Investigative Procedures,
Resources, and Interviewing
Marco Davies
29.11.21
Criminal Investigations
David Fenney
1
, Table of Contents
1..................................................................................................................... 1
The Importance of Carrying out a Criminal Investigation...........................................3
Resource Available During a Police Investigation.......................................................7
Automated Number Plate Recognition - A.N.P.R.........................................................7
Police National Computer - P.N.C............................................................................9
Police National Database - P.N.D......................................................................10
P.E.A.C.E Interview Plan............................................................................................ 15
P.E.A.C.E = Planning; Explain/Engage; Account, clarification, and challenge; Closure;
Evaluation................................................................................................................. 15
Required Information........................................................................................ 15
Plan for witness entry:.......................................................................................... 15
*Witness enters room* *Get up, shake hands* Good afternoon/morning
(witness name), thank you for your time this afternoon/morning, please have a
seat. I am constable Marco Davies, collar number 0751, we are currently at
Southport police station the time is ____ it is the 8 th of November 2021. For the
purpose of the tape please state your name. If it makes you more comfortable
you may refer to me as Marco. How would you prefer to be addressed
throughout this interview? Great, thank you (witness preferred name). Would
you like a cup of water to make you feel more comfortable? If it’s okay with
you, we will proceed with some questions. You’re just here today to answer a
2
, few queries we have about the shoplifting offence you witnessed on the 15 th of
October 2021.................................................................................................... 15
Start of questioning:................................................................................................. 16
References:.............................................................................................................. 17
The Importance of Carrying out a Criminal Investigation
When investigating crime, a standardised approach must be applied to prevent inaccuracies.
Due to all crimes and circumstances surrounding them being different, the rate at which the
investigation progresses will change.
1. Instigation
Instigation is the first stage of a criminal inquiry since it is where there is knowledge or direct
information about criminal activity that is taking place. The instigation can be either reactive
or proactive. Reactive instigations can result from public reports, re-investigation driven by
new evidence, a referral from external authorities, and subsequent action by police officers
(College of Policing, 2016). The vast majority of reactive investigations are launched in
response to public reports. These calls are critical to any investigation since they are the first
point of contact between victims or witnesses and the police. They also provide time-critical
information to aid the investigation, as call operators can record any important and correct
3
Resources, and Interviewing
Marco Davies
29.11.21
Criminal Investigations
David Fenney
1
, Table of Contents
1..................................................................................................................... 1
The Importance of Carrying out a Criminal Investigation...........................................3
Resource Available During a Police Investigation.......................................................7
Automated Number Plate Recognition - A.N.P.R.........................................................7
Police National Computer - P.N.C............................................................................9
Police National Database - P.N.D......................................................................10
P.E.A.C.E Interview Plan............................................................................................ 15
P.E.A.C.E = Planning; Explain/Engage; Account, clarification, and challenge; Closure;
Evaluation................................................................................................................. 15
Required Information........................................................................................ 15
Plan for witness entry:.......................................................................................... 15
*Witness enters room* *Get up, shake hands* Good afternoon/morning
(witness name), thank you for your time this afternoon/morning, please have a
seat. I am constable Marco Davies, collar number 0751, we are currently at
Southport police station the time is ____ it is the 8 th of November 2021. For the
purpose of the tape please state your name. If it makes you more comfortable
you may refer to me as Marco. How would you prefer to be addressed
throughout this interview? Great, thank you (witness preferred name). Would
you like a cup of water to make you feel more comfortable? If it’s okay with
you, we will proceed with some questions. You’re just here today to answer a
2
, few queries we have about the shoplifting offence you witnessed on the 15 th of
October 2021.................................................................................................... 15
Start of questioning:................................................................................................. 16
References:.............................................................................................................. 17
The Importance of Carrying out a Criminal Investigation
When investigating crime, a standardised approach must be applied to prevent inaccuracies.
Due to all crimes and circumstances surrounding them being different, the rate at which the
investigation progresses will change.
1. Instigation
Instigation is the first stage of a criminal inquiry since it is where there is knowledge or direct
information about criminal activity that is taking place. The instigation can be either reactive
or proactive. Reactive instigations can result from public reports, re-investigation driven by
new evidence, a referral from external authorities, and subsequent action by police officers
(College of Policing, 2016). The vast majority of reactive investigations are launched in
response to public reports. These calls are critical to any investigation since they are the first
point of contact between victims or witnesses and the police. They also provide time-critical
information to aid the investigation, as call operators can record any important and correct
3
