Competency-based model for training investigators of the National Police of Ukraine in the context of the digitization of criminal proceedings

Abstract

This study offers a comprehensive analysis of the transformation of professional training for investigators of the National Police of Ukraine in the context of the gradual digitalization of criminal proceedings. The research is based on the understanding that the introduction of electronic registers, digital evidence, automated analytical systems, and remote procedural tools does not merely modernize technical instruments but fundamentally reshapes the professional environment in which investigators operate. In this new environment, the logic of decision-making, the structure of responsibility, and the nature of interaction with procedural participants are all undergoing profound change. Under such conditions, a traditional knowledge-based training model proves insufficient and requires rethinking through a competence-oriented paradigm. The article substantiates that a contemporary competence model for investigators should be integrative in nature, combining procedural, digital, communicative, and ethical dimensions into a coherent professional framework. Procedural competence is interpreted not simply as familiarity with criminal procedural law but as the ability to apply legal norms effectively within electronic systems, ensuring the admissibility, reliability, and traceability of digital evidence. Digital competence is conceptualized as the capacity to critically engage with information systems of criminal justice, to understand their operational logic, to identify algorithmic and technical risks, and to evaluate how technological tools influence procedural decisions. Communicative competence is analyzed through the lens of electronic interaction with parties to proceedings, experts, and institutional partners, where every action generates a digital footprint and demands enhanced precision, accountability, and legal awareness. Ethical competence is presented as the cornerstone of professional integrity in an algorithm-driven environment, where the risk of uncritical reliance on automated recommendations may threaten fundamental principles of justice and human rights. Particular emphasis is placed on the verification and measurement of these competencies in real-world hybrid procedural settings, where electronic and traditional practices coexist. The study argues for the use of scenario-based case modeling, digital simulations, and procedural exercises as effective tools for assessing the investigator’s readiness to operate in complex, technology-intensive situations. Such an approach enables a shift from formal certification toward a substantive evaluation of professional capability, which directly affects the quality of pre-trial investigation and the level of public trust in the criminal justice system.