Modern police crime recording tactics explained...
Discussion
More from the policeman's blog, to educate those PH's not fully up-to-date;
CRIME BY NUMBERS
My working life is dominated by the allocation of crime numbers.
If you are drunk and ring up to report you have been pushed by your sister, you will be asked by the police call centre operator to note down a crime number. An officer will later attend to your needs (assuming that you are in no immediate danger). The crime number represents a crime that will be allocated to an individual officer to solve. Solving crimes is what I do for a living, and I’m sometimes quite good at it.
Some crimes are not really solvable because there’s no evidence. If a drunk man was punched by a stranger then there’s not much you can do other than to show some photographs of possible offenders. If a woman has had her handbag snatched and there’s no CCTV, there’s not much you can do, especially if the offender does not use the victim’s credit cards in shops where there is CCTV. So how do I solve crimes? Below are three classics you can use to boost your personal detection rate and don't worry, it all complies with Home Office crime recording standards:
Scenario 1: The Drunken Assault
Find two people fighting in the street and arrest them for the relevant public order offence (usually Section 4). Result! One crime number, one solved crime. So far, so good.
Next, obtain statements from each person saying, “Yes, I was punched in the face/body by the other person but I don’t wish to make a formal complaint.” This creates two further crime numbers.
Finally, interview each party, and assure each person that no action will be taken by the other person for the assault and that it’s purely a public order matter for which they are being prosecuted. Each person then admits to punching the other person. The admission on interview “solves” each of the informal allegations of assault!
Result! Three crime numbers created and three crimes solved.
Scenario 2: The Domestic
You get called to a domestic argument where a plate was smashed, however all is now fine and the plate breaker is sound asleep. As a hard working crime solver you think, ”Hang on, it’s Saturday and I need a detection to get my quota for the week.”
First of all, assume the woman owns the plate and ask if she wants to make a formal allegation of criminal damage. She looks at you and says “It’s only a plate for God’s sake.” Ask control for a crime number for criminal damage.
Next, take a statement from the woman saying that it’s her plate, it’s smashed and she doesn’t want the police to take any further action.
Finally rouse the sleeping plate breaker and have a quiet word along the lines of, “I’m really sorry about this, but I just need a quick word about the plate.” A bit of persuasion and he should admit to smashing it. Caution him, get his admission down in writing, and get him to sign it.
Result! A situation that could have been dealt with without a detection has been rescued.All parties are happy, and you’ve made your quota.
Scenario 3: Juveniles at Play
By now, I’m sure you’ve got the idea about solving crime, so imagine if you get called to a bit of roughhousing between two brothers aged nine and ten.
First of all, ensure with the parents that they don’t want any further police action and assuming they don’t, ask for three crime numbers (I’ll explain later).
Next, arrange appropriate adults (neighbours, relatives whatever) to sign the children’s statements and admissions. So now, you should have your three crime numbers ready, your appropriate adults ready and your pen ready.
To put it all together, you have two crime numbers for the mutual assault (each brother assaulted the other) and the third for criminal damage (it doesn’t matter what, just find something that got damaged in the fight).
Get all this down in writing, get the appropriate adults to sign where…appropriate.
Result: Three crimes solved!
CRIME BY NUMBERS
My working life is dominated by the allocation of crime numbers.
If you are drunk and ring up to report you have been pushed by your sister, you will be asked by the police call centre operator to note down a crime number. An officer will later attend to your needs (assuming that you are in no immediate danger). The crime number represents a crime that will be allocated to an individual officer to solve. Solving crimes is what I do for a living, and I’m sometimes quite good at it.
Some crimes are not really solvable because there’s no evidence. If a drunk man was punched by a stranger then there’s not much you can do other than to show some photographs of possible offenders. If a woman has had her handbag snatched and there’s no CCTV, there’s not much you can do, especially if the offender does not use the victim’s credit cards in shops where there is CCTV. So how do I solve crimes? Below are three classics you can use to boost your personal detection rate and don't worry, it all complies with Home Office crime recording standards:
Scenario 1: The Drunken Assault
Find two people fighting in the street and arrest them for the relevant public order offence (usually Section 4). Result! One crime number, one solved crime. So far, so good.
Next, obtain statements from each person saying, “Yes, I was punched in the face/body by the other person but I don’t wish to make a formal complaint.” This creates two further crime numbers.
Finally, interview each party, and assure each person that no action will be taken by the other person for the assault and that it’s purely a public order matter for which they are being prosecuted. Each person then admits to punching the other person. The admission on interview “solves” each of the informal allegations of assault!
Result! Three crime numbers created and three crimes solved.
Scenario 2: The Domestic
You get called to a domestic argument where a plate was smashed, however all is now fine and the plate breaker is sound asleep. As a hard working crime solver you think, ”Hang on, it’s Saturday and I need a detection to get my quota for the week.”
First of all, assume the woman owns the plate and ask if she wants to make a formal allegation of criminal damage. She looks at you and says “It’s only a plate for God’s sake.” Ask control for a crime number for criminal damage.
Next, take a statement from the woman saying that it’s her plate, it’s smashed and she doesn’t want the police to take any further action.
Finally rouse the sleeping plate breaker and have a quiet word along the lines of, “I’m really sorry about this, but I just need a quick word about the plate.” A bit of persuasion and he should admit to smashing it. Caution him, get his admission down in writing, and get him to sign it.
Result! A situation that could have been dealt with without a detection has been rescued.All parties are happy, and you’ve made your quota.
Scenario 3: Juveniles at Play
By now, I’m sure you’ve got the idea about solving crime, so imagine if you get called to a bit of roughhousing between two brothers aged nine and ten.
First of all, ensure with the parents that they don’t want any further police action and assuming they don’t, ask for three crime numbers (I’ll explain later).
Next, arrange appropriate adults (neighbours, relatives whatever) to sign the children’s statements and admissions. So now, you should have your three crime numbers ready, your appropriate adults ready and your pen ready.
To put it all together, you have two crime numbers for the mutual assault (each brother assaulted the other) and the third for criminal damage (it doesn’t matter what, just find something that got damaged in the fight).
Get all this down in writing, get the appropriate adults to sign where…appropriate.
Result: Three crimes solved!
Very sad the way that the gov. red tape and OTT "the Police must be totally accountable and everything must be in writing" mentality.
Street/gone/dibble/dvd/mungo etc etc, this is absolute bollocks, but what a good way of making the number of crimes solved seem impressive.
Street, what percentage of your "typical" day would you say is spent on real Policing, and what is spent on "cover my arse" paperwork?
Street/gone/dibble/dvd/mungo etc etc, this is absolute bollocks, but what a good way of making the number of crimes solved seem impressive.
Street, what percentage of your "typical" day would you say is spent on real Policing, and what is spent on "cover my arse" paperwork?
blademan said:
Street, what percentage of your "typical" day would you say is spent on real Policing, and what is spent on "cover my arse" paperwork?
I'm lucky on Traffic..sorry Road Policing..in that there isn't much arse covering paperwork..and when I do put pen to paper..there is usually a proper outcome...
Even before traffic, I spent a couple of years in a pro-active team...which involved lots of time in fast cars and such like...again without much paperwork..
Although I remember all to well my beat years of paperwork, and my colleagues on beat now tell me it's much much worse...
The article I posted at the top of this thread might appear tongue in cheek and OTT, but it's not..it's very very accurate and very up-to-date.
There is so much time covering our arses on 'nothing jobs' or those going nowhere, that when a real job comes in...the wheels virtually stop..
As always, you get what you measure. If there's a smart way of getting more of what's measured, someone will find it.
On the one hand, "You can't manage what you don't measure". On the other, "The most important things cannot be measured". The gov't is firmly in the former camp, while what the public wants is more of the stuff that doesn't produce statistics but makes people safer.
On the one hand, "You can't manage what you don't measure". On the other, "The most important things cannot be measured". The gov't is firmly in the former camp, while what the public wants is more of the stuff that doesn't produce statistics but makes people safer.
Streetcop said:
Street, what percentage of your "typical" day would you say is spent on real Policing, and what is spent on "cover my arse" paperwork?
I'm lucky on Traffic..sorry Road Policing..in that there isn't much arse covering paperwork..and when I do put pen to paper..there is usually a proper outcome...
Even before traffic, I spent a couple of years in a pro-active team...which involved lots of time in fast cars and such like...again without much paperwork..
Although I remember all to well my beat years of paperwork, and my colleagues on beat now tell me it's much much worse...
The article I posted at the top of this thread might appear tongue in cheek and OTT, but it's not..it's very very accurate and very up-to-date.
There is so much time covering our arses on 'nothing jobs' or those going nowhere, that when a real job comes in...the wheels virtually stop..
I work in Education. My wife works in Health. It is all exactly the same.
Well, not exactly, but the figures are drivel.
And you get the same result. People are so busy dotting the I's and crossing the T's that the actual work (be it policing, teaching or nursing) easily gets lost.
blademan said:
Very sad the way that the gov. red tape and OTT "the Police must be totally accountable and everything must be in writing" mentality.
Street/gone/dibble/dvd/mungo etc etc, this is absolute bollocks, but what a good way of making the number of crimes solved seem impressive.
Street, what percentage of your "typical" day would you say is spent on real Policing, and what is spent on "cover my arse" paperwork?
It's not all madness . . . maybe you haven't met some of the plod I have. Complete bastards and control freaks and not a single twinge of public duty amongst them. It works both ways.
busa_rush said:
It's not all madness . . . maybe you haven't met some of the plod I have. Complete bastards and control freaks and not a single twinge of public duty amongst them.
Obviously not newbies.....as they would encourage YOU to be the bastard, so YOU can control THEM...
Collins dictionary of POLICE;
police organised force in a state which keeps law and order by control.
blogger said:
it all complies with Home Office crime recording standards
telegraph said:
Human rights legislation has placed an obligation on police to protect drug traffickers, robbers, gunmen and their associates from their own kind. This work is increasing rapidly, tying up surveillance and intelligence teams at a time when the Metropolitan Police is stretched by anti-terrorist work.
Other big city forces and the National Crime Squad have also seen increases in operations to protect the safety of criminals in violent struggles with rival gangs.
The increase in kidnapping, especially among the ethnic minority communities, is also consuming large amounts of police time. Gangs even call police to report that one of their members has been abducted, relying on the forces of law and order to rescue them.
A crime number must have a brief description when written up, any classics the resident BiB would care to share.
What about a scenerio for us of
"Gangs even call police to report that one of their members has been abducted, relying on the forces of law and order to rescue them"
Full telegraph online article here www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/02/09/ngang09.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/02/09/ixhome.html
registration probably required
Peter Ward said:
As always, you get what you measure. If there's a smart way of getting more of what's measured, someone will find it.
On the one hand, "You can't manage what you don't measure". On the other, "The most important things cannot be measured". The gov't is firmly in the former camp, while what the public wants is more of the stuff that doesn't produce statistics but makes people safer.
The Government may find itself in trouble (hopefully).
It endlessly touts its statistics about things like Waiting Lists, Exam Results, Crime and so on, but really I don't think anyone believes a word of it any more.
It doesn't fit with people's reality. My experience is that literally every one of the government's much touted improvements that I've had contact with simply doesn't work.
But it has to work, so they cheat.
I seem to remember PC Dave (author of the OP) informing us that "Contact time with the Public" (e.g. walking the beat, visiting crime scenes, traffic patrol) has been redefined to include time spent doing paperwork etc.
Doubtless we will be told that "contact time with the public" has doubled.
Streetcop said:
It's not all madness . . . maybe you haven't met some of the plod I have. Complete bastards and control freaks and not a single twinge of public duty amongst them.
Obviously not newbies.....as they would encourage YOU to be the bastard, so YOU can control THEM...
Eh ?
busa_rush said:
busa_rush said:
It's not all madness . . . maybe you haven't met some of the plod I have. Complete bastards and control freaks and not a single twinge of public duty amongst them.
Obviously not newbies.....as they would encourage YOU to be the bastard, so YOU can control THEM...
Eh ?
New bobbies are taught/brain washed with customer care, human rights, health and safety, racial/sexual awareness etc etc etc etc...
They don't like to POLICE as it might upset people....
You tell them what YOU want 'em to do and they'll do it..
The customer is always right, you see...
Problem comes is when I'M the next BiB you come into contact with...
- StreakyStreetcop said:
New bobbies are taught/brain washed with customer care, human rights, health and safety, racial/sexual awareness etc etc etc etc...
They don't like to POLICE as it might upset people....
You tell them what YOU want 'em to do and they'll do it..
The customer is always right, you see...
Problem comes is when I'M the next BiB you come into contact with...
Whose idea is this ?
I think its good that new BiB are taught about those things.
It's just that sometimes you get the idea that that's almost all they are doing - or that that's paramount.
HTF can you be an effective copper and not upset people ?
It's possible to "nicely" upset people. I was once stopped and asked for a few minutes about a rape (they were questioning people travelling through a point at about 3AM) ; had I seen anything, did I do this regularly etc. It wasn't an issue.
I have to say, Street, that I think your Force needs dismantling and restarting again almost.
I don't think there's anything much wrong with the raw materials (i.e. the cops), but the whole system has gone to pot.
It just isn't working at all.
What did you think of that Mallon guy ? Was he any good ? Is he on the right lines ?
It's a bit difficult to say without being there, but there does seem to have been a calculated attempt to "get him done"
autismuk said:
Whose idea is this ?
Home Office!
Senior management!
Autismuk said:
I think its good that new BiB are taught about those things.
What things?
To fudge and fart around, never making a decision for fear of upset or complaint?
Autismuk said:
It's just that sometimes you get the idea that that's almost all they are doing - or that that's paramount.
All they are doing is complying (or trying to) with the current whims of Home Office and senior managers which is apparently driven by the public because that is what they want!
Autismuk said:
HTF can you be an effective copper and not upset people ?
What? Like tell the truth on this board? And get abuse and derision for soing so?
And, this is only a discussion forum with no penalties attached! Autismuk said:
It's possible to "nicely" upset people.
Oh yes?
We can be as polite as ever and still upset people because of the ction that has been taken against them. The result is "The copper was very polite but they are still w
rs and I will never help them again in my life"! Autismuk said:
I was once stopped and asked for a few minutes about a rape (they were questioning people travelling through a point at about 3AM) ; had I seen anything, did I do this regularly etc. It wasn't an issue.
So being stopped and asked about a real crime is likely to upset some people 'nicely'?!!!
I expect the victim was pretty upset about the fact the crime occurred at all
Autismuk said:
I have to say, Street, that I think your Force needs dismantling and restarting again almost.
It's not just his force. It is generic across the country. They are all going along the same track
Autismuk said:
I don't think there's anything much wrong with the raw materials (i.e. the cops), but the whole system has gone to pot.
Really?
Have you had to work with or train new recruits recently? Are you aware that the entry qualifications have been tinkered with so that New Labour can actually acheive the targets they set for recruitment?
Autismuk said:
It just isn't working at all.
Mostly not!
Autismuk said:
What did you think of that Mallon guy ? Was he any good ? Is he on the right lines ?
Got the sack. Something about corruption
Autismuk said:
It's a bit difficult to say without being there, but there does seem to have been a calculated attempt to "get him done"
You can say that again.
>> Edited by gone on Sunday 13th February 10:03
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