AC1.2. Assess the usefulness of investigative techniques in criminal investigations
Intelligence databases:
-The police access databases that hold information on suspects, witnesses, crimes,
informants and other relevant information to assist the fight against crime. It includes: The
Police National Database (PND), The Police National Computer (PNC), Crimint and Gangs
Matrix, and International Databases.
-For example, the PNC, which stores: details of over 12 million people’s arrests, convictions
and police cautions, with links to biometric databases for fingerprints and the National DNA
Database; Vehicle registration data and information on 48 million people; and information on
missing and wanted people.
-Intelligence database are mainly used for many types of crime as all records of criminals
and all crimes are kept on here.. Information of evidence like bodily fluids (blood, DNA and
semen) are stored so they can be used later to create new leads and be analysed again
when there is new technology if the case remains unsolved. This type of information is put
on an intelligence data base after analysis in a laboratory (this is more for the National DNA
Database on the PNC), information of criminals, victims etc… that the police use, are usually
put on to an intelligence database at the police station where they get information like
names, age and address. This information is for any type of crime.
Strengths
-Certain intelligence databases allow for international sharing. For example, the PNC
contains useful information when investigating crimes, because it has links to European
databases. This allows for the sharing of information internationally. It provides real time
checks on vehicles, properties and people as well as crimes. International databases are
also an example of this as it means UK police can access databases that share information
between police forces in different countries, (e.g. Interpol databases on biometric records.
This means billions of shared records and images can help prevent and identify different
crimes. Including allegations as well as number of convictions.
-The PNC contains the national DNA database, by using the information held here it about
people, their arrests and their convictions, it can lead to certain suspects. For example, the
police can use individual samples stored in a computer, to narrow down and connect
individuals to crimes. The PNC is also beneficial due to the information it stores for long
periods of time. DNA records are kept meaning that they can be used for comparison when
convicting criminals. Certain evidence (like blood) may match on different pieces of evidence
or on something from the suspect connecting them with the crime and creating new leads,
which is effective as it makes it more likely that criminals will be caught as evidence
becomes more effective. Furthermore, keeping this information for a long time is really
important because even if evidence cannot be analysed properly at that time years later
when technology has improved this evidence and information can be reanalysed. In many
crimes this has taken place and when the evidence is analysed again more is found out
usually creating a new lead as it connects a suspect to the crime.
Limitations
-Intelligence databases however can also not be useful for criminal investigations as
databases like the police national computer contains basic information and doesn’t contain
photos. This means the police often have to guess whether a person is the suspect they are
, looking for based upon the description of the suspect, which is why these databases aren’t
used as often anymore.
-Human rights and privacy, means that suspect who are not convicted have their DNA
destroyed. Which isn’t useful as there is a risk of data abuse and contamination of evidence
is still possible.
-Information could be hacked, and a data breach could expose personal information.
Furthermore, hackers could use this data against the individuals it represents to even go as
far as committing crimes and framing these individuals after stealing DNA samples.
-It also is less useful because DNA information is not 100% accurate, meaning that
analytical data from DNA isn’t as trustworthy as some may advertise it is. As well as this,
even if DNA information was completely accurate, it is still susceptible to human error,
through contamination (e.g. during the collection process or just entering it into the database.
-Furthermore, the gangs matrix has been criticised as racially discriminatory, resulting in the
police having to remove over 1,000 young Black men from the database. Also, it has been
subject to leaks causing named gang members to suffer serious violence from rival gangs.
Case study
-An investigation of where intelligence databases have been used for a criminal investigation
is in the David Butler case. In this case however it was not useful as it resulted in an
innocent man being charged with the murder of a prostitute Anne Marie Foy. In this case
David Butler was charged due to a partial DNA match, as his DNA was found under the
victims fingernails, (which could be due to him having a rare skin condition causing him to
leave behind larger traces of DNA), after he willingly gave them his DNA as part of an
investigation into a burglary at his home some years earlier. Intelligence databases were not
useful in this case because his DNA should not have been kept as it is against human rights
and privacy, if his DNA hadn’t have been kept on an intelligence database he wouldn’t have
been wrongly charged with murder and gone to prison, as he wouldn’t have been linked to
the crime.
Forensic Techniques
-Forensics are scientific techniques which are used in investigations, that find, collect and
preserve evidence. Once evidence is collected by the Scene of Crime officers, it is then sent
to a laboratory for analysis by forensic specialists and forensic scientists, the results are then
shared with the police to assist with their investigation. Forensic evidence includes things
such as fingerprints, bodily fluids, biological material, hair and fibre.
-DNA evidence is biological evidence, derived from testing samples of human tissues and
fluids, that genetically links an offender to a crime. It is a very useful type of evidence as:
each persons DNA profile is unique (except for identical twins), DNA profiling is the most
important development in solving serious crimes, especially violent crimes, since
fingerprinting was invented.
Strengths
-Forensic techniques can lead to very secure, factual and incontrovertible evidence. It can
be used to solve ‘cold cases’ and is especially useful in solving sexual or violent crimes as
these may result in physical evidence.
Intelligence databases:
-The police access databases that hold information on suspects, witnesses, crimes,
informants and other relevant information to assist the fight against crime. It includes: The
Police National Database (PND), The Police National Computer (PNC), Crimint and Gangs
Matrix, and International Databases.
-For example, the PNC, which stores: details of over 12 million people’s arrests, convictions
and police cautions, with links to biometric databases for fingerprints and the National DNA
Database; Vehicle registration data and information on 48 million people; and information on
missing and wanted people.
-Intelligence database are mainly used for many types of crime as all records of criminals
and all crimes are kept on here.. Information of evidence like bodily fluids (blood, DNA and
semen) are stored so they can be used later to create new leads and be analysed again
when there is new technology if the case remains unsolved. This type of information is put
on an intelligence data base after analysis in a laboratory (this is more for the National DNA
Database on the PNC), information of criminals, victims etc… that the police use, are usually
put on to an intelligence database at the police station where they get information like
names, age and address. This information is for any type of crime.
Strengths
-Certain intelligence databases allow for international sharing. For example, the PNC
contains useful information when investigating crimes, because it has links to European
databases. This allows for the sharing of information internationally. It provides real time
checks on vehicles, properties and people as well as crimes. International databases are
also an example of this as it means UK police can access databases that share information
between police forces in different countries, (e.g. Interpol databases on biometric records.
This means billions of shared records and images can help prevent and identify different
crimes. Including allegations as well as number of convictions.
-The PNC contains the national DNA database, by using the information held here it about
people, their arrests and their convictions, it can lead to certain suspects. For example, the
police can use individual samples stored in a computer, to narrow down and connect
individuals to crimes. The PNC is also beneficial due to the information it stores for long
periods of time. DNA records are kept meaning that they can be used for comparison when
convicting criminals. Certain evidence (like blood) may match on different pieces of evidence
or on something from the suspect connecting them with the crime and creating new leads,
which is effective as it makes it more likely that criminals will be caught as evidence
becomes more effective. Furthermore, keeping this information for a long time is really
important because even if evidence cannot be analysed properly at that time years later
when technology has improved this evidence and information can be reanalysed. In many
crimes this has taken place and when the evidence is analysed again more is found out
usually creating a new lead as it connects a suspect to the crime.
Limitations
-Intelligence databases however can also not be useful for criminal investigations as
databases like the police national computer contains basic information and doesn’t contain
photos. This means the police often have to guess whether a person is the suspect they are
, looking for based upon the description of the suspect, which is why these databases aren’t
used as often anymore.
-Human rights and privacy, means that suspect who are not convicted have their DNA
destroyed. Which isn’t useful as there is a risk of data abuse and contamination of evidence
is still possible.
-Information could be hacked, and a data breach could expose personal information.
Furthermore, hackers could use this data against the individuals it represents to even go as
far as committing crimes and framing these individuals after stealing DNA samples.
-It also is less useful because DNA information is not 100% accurate, meaning that
analytical data from DNA isn’t as trustworthy as some may advertise it is. As well as this,
even if DNA information was completely accurate, it is still susceptible to human error,
through contamination (e.g. during the collection process or just entering it into the database.
-Furthermore, the gangs matrix has been criticised as racially discriminatory, resulting in the
police having to remove over 1,000 young Black men from the database. Also, it has been
subject to leaks causing named gang members to suffer serious violence from rival gangs.
Case study
-An investigation of where intelligence databases have been used for a criminal investigation
is in the David Butler case. In this case however it was not useful as it resulted in an
innocent man being charged with the murder of a prostitute Anne Marie Foy. In this case
David Butler was charged due to a partial DNA match, as his DNA was found under the
victims fingernails, (which could be due to him having a rare skin condition causing him to
leave behind larger traces of DNA), after he willingly gave them his DNA as part of an
investigation into a burglary at his home some years earlier. Intelligence databases were not
useful in this case because his DNA should not have been kept as it is against human rights
and privacy, if his DNA hadn’t have been kept on an intelligence database he wouldn’t have
been wrongly charged with murder and gone to prison, as he wouldn’t have been linked to
the crime.
Forensic Techniques
-Forensics are scientific techniques which are used in investigations, that find, collect and
preserve evidence. Once evidence is collected by the Scene of Crime officers, it is then sent
to a laboratory for analysis by forensic specialists and forensic scientists, the results are then
shared with the police to assist with their investigation. Forensic evidence includes things
such as fingerprints, bodily fluids, biological material, hair and fibre.
-DNA evidence is biological evidence, derived from testing samples of human tissues and
fluids, that genetically links an offender to a crime. It is a very useful type of evidence as:
each persons DNA profile is unique (except for identical twins), DNA profiling is the most
important development in solving serious crimes, especially violent crimes, since
fingerprinting was invented.
Strengths
-Forensic techniques can lead to very secure, factual and incontrovertible evidence. It can
be used to solve ‘cold cases’ and is especially useful in solving sexual or violent crimes as
these may result in physical evidence.
