICALLY;
 follow a structured study and revision PLAN.
The contents of this Guide will provide you with information and direction in relation to those
components in that order:
 RESOURCES
 METHOD
 PLANS
RESOURCES
LEGAL TEXTBOOK
I strongly recommend that you make the 2023 Blackstone's Police Investigators’ Manual your no.1
resource as:
 it is the only officially endorsed College of Policing approved textbook for the NIE so it trumps
any other resource - if the Manual says it is right then it is right regardless of what any other
resource might state to the contrary; and
 as the NIE is based solely on the content of the Manual, the answers to every MCQ in your
NIE are guaranteed to be found within it.
Use the code COLPOLICE to get a 30% discount on the 2023 Manual:
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/blackstones-police-investigators-manual-and-workbook-
2023-9780192869470?q=Blackstone%27s%202023%20NIE&lang=en&cc=gb
ONLINE MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS (MCQs)

No commercial MCQ product is approved of by the College of Policing but it is my opinion that the
Blackstone's Q&A online database is superior to any other available and it is therefore the only one I
recommend you use. It can be purchased by following the below link:
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/blackstones-police-investigators-qanda-online-2022-
9780191939907?q=QAs%20Online&lang=en&cc=gb
Note that the database will be in ‘2022’ mode until the final 2022 NIE takes place (29 th November
2022). After that date, the database will be upgraded to version ‘2023’ – that should take place around
5th December.
OTHER TYPES OF MCQ PRODUCT

The only paper Q&A book on the market is the 2023 Blackstone's Investigators' Q&A book (see the
below link). It is approximately £30.00 and contains 410 MCQs. If you are going to buy the
Blackstone's Online Q&A then DO NOT buy this book - the Blackstone's Online Q&A contains all the
MCQs that are in this Blackstone's book (and many more of course).
Use the code COLPOLICE to get a 30% discount on the 2023 Q&A book:
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/blackstones-police-investigators-qanda-2023-
9780192870797?q=Blackstone%27s%202023%20NIE&lang=en&cc=gb
NIE WORKBOOK
A resource that is incredibly helpful and 100% relevant to you as every single page of this publication
connects to material in your exam syllabus. This is a College of Policing approved publication that
takes a different approach to certain subjects - it includes exercises, flowcharts, mnemonics, MCQs
and much more. You cannot purchase this as a 'stand-alone' product – it comes as part of the
Blackstone’s pack when you purchase the Manual (you are purchasing the Manual and the Workbook
not just the Manual). If you are trying to locate a copy as a stand-alone resource, perhaps speak to a
colleague who has taken the NIE? Do they have one of these that they are not using? A 2023 version
might be hard to come by but you could get away with a 2022 or even a 2021 at a real push (do not
use anything older that that).
AUDIO USB
The audio USB by Julianna Mitchell is fantastic resource and allows you to study by listening and
consequently converts almost any environment into a place where you can learn. The 2023 version
will be available in the near future and you will be able to purchase it by following the below link:
https://www.jmitchelltraining.co.uk/nie.html
MOCK EXAM PAPER 2023 EDITION (80 MCQs)

Something I would recommend that you take when you finish studying and before you begin revising.
Published by Blackstone's, this paper mock is far superior to any mock - online or otherwise (in fact I
urge you NOT to use the online mock facility on any MCQ database as, in my opinion, online mocks
are incredibly unrealistic and unreliable).
Use the code COLPOLICE to get a 30% discount:

https://global.oup.com/academic/product/blackstones-police-investigators-mock-exam-2023-
9780198873648?q=Blackstone%27s%202023%20NIE&lang=en&cc=gb
Do not buy 'old' (2022, 2021 etc.) mock exams - they are useless as they are based on old syllabus
material and consequently out of date.
OTHER RESOURCES?
There is no 'one size fits all' resource out there that suits the learning style of every exam candidate
so I would always say that if something works for you then use it. I would advise that you are cautious
as resources vary in quality – resources that miss out important syllabus material and/or contain an
unacceptable numbers of legal errors could cost you vital marks.
METHOD
I have been teaching the law for many years and my crammer courses have an excellent success
rate. I am confident that one of the reasons why my courses are so consistently successful is the
methodology I employ to teach the law which I believe is particularly suited to the NIE (and police
promotion exams). My methodology provides an ideal way for candidates to use a variety of
resources to assist them to understand and apply the law to MCQs for exam purposes.
Essential Resources
You MUST have at your disposal:
1. The 2023 Blackstone's Police Investigators' Manual.

2. Blackstone's Multiple-Choice Questions (up-to-date i.e. 2023).
Optional Resources
For example, the 2023 Workbook or the audio USB by Julianna Mitchell. Do use any other resource
you consider beneficial but remember the 2023 Blackstone's Manual is always right!
Methodology and Rationale

Below is a simple illustration of the study method I advocate.
Method of Study
Test (Repeat Catalyst 'Warm up MCQs)
Reinforcement (Optional Resources)
Information (2023 Manual)
Catalyst (‘Warm-Up’ MCQs)
The method consists of four distinct phases:
Phase 1 – Catalyst
Phase 2 – Information
Phase 3 – Reinforcement
Phase 4 – Test
Phase 1 – Catalyst
Answer a small amount of MCQs on the subject you are about to study. If the chapter you are
studying is short, this is highly likely to impact on the amount of MCQs you have available so do take
this into account. I would recommend no more than three or four for a larger chapter and maybe one
or two for a smaller chapter. The answers to the MCQs are unimportant at this stage - in fact, you do
not even look at them. What I want is for you to have an experience – that experience is answering
MCQs on a subject.
This phase is essential as your perceptions about your knowledge of the law need to be challenged at
an early stage particularly if you believe that your knowledge is of a good standard when in fact it is
not. Unless this misconception is exposed quickly and to the one person capable of doing something
about it (you) it is easy to believe that your current knowledge and practical experience will be
sufficient to get you through the exam - that will not be the case.
Phase 2 – Information
Now read the 2023 Blackstone's Investigators' Manual on your chosen subject. Using the 2023
Manual at this stage provides you with 100% coverage of the material that could be tested. You are
also guaranteed to see the answers to the MCQ(s) you have just answered. If the answer does not
appear then the MCQ must be incorrect as ALL answers are in the 2023 Manual. This discovery
process underpins the legal points you examined in your MCQ(s).
Phase 3 – Reinforcement
Now attempt the exercises in the Workbook (if there is an appropriate chapter). The 2023 Workbook
is designed to assist you in your efforts to pass the NIE – it is not part of the NIE syllabus so you will
not be tested on its contents. However, amongst other things it contains very useful charts, diagrams,
mnemonics etc. that will help your study. The written exercises will challenge you in terms of your
application of your knowledge of the law.
After using the Workbook I would listen to the audio USB from Julianna Mitchell. Julianna is barrister
who has lectured law for over 20 years and she has an exceptionally clear speaking voice. Her audio
material is delivered in a neutral accent and will further reinforce your knowledge and understanding.
Perhaps you have other resources? This is the time to use them to aid the learning process.
Phase 4 – Test
Now (if possible) answer the same MCQ(s) you answered at the beginning of the process.
By answering the same MCQ(s) you can see what you have learnt. Did you change your mind when
you gave your answer on this second occasion? Did your work serve to confirm what you believed in
the first place?
In addition, using your MCQs sparingly each time you follow this four-stage process allows you to
return to the subject and be tested in new ways. This way you will not rapidly deplete your MCQ
database (as so many candidates do) and end up answering the same MCQ's time after time and
think that this is 'learning'. The only thing such candidates are doing is 'learning' the answers to the
MCQ(s) and being fooled into thinking they are making good progress.
If you are still performing poorly after you have studied a subject on a number of occasions, you know
that you need to improve, if you are answering them correctly and understanding why that is the case,
then you are making progress.
An Example of the Method

Here is an example of the method in action using ‘Theft’ as a subject for study.
1. Begin your work by answering several MCQs on ‘Theft’.

2. When you have answered the MCQs, read the section on ‘Theft’ contained in the 2023 Manual.
3. Now introduce your other resources e.g. the 2023 Workbook on 'Theft', listen to Julianna's lecture
on Theft etc.
4. Return to the MCQs you attempted at the beginning of the process and make a second attempt at
them. When you have finished, check your answers.
Options?
 When you answer an MCQ, you could give your answer a 'confidence rating'. For example, if you
choose ‘A’ as your answer and you are very confident that it is the correct answer then your
confidence rating might be 90% or maybe even 100%. Perhaps you are less confident and a figure
of 50% or 60% is appropriate? By providing a confidence rating you are illustrating to yourself how
secure you are in the quality of your knowledge. If you select ‘A’ and you are right you might feel
pleased with yourself even though you know you were a little lucky. If you put a confidence rating
of 60% beside ‘A’ it makes you think ‘why wasn’t I more sure about that?’ and realise that you
need to work on your knowledge. Research has shown that students using the ‘confidence rating’
method learn up to 20% faster than their peers – why not give it a try?
 After you have finished the Workbook section on the subject you could return to the 2023 Manual
and read the section on ‘Theft’ for the second time.
 No Workbook or no Workbook section on the subject? Begin with some MCQs from your Q&A
database/book, the read the Manual and then return to the same Q&As.
 As well as a ‘confidence rating’ for MCQs, you could add a ‘deep learning’ option. Deep learning
involves a high degree of knowledge about the subject area and this would be difficult to achieve
for the entire syllabus as it is so large. However, it could be of great benefit in certain areas – I am
thinking in particular about the 'Property Offences' and 'Sexual Offences' Parts of the syllabus.
Why not add the ‘deep learning’ option to these chapters?
Deep Learning with MCQs

When you answer the MCQ you must justify your choice in writing.
Example MCQ:
WILKIN is a tramp with a long record for burglary offences. He breaks into a garden shed looking
for shelter but is arrested as he is leaving the shed with a mower in his hands. He tells the
arresting officer that he was going to sell the mower to buy drink. In interview WILKIN states that
initially, he never intended to take anything from the shed; stealing the mower was just an idea he
had once he was inside. The reason he entered the shed was that he was looking for shelter.
What offence is WILKIN guilty of?
A. As WILKIN was only looking for shelter, he commits theft (contrary to s. 1 of the Theft Act
1968) when he steals the mower.
B. WILKIN commits burglary (contrary to s. 9(1)(a) of the Theft Act 1968) as soon as he enters
the shed.
C. WILKIN commits burglary (contrary to s. 9(1)(b) of the Theft Act 1968) when he steals the
mower.
D. WILKIN commits burglary (contrary to s. 9(1)(a) of the Theft Act 1968 when he steals the
mower.
Deep learning answer = C

Burglary 9(1)(a) occurs when a person enters a building or part of a building as a trespasser with the
intention of committing theft, GBH or criminal damage – that isn’t WILKIN when he enters as there is
no intent – he is just looking for shelter (making B wrong) and the 9(1)(a) offence is only committed at
the point of entry, making D wrong. 9(1)(b) is committed when the person has entered a building/part
of a building as a trespasser (WILKIN is a trespasser as he has no right to be in the shed
express/implied/power at law and the shed is a building) and then steals or attempts to steal or
commits or attempts to commit GBH. WILKIN has stolen the mower after entering as a trespasser so
this is 9(1)(b) burglary NOT theft as per answer A.
Conclusion
You find this challenging at first but do not give up as this is quite normal. The syllabus is large and
some areas can be complicated - remember that you are employing this system to provide you with
the knowledge and understanding to get you a pass in the exam (55.7%) not to score 100%. Have
confidence that your ability will steadily increase as your knowledge of the syllabus expands.
PLANS
Study and revision are two distinct and separate phases of the exam preparation process.
 Study is the act of learning something new, or widening your knowledge of a topic you are
already familiar with.
 Revision is the act of re-learning and consolidating things you already know in order to be able
to implement them, or recall them more quickly and efficiently.
Creating your own study plan and deciding how to approach revision can be problematic so to assist
you I have produced three study plans and a revision plan. As the syllabus is based solely on the
Blackstone's Police Investigators’ Manual, all of the references in the Plans refer to that official
textbook.
STUDY PLANS
The plans take a 'cost v reward' approach to study. What you study, the amount of time you spend
studying it and where (in time) that study takes place is linked to how many MCQs you might expect to
see asked on a section of the Manual in an 'average' NIE (using official College of Police feedback
from the last 12 exams).
‘NEW’ CHAPTERS TO THE 2023 SYLLABUS

An issue with the above approach is the fact that there are seven ‘new’ chapters in the 2023 syllabus
that do not have any recent NIE history. However, the material in these chapters is not ‘new’ to police
exams as they have long been part of the Sergeant’s and Inspector’s exam syllabus. In addition, some
of the material in the chapter dealing with ‘Public Order’ was part of the NIE syllabus for many years
until it was dropped from 2019 onwards. Consequently it would be a mistake to consider the College
would not be able to ask MCQs about these chapters. Add the fact that the ‘verification MCQ’ process
was abandoned at the end of 2021 in favour of a process where the 10 poorest performing MCQs are
dropped from the final marking process and that leaves you with the very real possibility that not only
could MCQ’s be asked on these chapters but also that they would count towards your final score. As
we have no data in relation to them I have given them an artificial exam history that assumes each of
these ‘new’ chapters would be worth an average of 1 mark in an NIE.
‘RELEASE OF PERSON ARRESTED’ (Chapter 1.10)

You will likely be aware that on 28th October 2022 there were changes to the law relating to this
chapter. At the time of writing this Guide (16th November 2022), the College of Policing have not
clarified their position regarding those changes and their impact on the NIE so at this stage I can only
offer my unofficial advice.
The changes have a direct impact on the 9 pages of material from 1.10.1 (Introduction) up to and
including 1.10.3.5 (Notification of Decision Not to Prosecute); that text is no longer correct.
Consequently, my advice is, for the time being, to exclude it from any study.
I am sure the College will clarify their position in the near future.
I have produced the below plans to assist you. Your choices are:
DROP NOTHING DROP C DROP 5
If you want to cover every element Following this plan means that A plan that reduces the
of the syllabus then this plan will you will cover the entire syllabus syllabus by dropping the 5
suit your needs. except for Code C. worst performing chapters.
Choosing a Plan
The 'DROP NOTHING' plan speaks for itself. Particularly if you have ample time to study, this could
work very well for the candidate who prefers a traditional approach to studying for an exam and wishes
to take on the entire syllabus.
Perhaps you have sufficient time to study but would like to consider an alternative to the 'DROP
NOTHING' plan? Your choice will be influenced by how you feel about introducing a risk element into
your study as the alternatives I propose involve reducing the size of the syllabus by dropping certain
chapters from your study. Whilst dropping chapters may seem unwise, particularly to the candidate
who wishes to maximise their chances of performing exceptionally well in the NIE, I would point out
that the objective is not to perform to that standard - the objective is to pass. In addition, 'exceptional'
performances in the NIE are not the norm (for example, 1001 candidates took the September 2022
NIE but only 30 candidates (3%) scored 85.7% or above). I am not assuming that you are incapable of
achieving an 'exceptional' mark - just that it is not required. Being brutally honest - it simply does not
matter what you score as long as you pass.
The next point is that it is entirely irrelevant what questions you answer correctly to score 55.7% (a
pass). If you answer all of the burglary questions in your exam incorrectly but score 60% you will pass
- the same can be said of the questions posed on the chapters focusing on the Codes of Practice and
this is where the 'DROP C' plan can be introduced to you.
If you follow the 'DROP C' plan you are going to completely ignore the chapter on the 'Detention and
Treatment of Persons by Police Officers (I call this 'Code C). By eliminating the 102 pages of Code C
from your study/revision, you reduce the overall size of your NIE syllabus by 17%.
On the face of it this is nothing short of exam heresy because traditional approaches to study have
often placed Code C more or less at the top of the study pile, rationalizing its prime position on the
basis that it is 'practically relevant', 'operationally important' and a 'must know' in order to be an
effective police officer/investigator is and that it is a 'banker' subject (it has been tested in every single
NIE since the first exam in March 2003). But making Code C a huge part of your study/revision for
these reasons is simply conforming to police exam dogma rather than the reality of the structure of
the exam - the facts clearly show that Code C requires a huge amount of extremely hard work for very
little reward.
Consider the following facts about this chapter:
 It is approximately 66,600 words on 102 pages of A4 (it is the longest chapter in the syllabus
and would take the average person approximately 5 hours just to read).
 A long-term analysis of MCQ trends shows that in the 69 exams since June 2005 (up to
September 2022) there have been 186 MCQs asked on Code C (an average of 2.6 (3)
MCQs per exam).
 A short-term analysis of MCQ trends shows that in the last 12 exams (going back from
September 2022) there have been 32 MCQs asked on Code C (an average of 2.66 (3)
MCQs per exam).
 At an average of 3 MCQs per exam from 102 A4 pages of text this means that Code C is the
least lucrative chapter an NIE candidate could study.
To put these facts into perspective consider the following:
 The entire 'Property Offences' Part and 'Sexual Offences' Part of the syllabus are covered in
84 pages of A4 (18 less than Code C) and they are often worth 23+ marks per exam.
 In the same 12 exam period that Code was worth a collective 32 MCQs (an average of
2.66), the 8 pages of the chapter on 'Criminal Conduct' were worth a collective 33 marks (an
average of 2.75).
You cannot even 'cherry-pick' what you cover in Code C and deal with it effectively by being
selective about what you study. For example, if you excluded the material in Code C that has never
been tested what remains is a chapter that is still 75 pages long worth an average of 3 marks - and
on that basis it would still be the least lucrative chapter an NIE candidate could ever study.
What you must accept with the 'DROP C' plan is that unless something very unusual happens, there
will be MCQs on this chapter in the exam - what you cannot do when those inevitable 2 or 3 (or
maybe 4) Code C MCQ's appear is to berate yourself for not bothering with Code C - they were
always going to be there weren't they? You can't have it both ways. But whether you could have
answered those MCQs correctly because you read that huge chapter once or twice is a lottery. What
you are doing by following this plan is dropping an extremely lengthy and drab chapter that is the
least lucrative area in the syllabus in favour of spending the time you save on other areas of the
syllabus that are far more lucrative.
The 'DROP 5' plan takes the above approach not only to Code C but also to four other chapters. So in
addition to dropping Code C, you also drop:
Detention and Treatment of Persons by Police Officers Chapter 1.7

Identification Chapter 1.8
Interviews Chapter 1.9
Misuse of Drugs Chapter 2.2
Firearms and Gun Crime Chapter 2.3
At this stage you may think that the 'DROP 5' plan is nothing short of madness as it would be hard to
pick out 5 chapters in the Manual that are less connected to role and function of an
investigator/detective. And if I dealt in stereotypes, I would agree. But whilst I concede that these
subjects might be central to the role and function of many an investigator/detective, it is not the case
across the board - some investigators/detectives may not have any involvement with them at all. And
this is where I remind you that you are studying to pass an exam - it is not about what you need to
know to function in a stereotypical police workplace. That being the case - who cares how you pass
when all that matters is you pass?
The reason you drop these 5 chapters is that based on how many pages of text in the Manual they
consist of (the cost) compared to the average marks available in relation to them in the NIE (the
reward). Taking that approach illustrates that these 5 chapters are, historically, the least lucrative
chapters in the syllabus (their ‘C v R Position’ in the below table).
CHAPTER PAGES AVERAGE MARKS C v R POSITION

Interviews 51 3.58 38
Misuse of Drugs 20 1.33 39
Identification 57 3.08 40
Firearms and Gun Crime 19 0.91 41
Detention and Treatment of Persons by
102 2.66 42
Police Officers
Engaging with these 5 chapters means that you have to study 249 pages of text to generate an
average of 11 to 12 marks.
To put it another way, you have to study 41.5% of the syllabus to potentially generate marks worth an
average of 15.71% to 17.14%.
So rather than doing that why don't you study 351 pages of text to generate an average of 58 to 59
marks?
To put that another way, why don't you study 58.5% of the syllabus to generate marks worth an
average of 82.85% to 84.28%?
And I add one final factor to consider regarding these 5 dropped chapters - if, for example, there are
12 questions on them and you had to guess the answer to all of them, is it not possible that some of
those guesses will be correct? Ask yourself how many additional marks from those 12 MCQs you think
you would get by spending endless hours engaging with the chapters relating to them?
OPTION – DROP 6?
You could add to the ‘Drop 5’ plan and make it ‘a Drop 6’ plan. The 6th chapter you drop would be
‘Diversity, Equality and Inclusion’. I appreciate that this is new to 2023 and therefore this is risky – but
if my guess is correct and it is only worth a solitary mark then at 19 pages this will represent a poor
return for the effort you will have to make to know it to ‘exam’ standard.
Having explained the rationale for the plans you now have should have enough information to make
an informed choice about which plan suits you and your needs.
How Do the Plans Work?
Each plan allots a percentage mark to a Part of the Manual based on the amount of marks it is
potentially worth to you depending on the plan you are following. That % mark also represents how
much of the time you have available for study you will allot to that Part. If a Part is worth 40% of the
marks, you will spend 40% of your study time studying it.
The Hot List

The NIE Hot List is an extremely accurate statistical analysis of every single NIE from June 2005
onwards (data prior to June 2005 is not available). Amongst other things, the NIE Hot List identifies
chapters and areas of the syllabus that NIE candidates would be well advised to focus significant
attention as they have been exceptionally lucrative in the exam. In each of the Plans the Hot List
appears as text in red under each chapter within the Plan.
The Hot List will be updated after the feedback from the November 2022 is known (w/c 19th
December) but generally that will not make large changes to the statistics. You can confidently use the
current Hot List – when the update is available you will be sent a copy by your force (or by me if you
have booked a course).
No 'Start' Date
Plans with start dates set in stone are incredibly inflexible and ‘old-hat’ as they only work properly for
the few candidates who can start on the often random date the plan begins - their consequent limited
applicability means that candidates invariably have to compromise their study to fit in with the plan
which cannot be right – the beauty of these three plans is that they fit in with you.
The one time factor the plans have in common is that they all have the same finishing date - your last
study day will be the 24th February 2023 (on the 25th February 2023 you will begin your revision).
Setting Out Your Schedule - An Example Using the 'DROP NOTHING' Plan
 Let us say that you are ready to begin your study on 21st November 2022. Finishing on 24th February
2023 means that you have 96 days at your disposal.
 You might not be able to or wish to study every day so factor a break(s) within that 96 days. For example,
you decide on a total 10 days of breaks - this leaves you with 86 study days. Only you can decide how
long you will take breaks for and when they will be taken as only you know what your needs and/or
commitments are.
 The chapters in Part 1 of the 'DROP NOTHING' plan (which is the 'General Principles' section of
the Manual) have been allocated 40% of your time because they are worth 40% of your potential
marks. In this example you have 86 study days, so 40% of 86 = 34.4 (34 days). You have 34 study
days to spend on the Part 1 subjects and no more. On the 25th December 2022 (if you have not
taken any days off & a scenario that I consider very unlikely but for the sake of accuracy I am
following the example) you would begin your work on Part 2 (the 'Serious Crime' Part of your
Manual). If you took five days off during that time you would begin work on Part 2 on the 30th
December 2022.
 Using the % figures work out your study time for the remaining Parts.
Order of Study - Rationale

The shortest and most lucrative Parts of the Manual from a 'cost v reward' perspective are the Parts
dealing with 'Property Offences' and 'Sexual Offences'. The idea behind following the Parts of the
Manual in the order presented to you in the Manual is that you are engaging with these important
chapters towards the later part of your study so that the material is that much fresher in your mind
when you begin the revision phase and also come the day of the exam.
The three plans are set out below:

% DROP NOTHING
GENERAL PRINCIPLES, POLICE POWERS AND PROCEDURES
Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (new to 2023)
Mens Rea (State of Mind)
'Recklessness' has been tested in 21 out of the last 22 exams. 'Transferred Mens Rea' has
been tested in 28 of the last 30 exams. This 6 page chapter is regularly worth 2 or 3 marks
so engage with the whole thing.
Actus Reus (Criminal Conduct)
At 8 pages, this chapter punches above its weight - make it a priority.
Instituting Criminal Proceedings (new to 2023)
Court Procedure and Witnesses (new to 2023)
Entry, Search & Seizure
Often worth 3 marks. Code B - 2 General (1.6.3 to 1.6.3.10) has been tested in the last 9
exams in a row.
PART 1 Detention and Treatment of Persons by Police Officer
Worth an average of 3 marks. It has been tested in every NIE.
40% Identification
Annex B has not been tested in any exam to date.
Interviews
Code C - 10 Cautions (1.9.2 to 1.9.2.7) and Code C - 11 Interviews (1.9.3 to 1.9.3.4) have
been questioned regularly.
Release of Person Arrested
19 pages – 2 or 3 marks (4 in September 2022).
Disclosure of Evidence
The only section that has NEVER been tested is Disclosure Code of Practice 4 - Recording
of Information 1.11.7). Disclosure Code of Practice 6 - Preparation of Material for the
Prosecutor (1.11.9 to 1.11.9.5) and Disclosure Code of Practice 8 - Subsequent Action by
Disclosure Officer (1.11.11 to 1.11.11.7) are regularly tested.
The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
Covert Surveillance (1.13.4 to 1.13.4.2) has been tested in 29 out of the last 31 exams (1
question each time).
SERIOUS CRIME AND OTHER OFFENCES

Homicide
Misuse of Drugs
Firearms and Gun Crime
Terrorism and Associated Offences
Cybercrime
'Offences under the Computer Misuse Act 1990' has been tested in 13 out of the last the
14 exams.
Racially and Religiously Aggravated Offences
This small chapter has been worth 2 or 3 marks in every exam since March 2019.
Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person
All the elements of this chapter have been questioned so it is best to take a holistic
PART 2 approach to it – maybe 2 or 3 marks.
Hatred and Harassment Offences
27% 'Offences Involving Racial, Religious or Sexual Orientation Hatred' has been tested in the
last 21 exams in a row (usually 1 mark but has been worth 2 or 3 marks in some exams).
Domestic Abuse (new to 2023)
Child Protection
Child Abduction (2.9.2 to 2.9.2.4) has been tested in all but 7 NIE's). The material from
2.9.4 (Police Powers under the Children Act 1989) has not been questioned since
November 2016.
Offences Involving the Deprivation of Liberty
In this chapter, I would advise that you concentrate solely on the material up to and
including Offence of Human Trafficking (2.10.5).
Protecting Citizens and the Community: Injunctions (new to 2023)
Public Order Offences (new to 2023)
Offences Involving Standards of Driving (new to 2023)
PROPERTY OFFENCES
Theft
A ‘foundation’ subject to look at as a whole as it forms the basis of most 'Property
Offences' MCQs - every section of this chapter has been tested. Often 1 mark.
Robbery
Usually 1 mark.
Blackmail
PART 3 Tested in the last 30 exams in a row (1 question each time).
Burglary
17% I would consider Burglary and Aggravated Burglary as one chapter - when combined they
are regularly worth a minimum of 3 questions.
Aggravated Burglary
Handling Stolen Goods
Fraud
Fraud by False Representation (3.8.4) has been tested in 11 out of the last 14 exams.
Proceeds of Crime
Usually 1 question on this chapter
Criminal Damage
SEXUAL OFFENCES
Sexual Offences
'Anonymity' has been questioned in 19 exams in a row.
Rape
Focus on Consent (4.2.3), Section 75 - Evidential Presumptions and Consent (4.2.5) and
Conclusive Presumptions about Consent (4.2.6).There hasn't been a single NIE since June
2005 where Consent hasn't been questioned.
PART 4 Sexual Assault
This chapter is regularly worth 3 marks Another 'big hitter' so definitely one to get involved
16% with across the whole chapter.
Sexual Offences Against Children
MCQs have been asked about all the elements of this chapter. Sexual Activity with a Child
(4.4.2) has been tested in 9 out of the last 11 exams.
Sexual Offences Against People with a Mental Disorder
Has been questioned in 29 out of the last 30 exams.
Preparatory Offences
Preparatory Offences has been tested in 68/69 examinations. Usually 1 mark.
% DROP C
PART 1 Instituting Criminal Proceedings (new to 2023)
37% Entry, Search & Seizure
exams in a row.
Identification
Annex B has not been tested in any exam to date.
Interviews
Code C - 10 Cautions (1.9.2 to 1.9.2.7) and Code C - 11 Interviews (1.9.3 to 1.9.3.4) have
been questioned regularly.

Homicide
Misuse of Drugs
Firearms and Gun Crime
Cybercrime
14 exams.
Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person
PART 2 approach to it – maybe 2 or 3 marks.
28% 'Offences Involving Racial, Religious or Sexual Orientation Hatred' has been tested in the
Child Protection
November 2016.
PROPERTY OFFENCES
Theft
Robbery
Usually 1 mark.
Blackmail
Burglary
Aggravated Burglary
Fraud
Proceeds of Crime
Criminal Damage
PART 4 SEXUAL OFFENCES

Sexual Offences
17% 'Anonymity' has been questioned in 19 exams in a row.
Rape
Sexual Assault
with across the whole chapter.
% DROP 5
Instituting Criminal Proceedings (new to 2023)
PART 1 Entry, Search & Seizure
33% exams in a row.

Homicide
Cybercrime
14 exams.
PART 2 Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person
27% approach to it – maybe 2 or 3 marks.
'Offences Involving Racial, Religious or Sexual Orientation Hatred' has been tested in the
Child Protection
November 2016.
PROPERTY OFFENCES
Theft
Robbery
Usually 1 mark.
Blackmail
Burglary
Aggravated Burglary
Fraud
Proceeds of Crime
Criminal Damage
SEXUAL OFFENCES
Sexual Offences
'Anonymity' has been questioned in 19 exams in a row.
Rape
PART 4 Sexual Assault
19% with across the whole chapter.
Nothing is Certain
There can be no guarantee regarding the structure of your NIE and following any of the plans does
not assure you of a pass. What you are doing is being methodical in an effort to reach your target of
55.71%.
AN 'EFFICIENT REVISION' PLAN

Candidates are routinely told to 'revise' prior to the NIE but almost universally never advised how that
revision should be accomplished or what it should consist of. I have created a basic but effective
revision plan that has worked extremely well for NIE candidates in 2021 and 2022. What I advise you
to do is follow a revision programme that concentrates solely on the chapters of the Manual that will
hopefully generate 39+ marks (to score 55.7% or more) by READING the least amount of text (I
describe this as 'efficient revision').
For the last 10 days before the exam you will only use the Blackstone's Police Investigators' Manual
2023 to READ the chapters in 'Efficient Revision' plan in the order they are presented in, working your
way down the plan as far as possible. If you reach the final chapter before the 10 days has finished
then start at the top and read the chapters again.
You may consider that this is unnecessary and simplistic repetition, particularly since many of the
chapters are in the recently studied 'Property Offences' and 'Sexual Offences' Parts of the Manual but
I assure you that this is not wasted effort. Repetition is the key to success and the more times you
read the Blackstone's text the better your ability to identify correct answers within MCQs based solely
on that text.
 Do not answer MCQs in the final 10 days.

 Do not sit an online mock exam in the last 10 days and absolutely not in the last 3 or 2 days or
on the final day before the exam.
 And do not panic and suddenly decide to try and deal with Code C (or similar) - even if you
followed the 'DROP NOTHING' plan, revising Code C is the most pointless thing you could do
at this critical time.
READ BLACKSTONE'S - READ BLACKSTONE'S AGAIN - AND AGAIN - AND AGAIN.
The below 'EFFICIENT REVISION' plan IS NOT the one you will use for the March 2023 NIE. It is an
example of such a plan and was actually the one I advised September 2021 candidates to use.
CHAPTER
SEXUAL OFFENCES
SEXUAL ASSAULT
AGGRAVATED BURGLARY
ROBBERY
RAPE
ISSUES IN EVIDENCE
BLACKMAIL
MENS REA (STATE OF MIND)
PROCEEDS OF CRIME
RACIALLY & RELIGIOUSLY AGGRAVATED OFFENCES
ACTUS REUS (CRIMINAL CONDUCT)
BURGLARY
FRAUD
SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST PEOPLE WITH A MENTAL DISORDER
OFFENCES RELATING TO PROSTITUTION
TWOC
HANDLING STOLEN GOODS
CYBERCRIME
RIPA
NON-FATAL OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON
INCOMPLETE OFFENCES
RELEASE OF PERSON ARRESTED
OFFENCES INVOLVING THE DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY
PREPARATORY OFFENCES
I will not make the 'EFFICIENT REVISION' plan available until the w/c 13th February 2023 at the
earliest - because it is a distraction and you do not need it while you are still studying.
If you have booked a course with us the plan will be sent to you as you are on a distribution list.
Otherwise, simply watch Twitter (@checkmatetrain) - I will post it (as I did with previous revision
plans).
I hope that you find the information I have provided useful and beneficial to your study/revision.
If you have any questions on any of the material contained within this Guide, please do not hesitate to
contact me (Paul Connor) by email at paulconnor@checkmatetraining.co.uk

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NIE STUDY AND REVISION GUIDE

Your best chance of success comes from being well-organised.

A well-organised approach to study and revision requires you to:

 obtain and rely on trustworthy RESOURCES;

ONLINE MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS (MCQs)

OTHER TYPES OF MCQ PRODUCT

MOCK EXAM PAPER 2023 EDITION (80 MCQs)

Use the code COLPOLICE to get a 30% discount:

1. The 2023 Blackstone's Police Investigators' Manual.

Methodology and Rationale

Test (Repeat Catalyst 'Warm up MCQs)

Reinforcement (Optional Resources)

Information (2023 Manual)

Catalyst (‘Warm-Up’ MCQs)

The method consists of four distinct phases:

An Example of the Method

1. Begin your work by answering several MCQs on ‘Theft’.

Deep Learning with MCQs

What offence is WILKIN guilty of?

Deep learning answer = C

‘NEW’ CHAPTERS TO THE 2023 SYLLABUS

‘RELEASE OF PERSON ARRESTED’ (Chapter 1.10)

DROP NOTHING DROP C DROP 5

Consider the following facts about this chapter:

To put these facts into perspective consider the following:

Detention and Treatment of Persons by Police Officers Chapter 1.7

CHAPTER PAGES AVERAGE MARKS C v R POSITION

The Hot List

Order of Study - Rationale

The three plans are set out below:

SERIOUS CRIME AND OTHER OFFENCES

SERIOUS CRIME AND OTHER OFFENCES

PART 4 SEXUAL OFFENCES

SERIOUS CRIME AND OTHER OFFENCES

AN 'EFFICIENT REVISION' PLAN

 Do not answer MCQs in the final 10 days.

READ BLACKSTONE'S - READ BLACKSTONE'S AGAIN - AND AGAIN - AND AGAIN.

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