AC 1.2 ASSESS THE USEFULNESS OF THE INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES IN
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS
INTELLIGENCE DATABASES
INTELLIGENCE DATABASES ARE VIRTUAL HUBS CONTAINING INFORMATION THE POLICE
HAVE GATHERED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES THAT HAVE BEEN RECORDED, EVALUATED
AND STORED FOR FUTURE ACCESS.
SUCH DATABASES INCLUDE THE:
1. Crimint and Gang Matrix which are run by the Metropolitan Police Service of Greater London
and store information on criminals, suspected criminals and protesters. It was created in 1994
and supplied by Memex Technology Limited based on their 'Patriarch' technology. It supports the
recording and searching of items of intelligence by both police officers and back-office staff. As of
2005, it contained seven million information reports and 250,000 intelligence records.
2. The Police National Database is made up of 220 linked databases containing 35 billion
searchable records and holds intelligence on suspected criminal activity as well as PNC data.
3. The Police National Computer is a system that stores and shares criminal records information
across the UK.
It contains:
● 12 million arrests and convictions.
● A biometric database e.g. fingerprints
● A national database for vehicle registration
● Missing and wanted people
4. The International Database is a hub that facilitates the sharing of Intel on INTERPOL databases
creating the widest possible mutual assistance between criminal police forces and
establishing/developing institutions likely to contribute to the prevention and suppression of
international crime.
This type of technique (intelligence database) is used in police stations for cases of violent crimes, E-
crimes and property crimes
Its strengths include the vast sample size of data attained from different volunteers, criminals and crime
scenes (5,671,965 DNA samples as of March 2021).In addition to this, it is quick and easy to access as it is
digital and can be used to identify suspects of crimes efficiently.
, AC 1.2 ASSESS THE USEFULNESS OF THE INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES IN
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS
However, these are limited to whether the suspect is in the database at all seeing as the database does
not include everyone in its system. Furthermore, the vast data creates another disadvantage of having to
sift through a lot of Intel in order to get the needed information. On top of that, the fact that similar DNA e.g.
from people who are related may lead to false convictions are factors that highlight the l weaknesses of the
use of this type of technique in criminal investigations.
FORENSICS
Forensics are scientific techniques and tests used to support criminal Investigations by analysing
evidence found at a crime scene in a laboratory
It includes:
● Analysing biological material like blood hair and spit; which is used to extract DNA that identifies
suspects.
● Examination of biological material from an uncontaminated crime scene; making sure that the
evidence collected is admissible and reliable.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a biological marker found in every cell in the body and is unique to an
individual with the exception of identical twins. With an individual inheriting half their DNA from their
father and the other half from their mother. Family members have similar DNA and this has been used to
identify suspects during investigations.
Forensics is used in a laboratory for violent and property crimes.
Its strengths include the fact that it’s relatively cheap to conduct at around £20 per DNA analysis.
Additionally, the sample size is vast as it can be extracted from a crime scene easily as long as it's not
contaminated. On top of that, it has successfully been used to narrow down a suspect pool from 6000 to 1
in the Colin pitchfork case where he was arrested for the rape and murder of a young girl as a result of a
constructed DNA profile that was compared to 6000 local men via blood test the result of which was the
DNA analysis, as well as witness evidence confirming pitchforks, guilt; the evidence of which enabled the
police to arrest him.
Familial similarities can also help find suspects as in the case of collet Aram.it can also be used to prove
innocence and guilt by providing evidence that identifies a suspect and allows for their conviction.
It can also be used to identify victims when other methods don’t work.
Its weaknesses include the false accusation brought on by similar DNA. In addition to this errors could
occur and DNA can be contaminated and lead to false convictions like in the case of Adam Scott.
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS
INTELLIGENCE DATABASES
INTELLIGENCE DATABASES ARE VIRTUAL HUBS CONTAINING INFORMATION THE POLICE
HAVE GATHERED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES THAT HAVE BEEN RECORDED, EVALUATED
AND STORED FOR FUTURE ACCESS.
SUCH DATABASES INCLUDE THE:
1. Crimint and Gang Matrix which are run by the Metropolitan Police Service of Greater London
and store information on criminals, suspected criminals and protesters. It was created in 1994
and supplied by Memex Technology Limited based on their 'Patriarch' technology. It supports the
recording and searching of items of intelligence by both police officers and back-office staff. As of
2005, it contained seven million information reports and 250,000 intelligence records.
2. The Police National Database is made up of 220 linked databases containing 35 billion
searchable records and holds intelligence on suspected criminal activity as well as PNC data.
3. The Police National Computer is a system that stores and shares criminal records information
across the UK.
It contains:
● 12 million arrests and convictions.
● A biometric database e.g. fingerprints
● A national database for vehicle registration
● Missing and wanted people
4. The International Database is a hub that facilitates the sharing of Intel on INTERPOL databases
creating the widest possible mutual assistance between criminal police forces and
establishing/developing institutions likely to contribute to the prevention and suppression of
international crime.
This type of technique (intelligence database) is used in police stations for cases of violent crimes, E-
crimes and property crimes
Its strengths include the vast sample size of data attained from different volunteers, criminals and crime
scenes (5,671,965 DNA samples as of March 2021).In addition to this, it is quick and easy to access as it is
digital and can be used to identify suspects of crimes efficiently.
, AC 1.2 ASSESS THE USEFULNESS OF THE INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES IN
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS
However, these are limited to whether the suspect is in the database at all seeing as the database does
not include everyone in its system. Furthermore, the vast data creates another disadvantage of having to
sift through a lot of Intel in order to get the needed information. On top of that, the fact that similar DNA e.g.
from people who are related may lead to false convictions are factors that highlight the l weaknesses of the
use of this type of technique in criminal investigations.
FORENSICS
Forensics are scientific techniques and tests used to support criminal Investigations by analysing
evidence found at a crime scene in a laboratory
It includes:
● Analysing biological material like blood hair and spit; which is used to extract DNA that identifies
suspects.
● Examination of biological material from an uncontaminated crime scene; making sure that the
evidence collected is admissible and reliable.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a biological marker found in every cell in the body and is unique to an
individual with the exception of identical twins. With an individual inheriting half their DNA from their
father and the other half from their mother. Family members have similar DNA and this has been used to
identify suspects during investigations.
Forensics is used in a laboratory for violent and property crimes.
Its strengths include the fact that it’s relatively cheap to conduct at around £20 per DNA analysis.
Additionally, the sample size is vast as it can be extracted from a crime scene easily as long as it's not
contaminated. On top of that, it has successfully been used to narrow down a suspect pool from 6000 to 1
in the Colin pitchfork case where he was arrested for the rape and murder of a young girl as a result of a
constructed DNA profile that was compared to 6000 local men via blood test the result of which was the
DNA analysis, as well as witness evidence confirming pitchforks, guilt; the evidence of which enabled the
police to arrest him.
Familial similarities can also help find suspects as in the case of collet Aram.it can also be used to prove
innocence and guilt by providing evidence that identifies a suspect and allows for their conviction.
It can also be used to identify victims when other methods don’t work.
Its weaknesses include the false accusation brought on by similar DNA. In addition to this errors could
occur and DNA can be contaminated and lead to false convictions like in the case of Adam Scott.
