In recent years, detective competence and particularly investigative decision making have been subject to serious criticism and a number of high‐profile reviews. Concerns around investigative competence do not just focus around decisions made on the ground but police attitudes to certain crimes. This paper examines police decision making in the context of missing people and sexual violence and identifies challenges in the development of investigative competence in the context of police budget cuts and substantial reform. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.