The study identified three types of secondment: secondments to central service, to the regional crime squads, and to other organizations including universities. Data were collected through questionnaires completed by all officers in the region who had been seconded during the past 5 years, 75 follow-up interviews, and interviews with other officers in the north east forces. The results showed that many officers in the region were not well informed of the work of seconding organizations or of the range of professional opportunities seconding offered. While officers seconded to two specific organizations generally received promotions at the beginning of their reassignment, most officers did not receive a promotion either during or as a result of their secondment. Some of the problems faced by seconded officers included disruptions to their family life, lack of contact with their forces, and the failure of the forces to take advantage of their newly acquired skills. This report offers some recommendations for formalizing good practice in this area. 4 tables, 2 figures, 6 references, and 3 appendixes