AC1.2 Usefulness of investigative
techniques in criminal investigations
Intelligence databases
1. What is meant by the term ‘intelligence’?
Refers to the information obtained from many sources often including confidential sources,
and has been recorded and evaluarted
May be stored in a variety of different databases that police can access
2. Breiefly exaplin the information stored on the following databases:
a) Police National Computer (PNC)
Contains several separate databases
Stores details of over 12 million peoples arrests, conviction and police cautions, with links to
biometric databases for fingerprints and the National DNA database
Vehicle registration data and information of 48 million people who have driving licesnse and
on those who are disqualified
Also holds information on missing and wanted persons
b) The Police National Database (PND)
Contains intelligence about suspected criminal activity as well as the date on the PNC
Holds over 3.5 billion searchable reocrds and is itself made up on 220 linked databases
c) Crimint and the Gangs Matrix
Crimint holds information on criminals, suspects and protestors
Gangs Martix hold information in suspected gang members
d) International databases
UK police can access databases that share information between police forces in different
countries
Include INTERPOL databases on child sexual exploitation, biometric reocords (DNA &
fingerprints), stolen proerty (e.g.art work), firearms and organised crime networks
Forensics
1. What is forensics?
Refers to scientific techniques and tests that are used to assist in investigating crime
Range of forensic expers and specialists, but most often forensic techniques involve
investigators recovering evidence from a crime scene and submitting it for analysis in a lab
2. List some of the types of forensic evidence
Biological materials - e.g. blood, semen, skin flakes and hair
Fingerprints, shoe prints, weapons, fibres, threads from clothing, paint flakes, etc.
3. Why is it important to protect a crime scene?
techniques in criminal investigations
Intelligence databases
1. What is meant by the term ‘intelligence’?
Refers to the information obtained from many sources often including confidential sources,
and has been recorded and evaluarted
May be stored in a variety of different databases that police can access
2. Breiefly exaplin the information stored on the following databases:
a) Police National Computer (PNC)
Contains several separate databases
Stores details of over 12 million peoples arrests, conviction and police cautions, with links to
biometric databases for fingerprints and the National DNA database
Vehicle registration data and information of 48 million people who have driving licesnse and
on those who are disqualified
Also holds information on missing and wanted persons
b) The Police National Database (PND)
Contains intelligence about suspected criminal activity as well as the date on the PNC
Holds over 3.5 billion searchable reocrds and is itself made up on 220 linked databases
c) Crimint and the Gangs Matrix
Crimint holds information on criminals, suspects and protestors
Gangs Martix hold information in suspected gang members
d) International databases
UK police can access databases that share information between police forces in different
countries
Include INTERPOL databases on child sexual exploitation, biometric reocords (DNA &
fingerprints), stolen proerty (e.g.art work), firearms and organised crime networks
Forensics
1. What is forensics?
Refers to scientific techniques and tests that are used to assist in investigating crime
Range of forensic expers and specialists, but most often forensic techniques involve
investigators recovering evidence from a crime scene and submitting it for analysis in a lab
2. List some of the types of forensic evidence
Biological materials - e.g. blood, semen, skin flakes and hair
Fingerprints, shoe prints, weapons, fibres, threads from clothing, paint flakes, etc.
3. Why is it important to protect a crime scene?
