Which Blackstone's
Investigators' Manual?
The police NIE syllabus is one book: Blackstone's Police Investigators' Manual, in the edition the College of Policing names for your sitting. Getting the year wrong is the most expensive mistake a candidate can make, and November is when it is easiest to make, because the next year's edition is published days before the last sitting of the year. This page sets out which edition each sitting uses, what the Workbook, Q&A and Mock add, prices checked on 11 October 2026, second-hand copies, and how the exam treats law that changed after publication.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 11 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated
For any 2026 National Investigators' Exam sitting, including Tuesday, 17 November 2026, you need the 2026 Blackstone's Police Investigators' Manual: the College's 2026 handbook says the syllabus is only contained in that edition. The 2027 Manual and Workbook is listed by OUP at £90.00 with an estimated publication date of 8 November 2026. It is expected to be the syllabus for 2027 sittings, but that is not confirmed until the College publishes its 2027 handbook, which it had not done when we checked on 11 October 2026.
At a glance
| Question | Answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Any 2026 sitting (4 March, 2 June, 8 September, 17 November 2026) | 2026 edition | 2026 NIE candidate handbook |
| 2027 sittings | Expected to be the 2027 edition: not yet confirmed | 2027 handbook not yet published (checked 11 October 2026) |
| What the exam tests | The law and procedure only as it appears in the edition for the sitting | 2026 handbook, examination structure and syllabus |
| Examined parts | Parts 1 to 4 (parts 5 and 6 are not examined) | 2026 handbook, Appendix A |
| 2026 Manual and Workbook | £90.00, published 12 November 2025 | OUP (checked 11 October 2026) |
| 2027 Manual and Workbook | £90.00, estimated 8 November 2026, pre-order | OUP (checked 11 October 2026) |
| Older editions | College advises not to rely on them | 2026 handbook |
| Endorsed by the College | The Manual only. Not the Workbook, Q&A or Mock | 2026 handbook; OUP Workbook description |
OUP estimates the 2027 Manual for 8 November 2026 and the 2027 Q&A for 14 November 2026. The NIE is on Tuesday, 17 November 2026. For that sitting, the 2026 edition is the syllabus.
Which sitting uses which edition
The 2026 handbook covers four sittings, each from 8am to 8pm on the day, with registration through your force or organisation's NIE liaison contact. Forces may set earlier internal deadlines. All four use the 2026 edition.
| Exam day | Registration window | Results | Edition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, 4 March 2026 | 8 January 2026 to 6pm 4 February 2026 | 25 March 2026 | 2026 |
| Tuesday, 2 June 2026 | 1 April 2026 to 6pm 6 May 2026 | 23 June 2026 | 2026 |
| Tuesday, 8 September 2026 | 15 July 2026 to 6pm 12 August 2026 | 29 September 2026 | 2026 |
| Tuesday, 17 November 2026 | 16 September 2026 to 6pm 21 October 2026 | 8 December 2026 | 2026 |
The College had not published 2027 NIE dates or a 2027 handbook when we checked on 11 October 2026. The 2026 handbook was published in November 2025, so a 2027 handbook around November 2026 would follow the same pattern, but that is our inference, not a College statement. See NIE exam dates for the full timetable. Registration for Tuesday, 17 November 2026 closes at 6pm on Wednesday, 21 October 2026.
The law 'only as it appears' in the edition
The handbook's wording is specific. The syllabus content is cross-referenced to, and only contained within, the 2026 edition of Blackstone's Police Investigators' Manual. The Manual is the only official resource the College endorses and contains the required legal knowledge. Questions are drawn solely from it. Candidates are examined on law and procedure only as it appears in the 2026 edition, are advised not to rely on previous editions, and are strongly recommended to use the 2026 edition.
- Not pure recall. The handbook says the exam does not test information found only in the Manual's tables.
- PACE Code paragraphs. Where the Manual's text refers directly to a paragraph of a PACE Code, you are expected to know that provision.
- All areas examinable. Even areas less relevant to your force or region can be tested, because the exam reflects the role nationally.
The 2027 edition: what we know and what is not confirmed
- Listed: OUP lists Blackstone's Police Investigators' Manual and Workbook 2027, ISBN 9780197918944, at £90.00 for pre-order, estimated publication 8 November 2026. Wildy lists it for November 2026.
- What OUP says is new: over 150 Workbook questions including over 40 new ones, a new chapter on the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025, and an added author. We have not seen a contents list.
- The 2027 Q&A is listed at £31.99, estimated 14 November 2026. No 2027 Mock Exam was listed.
- Not confirmed: that the 2027 edition will be the syllabus for 2027 sittings, which parts it will occupy, and whether any new chapter will be examinable. Those are for the College's 2027 handbook.
Plan on the 2027 edition, but do not treat it as confirmed until the 2027 handbook says so. Our dates guide will be updated when the College publishes 2027 dates.
What is examined: parts 1 to 4
Appendix A of the 2026 handbook lists the examinable syllabus by chapter and sub-section. We counted the chapters and numbered sub-sections in each part:
| Part | Chapters | Sub-sections |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1: General principles, police powers and procedures | 12 | 157 |
| Part 2: Serious crime and other offences | 14 | 101 |
| Part 3: Property offences | 9 | 52 |
| Part 4: Sexual offences | 8 | 51 |
| Parts 5 and 6 | Not examined | Not listed in Appendix A |
For what each part contains, see the NIE syllabus 2026 guide and the topic pages for Part 3 and Part 4.
Chapter map of the examinable parts (2026 edition)
These are the 43 chapters listed in Appendix A of the 2026 handbook, with our count of numbered sub-sections in each. The sub-section count is a rough guide to how much material a chapter holds, not to how many questions it will produce. Chapter 1.7 (detention and treatment, which includes PACE Code C) is the largest by some way.
| Chapter | Title | Sub-sections |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Diversity, equality and inclusion | 8 |
| 1.2 | Mens rea (state of mind) | 11 |
| 1.3 | Actus reus (criminal conduct) | 11 |
| 1.4 | Instituting criminal proceedings | 6 |
| 1.5 | Court procedure and witnesses | 15 |
| 1.6 | Entry, search and seizure: PACE Code B | 13 |
| 1.7 | Detention and treatment of persons by police officers | 30 |
| 1.8 | Identification | 14 |
| 1.9 | Interviews | 14 |
| 1.10 | Release of person arrested | 12 |
| 1.11 | Disclosure of evidence | 13 |
| 1.12 | The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 | 10 |
| 2.1 | Homicide | 7 |
| 2.2 | Misuse of drugs | 15 |
| 2.3 | Firearms and gun crime | 12 |
| 2.4 | Terrorism and associated offences | 8 |
| 2.5 | Cybercrime | 4 |
| 2.6 | Racial and religiously aggravated offences | 3 |
| 2.7 | Non-fatal offences against the person | 9 |
| 2.8 | Hatred and harassment offences | 7 |
| 2.9 | Domestic violence and abuse | 6 |
| 2.10 | Child protection | 4 |
| 2.11 | Offences involving the deprivation of liberty | 4 |
| 2.12 | Protecting citizens and the community: injunctions, orders and police powers | 3 |
| 2.13 | Public order offences | 9 |
| 2.14 | Offences involving standards of driving | 10 |
| 3.1 | Theft and related offences | 11 |
| 3.2 | Robbery | 1 |
| 3.3 | Blackmail | 4 |
| 3.4 | Burglary | 5 |
| 3.5 | Aggravated burglary | 2 |
| 3.6 | Handling stolen goods | 6 |
| 3.7 | Fraud | 10 |
| 3.8 | Proceeds of crime | 6 |
| 3.9 | Criminal damage | 7 |
| 4.1 | Sexual offences | 2 |
| 4.2 | Rape | 7 |
| 4.3 | Sexual assault | 6 |
| 4.4 | Sexual offences against children | 15 |
| 4.5 | Sexual offences against people with a mental disorder | 6 |
| 4.6 | Preparatory offences | 3 |
| 4.7 | Offences relating to prostitution | 5 |
| 4.8 | Other sexual offences | 7 |
If your Manual's contents page does not match these chapter numbers, check the edition. The 2027 numbering may differ, and we will not know until the 2027 handbook is published.
Where the questions fall, relative to the size of each part
Putting the College's September 2026 subject area breakdown next to our sub-section counts gives a simple check on whether any part is over- or under-represented. In that sitting each part supplied roughly one scored question for every five numbered sub-sections.
| Part | Sub-sections (2026 Appendix A) | Scored questions, September 2026 | Questions per sub-section |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | 157 | 30 | 0.19 |
| Part 2 | 101 | 19 | 0.19 |
| Part 3 | 52 | 11 | 0.21 |
| Part 4 | 51 | 10 | 0.20 |
The practical point: no part was a "free pass" in that sitting. Parts 3 and 4 are shorter, but they produced questions in proportion. The College says its breakdown applies to that sitting only, so treat this as one data point, not a forecast. It does suggest that reading every part of the Manual, rather than skipping the smaller ones, is the right approach.
The Manual and Workbook pack
OUP sells the Investigators' Manual and Workbook together as a pack. The 2026 pack (ISBN 9780198978190) is 1,120 pages, priced at £90.00, published 12 November 2025. OUP describes the Workbook as having over 100 Type A multiple-choice questions, and states that the Workbook is not endorsed by the College; the Manual is.
Use the Workbook as you go: read a chapter, then answer its questions the same day. It is the cheapest practice you will get because you have already paid for it. Do not mistake it for a mock: it is grouped by chapter, so you always know which topic a question is about, which the real paper does not tell you.
Not the Sergeants' and Inspectors' Manuals
Both books come from the same publisher and share a lot of law, which is why people mix them up. They are different syllabuses for different exams.
| NIE | Sergeant and Inspector | |
|---|---|---|
| Exam | National Investigators' Exam (PIP2) | NPPF step two Sergeant and Inspector legal exam |
| Book | Blackstone's Police Investigators' Manual, sold as a pack with a Workbook | Blackstone's Police Manuals: three volumes (Crime, Evidence and Procedure, General Police Duties) |
| Examined | Parts 1 to 4 of the Manual | All three volumes (one chapter for sergeants only, per the College's 2027 handbook) |
| Paper | 80 questions in two hours, scored on 70 | 150 questions in three hours, scored on 140 |
| Publication of next edition | 2027 pack estimated 8 November 2026 (OUP) | 2027 set published 7 August 2026 (OUP, as recorded in our promotion guide on 4 October 2026) |
| Overlap | Much of the criminal law and PACE material | Wider coverage of general police duties and road policing |
A detective who later goes for promotion will need the Police Manuals for that exam. The Investigators' Manual does not cover the promotion syllabus, and the Police Manuals are not the NIE syllabus.
How to read the Manual for the NIE
- Start with the part you will be tested on most. Part 1 is the largest part of the syllabus and supplied 30 of 70 scored questions in September 2026. Starting there also gives you mens rea and actus reus, which the later parts rely on.
- Read for elements, not for memory of tables. The handbook says the exam does not test information found only in tables. For each offence, write the elements and the one or two points that change the answer.
- Learn the PACE Code paragraphs the Manual cites. The handbook says these are examinable. Keep the Code open alongside chapters 1.6 to 1.9.
- Do the Workbook the same day. It turns reading into recall while the chapter is fresh.
- Mark what has changed since publication. Note in the margin where the law moved after November 2025 (for example exposure under s.66), so you answer from the Manual in the exam and from current law at work.
- Re-read your weakest part last. Use timed mixed questions to find it, then go back to the Manual rather than to more questions.
The handbook recommends a minimum of 14 weeks of independent study. Our NIE revision plan spreads the four parts across 4, 8 and 12 weeks if you have less time.
Workbook vs Q&A vs Mock Exam
| Workbook | Q&A | Mock Exam | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | The Manual's companion, sold in the same pack | A separate book of practice questions | One full practice paper |
| Questions (2026 edition) | Over 100 Type A multiple-choice, plus recall questions | Over 1,000 | 80 |
| Format | Chapter by chapter | Chapter by chapter with reasoned answers | Two-hour paper; sealed answer booklet and marking matrix |
| Price (2026) | Included in the £90.00 pack | £29.99 | £29.99 |
| 2027 edition | In the 2027 pack: over 150 questions, over 40 new | £31.99, estimated 14 November 2026 | Not listed |
| Best used | As you finish each chapter | Weeks 4 to 12, to find weak chapters | In the final fortnight, under exam conditions |
| College status | Not endorsed | Not endorsed; may not be representative | Not endorsed; may not be representative |
The handbook says the Blackstone's Q&A and Mock were developed outside the College and cannot be presumed to be representative of the style or difficulty of NIE questions. What they do well: they are written to the same Manual edition, cross-referenced to it, and the Q&A explains why wrong options are wrong. For the wider market of banks and courses, see NIE revision resources compared.
Online versions
OUP sells personal five-month subscriptions to the Investigators' Manual and Workbook online (£83.00), the Q&A online (£70.00), and a combined package (£115.00), with tax added at checkout (checked 11 October 2026). The online NIE area offers topic revision, tests and quarter, half and full mocks. Choose the edition that matches your sitting, and ask whether your force or university already has institutional access.
Prices
| Product | Seller | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual and Workbook 2026 (pack) | OUP | £90.00 | Published 12 November 2025 |
| Manual and Workbook 2026 (pack) | Amazon UK | £85.99 | RRP shown £90 |
| Manual and Workbook 2026 (pack) | Dandy Booksellers | £85.50 | |
| Manual and Workbook 2026 (pack) | Wildy | £90.00 | |
| Manual and Workbook 2027 (pack) | OUP | £90.00 | Pre-order, estimated 8 November 2026 |
| Manual and Workbook 2027 (pack) | Wildy | £90.00 | November 2026 |
| Q&A 2026 | OUP | £29.99 | Amazon UK £28.66 |
| Q&A 2027 | OUP | £31.99 | Estimated 14 November 2026 |
| Mock Exam 2026 | OUP | £29.99 | No 2027 listed |
| Manual and Workbook Online | OUP | £83.00 plus tax | Five months |
| Q&A Online | OUP | £70.00 plus tax | Five months |
| Manual, Workbook and Q&A Online combined | OUP | £115.00 plus tax | Five months |
Printed books are zero-rated for VAT in the UK, so the book price is the full price. OUP's online subscriptions show tax added at checkout. The College has advertised a 30% discount on Blackstone's Police Manuals through College Learn; we could not confirm whether it covers the Investigators' Manual.
Second-hand copies
- Same year: fine. A used 2026 Manual is the 2026 syllabus.
- Older year: risky. The handbook advises against relying on previous editions. You cannot tell which paragraphs changed without the current one.
- Check the year on the book. At least one bookseller's page address for the 2027 pack still says 2026. The cover and copyright page are what count.
- Check the Workbook. Answers written in by a previous owner spoil it for self-testing.
- Timing. 2026 copies are most useful to people sitting on Tuesday, 17 November 2026. After that, their value to future candidates falls once the 2027 edition is confirmed.
Law that has changed since the 2026 Manual
The 2026 Manual was published on 12 November 2025. Law has changed since. The handbook's rule: changes after publication are examined only in exceptional circumstances and only after suitable prior notice through the College's NIE pages and NIE liaison contacts; syllabus updates are not issued for every change; and unless notice is given, all of the syllabus remains examinable regardless of changes in the law. We found no NIE syllabus update when we checked.
| Date in force | Change | Source | Syllabus area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 February 2026 | Creating, or requesting the creation of, a purported intimate image of an adult (Sexual Offences Act 2003 ss.66E to 66H) | Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 | Part 4 |
| 29 June 2026 | Making or supplying purported intimate image generators (ss.66I to 66L) | Crime and Policing Act 2026 s.99 | Part 4 |
| 29 June 2026 | Several other provisions, including harassment of a person in their home and wearing or displaying articles in support of a proscribed organisation | Crime and Policing Act 2026 ss.169 and 233 | Part 2 topics |
| 29 September 2026 | Exposure (s.66) rewritten to add a sexual gratification limb | Crime and Policing Act 2026 s.113 | Part 4 |
| Not yet in force (11 October 2026) | Shop theft triable either way at any value; search for electronically tracked stolen goods; new under-16 offences; taking intimate images without consent | Crime and Policing Act 2026 ss.47, 171, 81 and Schedule 13 | Parts 3 and 4 |
For the exam, answer from the Manual. For the job, use the current law. The handbook itself expects candidates to stay familiar with new legislation for professional development even when it is not examined.
Does your force provide the Manual?
We looked for public force or programme pages saying the Investigators' Manual is provided free to PIP2, DHEP or Police Now candidates and could not find one we could verify. That does not mean none does: provision often sits in internal guidance. Before buying, ask your NIE liaison contact or programme lead whether the force provides or lends the Manual, has an institutional online subscription, or funds revision materials.
For when direct entry trainees sit the exam, see the NIE on direct entry detective routes.
When the 2027 handbook is published: what to check
When the College publishes the 2027 NIE candidate handbook, compare it with the 2026 one before you buy or switch. These are the questions we will be asking:
- Is the 2027 edition named as the syllabus for every 2027 sitting?
- Have any chapters been added, removed or renumbered in Appendix A, and does the new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 chapter appear in parts 1 to 4?
- Has Part 4 changed to reflect the intimate image and exposure changes in force during 2026?
- Are parts 5 and 6 still excluded?
- Has the College published a syllabus update for the remaining 2026 sitting? (None found on 11 October 2026.)
- Do the 2027 dates, registration windows and results days follow the 2026 pattern?
We will update this page and the syllabus guide when it appears. The College's own NIE page is the place to check first.
Worked scenarios
A trainee investigator searches for the Manual on 5 November and finds a 2027 pre-order and a 2026 copy side by side. The Tuesday, 17 November 2026 sitting examines the 2026 edition. Buy the 2026 pack, and check the year on the cover when it arrives. The 2027 Q&A, due about 14 November, is also the wrong edition for this sitting.
A DC on a direct entry route expects to sit in early 2027. The College has not yet published 2027 dates or the 2027 handbook. A sensible plan is to start on the 2026 Manual now for stable law (the general principles in Part 1 change slowly), pre-order or plan to buy the 2027 pack, and switch once the 2027 handbook confirms the edition. Then check the 2027 contents against what you have read.
A colleague offers a free 2025 Manual. For a 2026 sitting, the handbook advises against relying on previous editions. Since the 2026 Manual was published in November 2025, much will be the same, but you will not know which parts changed without the current copy. Use the 2025 copy for background reading at most, and get the 2026 edition for the exam.
A candidate who failed in September 2026 and cannot sit again until 2027 will need the 2027 edition if, as expected, the 2027 handbook names it. Their 2026 notes remain useful for unchanged law, but the PACE Codes, sexual offences and any new chapters should be re-read in the 2027 edition.
Myths about the Manual
- "The newest edition is always the one examined." The edition examined is the one the College's handbook names for your sitting. For every 2026 sitting that is 2026, even after the 2027 book is published.
- "The Sergeants' Manuals cover the NIE." The NIE has its own Investigators' Manual and its own syllabus list. The overlap is large but not complete.
- "The exam follows the current law." It follows the law as it appears in the Manual edition for the sitting, unless the College gives notice of a change.
- "The Workbook is endorsed because it comes with the Manual." OUP itself says the Workbook is not endorsed by the College; only the Manual is.
- "You must read parts 5 and 6." The handbook says they are not examined. Read them for work if they help, after the exam.
Buying checklist
- Confirm your sitting date with your NIE liaison contact (registration for the November 2026 sitting closes at 6pm on the date in the handbook).
- Buy, borrow or confirm access to the 2026 edition for any 2026 sitting.
- Check the year on the cover and copyright page, not just the listing title.
- Check the Workbook in a second-hand pack has not been written in.
- Ask your force about provision, institutional online access and discounts before paying full price.
- Decide whether you need the Q&A, the Mock, or an online bank, and buy the matching year.
- Bookmark the College's NIE page to watch for the 2027 handbook and any syllabus update.
- If you sit in 2027, wait for the 2027 handbook before treating the 2027 edition as your syllabus.
Once you have the right book, the next question is how to use it in the time you have. Our free NIE revision timetable builds a week-by-week plan to your sitting, weighted to the four parts. Our paid NIE toolkit adds timed practice; it is ours, and it does not replace the Manual.
What we could not verify
- The 2027 syllabus. No 2027 handbook or 2027 dates were published when we checked. That the 2027 edition will be the 2027 syllabus is an expectation based on the annual pattern.
- 2027 contents. We relied on OUP's description; we have not seen the 2027 contents list or page count.
- Publication dates. OUP's 2027 dates are estimates and can slip.
- The College discount. Whether the advertised 30% discount covers the Investigators' Manual is unconfirmed.
- Force provision. No verifiable public statement found for any force.
- What the 2026 Manual says about legislation passed but not in force when it was written. We have not seen the Manual's text.
- Parts 5 and 6. The handbook does not list them, so we have not described their contents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Blackstone's Manual do I need for the NIE in November 2026?
The 2026 Blackstone's Police Investigators' Manual. The College of Policing's 2026 NIE candidate handbook covers all four 2026 sittings, including Tuesday, 17 November 2026, and says the syllabus is only contained within the 2026 edition and that candidates are examined on the law only as it appears there.
When is the 2027 Blackstone's Investigators' Manual published?
Oxford University Press lists the Blackstone's Police Investigators' Manual and Workbook 2027 (ISBN 9780197918944) at £90.00 for pre-order, with an estimated publication date of 8 November 2026 (checked 11 October 2026). Wildy lists it for November 2026. It was not yet published when we checked.
Will the 2027 Manual be the syllabus for 2027 NIE sittings?
That is the expected pattern, but it is not yet confirmed. Each year the College's NIE candidate handbook names the edition for that year's sittings; the 2026 handbook was published in November 2025. When we checked on 11 October 2026 the College had not published a 2027 handbook or 2027 dates, so no official source yet names the 2027 edition as the 2027 syllabus.
Is the Investigators' Manual the same as the Sergeants' and Inspectors' Manuals?
No. The NIE uses Blackstone's Police Investigators' Manual, a separate book sold as a pack with its own Workbook. The Sergeant and Inspector exams use the three-volume Blackstone's Police Manuals (Crime, Evidence and Procedure, General Police Duties). Much of the law overlaps, but the syllabus, chapter numbering and coverage differ, so buy the Investigators' Manual for the NIE.
Which parts of the Investigators' Manual are examined?
Parts 1 to 4 only: general principles, powers and procedures; serious crime and other offences; property offences; and sexual offences. The handbook says parts 5 and 6 are not examined and does not list them in its syllabus appendix.
What is the difference between the Workbook, the Q&A and the Mock Exam?
The Workbook comes in the same pack as the Manual and has chapter-by-chapter questions (over 100 in 2026, over 150 in 2027 according to OUP). The Q&A is a separate book of over 1,000 questions with reasoned answers, £29.99 for 2026. The Mock Exam is a single 80-question, two-hour paper with a sealed answer booklet, £29.99 for 2026. None of the three is endorsed by the College.
Can I use the 2025 Manual for the 2026 NIE?
The handbook advises against it: candidates should not rely on previous editions, which may contain out-of-date material, and the College strongly recommends the 2026 edition. The exam examines the law as it appears in the 2026 edition, so an older copy risks teaching you a version of the law that the exam does not test.
What if the law changes after the Manual is published?
The handbook says changes to legislation or case law after publication are only examined in exceptional circumstances and only after suitable prior notice. Any update would go on the College's NIE pages and to NIE liaison contacts, well before the exam. Otherwise the whole syllabus remains examinable as written, even if the law has since changed.
Should I buy the 2027 Manual now if I sit in 2027?
You can pre-order, but wait for the College's 2027 handbook before relying on it as your syllabus. Starting with the 2026 edition while you wait is reasonable for law that does not change much, but switch once the 2027 handbook names the edition and check which chapters changed.
Does my force provide the Investigators' Manual?
Some forces and training programmes may provide or lend it, but we could not find a force or programme page we could verify saying so. Ask your NIE liaison contact, training school or programme lead before you buy, and ask whether the force has an institutional subscription to the online version.
Is there a discount on the Investigators' Manual for police officers?
The College has advertised a 30% discount on Blackstone's Police Manuals through College Learn. We could not confirm whether that covers the Investigators' Manual, because the details sit behind a login. Check College Learn before paying full price.
Do I need the Workbook as well as the Manual?
You do not have a choice for the 2026 and 2027 editions: OUP sells them together as one pack. Use it. The Workbook's chapter questions are the cheapest practice available, though OUP notes that the Workbook, unlike the Manual, is not endorsed by the College.
How long should I spend reading the Manual?
The College's handbook recommends a minimum of 14 weeks of independent study using the Manual. For the 17 November 2026 sitting, that would have meant starting by mid-August. With less time, prioritise reading every part once over re-reading one part, then use timed questions to find weak areas.
Is there a Blackstone's Investigators' Mock Exam for 2027?
Not when we checked. OUP listed the 2026 Mock Exam (£29.99, published 18 November 2025) but no 2027 edition (checked 11 October 2026). The 2027 Q&A is listed at £31.99 with an estimated date of 14 November 2026.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 11 October 2026. Rules and figures change, so check the source for the date you are reading this. Where we could not confirm something from an official or independent source, the page says so rather than guessing. Spotted something out of date? See our corrections policy.
- College of Policing: NIE candidate handbook 2026 (PDF, November 2025) — 2026 sittings and registration dates; syllabus 'only contained within' the 2026 edition; law examined only as it appears there; previous editions not to be relied on; Q&A and Mock not representative or endorsed; syllabus updates only in exceptional circumstances with notice; parts 5 and 6 not examined; Appendix A syllabus. Read from our local copy on 11 October 2026 (accessed 11 October 2026)
- College of Policing: National Investigators' Exam page — where the College would publish the 2027 handbook, dates and any syllabus update (accessed 11 October 2026)
- OUP: Blackstone's Police Investigators' Manual and Workbook 2026 — ISBN 9780198978190, £90.00 pack, published 12 November 2025, 1,120 pages, Workbook over 100 Type A questions (accessed 11 October 2026)
- OUP: Blackstone's Police Investigators' Manual and Workbook 2027 — ISBN 9780197918944, £90.00, pre-order, estimated 8 November 2026; over 150 Workbook questions including over 40 new; new chapter on the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 (accessed 11 October 2026)
- Wildy & Sons: 2027 Investigators' Manual and Workbook listing — £90.00, November 2026. The page address still says 2026, which shows why the year on the listing body matters (accessed 11 October 2026)
- OUP: Blackstone's Police Investigators' Q&A 2026 and 2027; Mock Exam 2026 — Q&A 2026 £29.99 (14 November 2025); Q&A 2027 £31.99 (estimated 14 November 2026); Mock Exam 2026 £29.99 (18 November 2025, 80 questions, two hours). No 2027 Mock listed (accessed 11 October 2026)
- OUP: Blackstone's Police Investigators' online products — Manual and Workbook Online £83.00, Q&A Online £70.00, combined £115.00, each five months, tax added at checkout (accessed 11 October 2026)
- Booksellers: Amazon UK and Dandy Booksellers (2026 pack) — £85.99 at Amazon UK and £85.50 at Dandy Booksellers; Amazon had no 2027 listing (accessed 11 October 2026)
- Sexual Offences Act 2003, s.66 and ss.66E to 66L; Crime and Policing Act 2026 commencement regulations (legislation.gov.uk) — examples of law that changed after 12 November 2025: purported intimate image offences from 6 February 2026, image generator offences from 29 June 2026, exposure rewritten from 29 September 2026 (accessed 11 October 2026)
On this topic elsewhere
More in this guide series
Practice and tools
Disclaimer
PolicePay.co.uk is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or produced by the College of Policing or Oxford University Press (Blackstone's). Exam rules, dates, the syllabus and prices change, so check the College of Policing's current NIE candidate handbook and exam page before you register or buy. Practice material on this site is original and is not real or recalled exam content. Details apply to England and Wales unless stated. Details are as checked on 11 October 2026.