247 research outputs found
HO/RT1culture: Cultivating police use of Home Office Road Traffic 1 form to identify active serious offenders
The Retrospective Detective. Cognitive Bias and the Cold Case Homicide Investigator
Current research on police psychology in criminal investigations assumes investigative
decision-making in cold case (undetected) homicides to be the same as that of
live/current homicide investigations, therefore not warranting exploration in its own
right. In contrast, the present article suggests that significantly different psychological
and contextual factors exist which can facilitate bias in investigator decision-making in
cold case (undetected) homicides. These include the biasing effect of inheriting a chain
of decisions often made by many previous investigators and the negative framing effect
that the term ‘cold case’ can have on investigator confidence and on their subsequent
investigative decision-making. Although the idea that cold case homicide investigation
necessitates a different ‘investigative mindset’ to live cases is only suggested here, a
possible agenda for a bespoke research project on cold case investigator decisionmaking
is tentatively suggested
Advanced Conducting Project
1. Winter Dances by Brian Balmages -- 2. Ye Banks and Braes O\u27 Bonnie Doon by Percy Grainger -- 3. Praises by Francis McBeth -- 4. Portrait of a Clown by Frank Ticheli -- 5. Flourish for Wind Band by Ralph Vaughn Williams
Advanced Conducting Project
1. Winter Dances by Brian Balmages -- 2. Ye Banks and Braes O\u27 Bonnie Doon by Percy Grainger -- 3. Praises by Francis McBeth -- 4. Portrait of a Clown by Frank Ticheli -- 5. Flourish for Wind Band by Ralph Vaughn Williams
Self-Selection Policing: Theory, Research and Practice
Self-Selection Policing introduces and explores an approach for crime control which seeks to identify active, serious offenders by attending to the minor offences they commit. A foundation of theory and evidence is first supplied for the assertion that ‘those who do big bad things also do little bad things’. Original research presented in the book includes a study of offending by visitors to a prison, and the concurrent criminality of those committing common driving offences and failure to produce driving documents as required. It illustrates how self-selection can complement other police methods of identifying active, serious criminals by focusing on what offenders do rather than who they are and what they have done in the past. Concentrating on the ‘usual suspects’ in the conventional way is often criticised as harassment and self-selection policing largely bypasses the issue of fairness this raises.
The book concludes with a call for the consideration, development and wider adoption of the self-selection approach, and particularly the identification of other common minor offences which flag concurrent active criminality. The authors make important suggestions for the progression of SSP research and practice, including the identification of barriers to the implementation of the approach in wider police thinking, practice and policy. Practical guidance is also provided for those thinking of developing, testing and implementing the approach. In doing so, the book will be of particular interest for policing practitioners, as well as students and scholars of policing and crime control
Why some homicide investigations go cold:a study exploring the experiences of the investigative review process by UK detectives
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the review mechanisms’ efficacy from the perspective of cold case reviewers. Live homicide review mechanisms at the 7- and 28-day stage of an inquiry seek to prevent the case becoming cold (or unsolved) by ensuring lines of inquiry have been suitably identified and progressed. There is also a requirement to ensure the investigation was not swayed by faulty decision-making or cognitive biases. However, the use of the review processes in preventing unsolved cases is unclear, and not subject to much academic discussion. Design/methodology/approach: This exploratory study explores the review functions through the lens of cold case detectives, currently reviewing unsolved cases to identify progression opportunities. The study uses data from a seven-month, non-participatory observation period with a two-force collaborative cold case unit and 13 semi-structured interviews with cold case review officers. The observations and interviews were simultaneously analysed adhering to an inductive approach to Thematic Analysis. Findings: The results show procedural guides (e.g. the Major Crime Investigation Manual) are important quality assurance mechanisms for review officers, helping ensure the appropriate and necessary lines of inquiry have been pursued. However, they were keen to emphasise the importance of intuition in progressing cases but felt continuously hindered by a lack of resources and large numbers of applicable cases. To the best of the authors’ knowledge this study is the first exploration of cold case detective’s experiences of the live review processes and how they may pose challenges in case progression for cognitive errors and biases. While the study has identified some challenges facing review officers in nine police forces across the UK, wider examination of policies, practices and mechanisms should be explored to develop the current procedural guidance (e.g. NPCC, 2021). Originality/value: To the best of the authors’ knowledge this exploratory study is the first exploration of cold case detective’s experiences of the live review processes and how they may pose challenges in case progression for cognitive errors and biases. While the study has identified some challenges facing review officers in nine police forces across the UK, wider examination of policies, practices and mechanisms should be explored to develop the current procedural guidance (e.g. NPCC, 2021).</p
Advanced Gun System (AGS) Backfit
U.S. Navy, Naval Sea Systems Command and Program Executive Office SHIPS, PMS 500 DD X Progra
DNA evidence and police investigations: a health warning
Much has been made of recent advances in DNA science and technology with particular emphasis placed on its bewildering implications for policing and the detection of serious offenders. Operation Phoenix for example, conducted by Northumbria Police in conjunction with the Forensic Science Service (FSS), has seen a total of 42 named DNA matches obtained against the National DNA Database (NDNAD) for more than 400 unsolved sexual offences over a 14 year period, resulting in 14 convictions up to 2005 (Forensic Science Service Annual Report 2004-05). Both technical advances in DNA serology and the infrastructure of analysis and retention bring forensic DNA analysis into the mainstream of detection, with accompanying public interest. For example the development of Low Copy Number techniques (LCN) now render very small samples usable. The size of the National DNA Database (well over three million by early 2006) aspires to cover the active criminal population
Holding the line: The sustainability of police involvement in crime prevention
The opening lines of the handbook issued by Sir Robert Peel to all officers of the Metropolitan Police in 1829, were these:
‘It should be understood at the outset that the object to be attained is the prevention of crime. To this great end every effort of the police is to be directed. The security of person and property, the preservation of the public tranquility, and all the other objects of a police establishment will thus be better effected than by the detection and punishment of the offender after he has succeeded in committing the crime.’ Quoted in Reith (1948:62). Mayne, one of the first two Commissioners, added this principle: ‘To prevent crime and disorder, as an alternative to their repression by military force and severity of legal punishment.’ Quoted in Boyd (2012). What exactly they meant by prevention is open to interpretation, and whether this was just a ruse to help convince a suspicious public that in England ‘continental’ methods of repression would not be adopted is not clear. But by the late 19th Century the reactive approach of catching criminals or ‘feeling collars’ had come to predominate; and in the 20th, the politically-significant rhetoric of ‘fighting crime’ achieved consensual hegemony, delivered huge resources to policing over the years and of course powerfully shaped the policing organisation. It was not until the 1960s that the first signs of resurgence of an explicit, practical, preventive role were seen
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