Ac 1.2 Criminology Personal Notes
Unit: Crime Scene to 1 Hour and 40 Minutes Name:
Courtroom
Topic: 1.2 Techniques
- Forensic
- Surveillance techniques
- Profiling techniques
- Intelligence databases
- Interview techniques
Criminal investigations
- Situations: crime scene, laboratory, police station, 'street'
- Types of crime: violent crime, e-crime, property crime
Notes made during the lesson (in your own words)
In criminal investigations, there are many different kinds of investigative techniques which
can be used to solve cases. Some of these include databases, forensic/DNA, surveillance,
interview and profiling.
INTELLIGENCE DATABASES
Databases are a highly useful investigative technique in criminal investigations, they can be
used in a number of ways including storing masses of data and help search for criminals.
The data held in these databases can include: names, ages, DNA samples, addresses etc. An
example of this is The Police National Computer (PNC), which stores information on police
cautions, arrests and convictions. The PNC also has links to 200 other databases which can
be highly beneficial when police are searching for people/missing people and vehicles. As
well as this, there is also a Police National Database (PNG) which also has information on
people and vehicles. In 2012 the Metropolitan Police also created the Crimint and Gang
Matrix to help look into the gang culture of London by tracking criminals in gangs/people
associated with gangs. Finally, there are international databases, for example the INTERPOL
which connects officers worldwide.
+ One advantage of databases is that they allow police officers worldwide to find
patterns and trends, this is specifically useful when offences are being repeated. If
there are offenders who are repeatedly committing crime, which is usually the case,
the police will be able to find them on their databases. Therefore enabling police to
make convictions quicker and easier as they are able to put the information they
already have stored forward as evidence, for example fingerprints and DNA samples.
As a result the investigation process will be sped up and the offender is more likely to
be caught.
+ Another advantage of databases is that they are able to pull in information from other
small databases that exist. Therefore allowing police officers to work more coherently
and give them the chance to share information/evidence that they have collected
with each other. Making it much simpler to find out information about a suspect that
they didn't know such as what vehicle they own, or if their fingerprints have been
taken from a separate offence.
, - One disadvantage of databases is that the information on them can be limited. This is
because they only contain information on past criminals and suspects, so if the
offender has not committed a crime before/been caught they will not be present on
the database. Therefore police officers will have to spend time searching for evidence
and collecting information on a suspect, due to the lack of data on them.
Furthermore, databases do not have information on all types of crime as a lot of
incidents go unreported, which could contribute to the dark figure of crime. For
example, domestic abuse and honour crime.
- Another disadvantage of databases is that the PNC and PNG along with other
information stores are well known. This means that they are highly susceptible to
security risks and hacking. There are many cases of massive databases being
infiltrated by hackers, resulting in a huge breach of data. Therefore if this sensitive
data got into the wrong hands it could cause more harm than good. As well as this,
due to the PNC/PNG being so wide-scale all of the police force can gain access, which
could be used incorrectly by prejudiced officers with the wrong intentions.
Overall, intelligence databases are useful investigative techniques in criminal investigations
as they assist police officers in finding patterns and trends, as well as they help with
gathering information from other small databases. However, other techniques may be more
beneficial as the database's information can be limited and have security risks.
FORENSIC/DNA TECHNIQUES
Forensic and DNA evidence is a technique used in criminal investigations which can help
police officers identify an offender based on their genetic material. DNA can be found in
almost all cells of the body and each person has their own unique version except from
identical twins. DNA profiling was first accomplished by Alec Jeffreys in 1985 and since then
has been developed so that it can be extracted/analysed much faster. Therefore this
technique has become highly beneficial in criminal investigations as it helps to solve most
serious crimes committed, as it provides conclusive evidence.
+ One advantage of forensic techniques is that DNA is unique to everyone. This means
that nobody has the same DNA (except identical twins) making convictions much
more concise and easier. Due to the fact that DNA is so distinctive it can help to
identify an individual, even if there is no other evidence available, which is useful for
police officers trying to figure out who committed a crime.
+ Another advantage of forensic techniques is that DNA samples can be used to trace
back to relatives and family members. Therefore making it a lot easier to track down
someone's family history if necessary. An example of forensic techniques being used
is the case of Collette Aram, who was murdered in 1983 before forensics were
discovered. After 1985, police started to establish their database by collecting genetic
samples from the general public and criminals. This led to Collettes murderer Paul
Hutchinson being convicted for her murder, due to a close family member's DNA
being taken for a driving incident. Despite the fact that Paul’s DNA was not on the
database his relatives DNA sample allowed him to be convicted for Colletes murder,
showing the usefulness of forensics in criminal investigations.
Unit: Crime Scene to 1 Hour and 40 Minutes Name:
Courtroom
Topic: 1.2 Techniques
- Forensic
- Surveillance techniques
- Profiling techniques
- Intelligence databases
- Interview techniques
Criminal investigations
- Situations: crime scene, laboratory, police station, 'street'
- Types of crime: violent crime, e-crime, property crime
Notes made during the lesson (in your own words)
In criminal investigations, there are many different kinds of investigative techniques which
can be used to solve cases. Some of these include databases, forensic/DNA, surveillance,
interview and profiling.
INTELLIGENCE DATABASES
Databases are a highly useful investigative technique in criminal investigations, they can be
used in a number of ways including storing masses of data and help search for criminals.
The data held in these databases can include: names, ages, DNA samples, addresses etc. An
example of this is The Police National Computer (PNC), which stores information on police
cautions, arrests and convictions. The PNC also has links to 200 other databases which can
be highly beneficial when police are searching for people/missing people and vehicles. As
well as this, there is also a Police National Database (PNG) which also has information on
people and vehicles. In 2012 the Metropolitan Police also created the Crimint and Gang
Matrix to help look into the gang culture of London by tracking criminals in gangs/people
associated with gangs. Finally, there are international databases, for example the INTERPOL
which connects officers worldwide.
+ One advantage of databases is that they allow police officers worldwide to find
patterns and trends, this is specifically useful when offences are being repeated. If
there are offenders who are repeatedly committing crime, which is usually the case,
the police will be able to find them on their databases. Therefore enabling police to
make convictions quicker and easier as they are able to put the information they
already have stored forward as evidence, for example fingerprints and DNA samples.
As a result the investigation process will be sped up and the offender is more likely to
be caught.
+ Another advantage of databases is that they are able to pull in information from other
small databases that exist. Therefore allowing police officers to work more coherently
and give them the chance to share information/evidence that they have collected
with each other. Making it much simpler to find out information about a suspect that
they didn't know such as what vehicle they own, or if their fingerprints have been
taken from a separate offence.
, - One disadvantage of databases is that the information on them can be limited. This is
because they only contain information on past criminals and suspects, so if the
offender has not committed a crime before/been caught they will not be present on
the database. Therefore police officers will have to spend time searching for evidence
and collecting information on a suspect, due to the lack of data on them.
Furthermore, databases do not have information on all types of crime as a lot of
incidents go unreported, which could contribute to the dark figure of crime. For
example, domestic abuse and honour crime.
- Another disadvantage of databases is that the PNC and PNG along with other
information stores are well known. This means that they are highly susceptible to
security risks and hacking. There are many cases of massive databases being
infiltrated by hackers, resulting in a huge breach of data. Therefore if this sensitive
data got into the wrong hands it could cause more harm than good. As well as this,
due to the PNC/PNG being so wide-scale all of the police force can gain access, which
could be used incorrectly by prejudiced officers with the wrong intentions.
Overall, intelligence databases are useful investigative techniques in criminal investigations
as they assist police officers in finding patterns and trends, as well as they help with
gathering information from other small databases. However, other techniques may be more
beneficial as the database's information can be limited and have security risks.
FORENSIC/DNA TECHNIQUES
Forensic and DNA evidence is a technique used in criminal investigations which can help
police officers identify an offender based on their genetic material. DNA can be found in
almost all cells of the body and each person has their own unique version except from
identical twins. DNA profiling was first accomplished by Alec Jeffreys in 1985 and since then
has been developed so that it can be extracted/analysed much faster. Therefore this
technique has become highly beneficial in criminal investigations as it helps to solve most
serious crimes committed, as it provides conclusive evidence.
+ One advantage of forensic techniques is that DNA is unique to everyone. This means
that nobody has the same DNA (except identical twins) making convictions much
more concise and easier. Due to the fact that DNA is so distinctive it can help to
identify an individual, even if there is no other evidence available, which is useful for
police officers trying to figure out who committed a crime.
+ Another advantage of forensic techniques is that DNA samples can be used to trace
back to relatives and family members. Therefore making it a lot easier to track down
someone's family history if necessary. An example of forensic techniques being used
is the case of Collette Aram, who was murdered in 1983 before forensics were
discovered. After 1985, police started to establish their database by collecting genetic
samples from the general public and criminals. This led to Collettes murderer Paul
Hutchinson being convicted for her murder, due to a close family member's DNA
being taken for a driving incident. Despite the fact that Paul’s DNA was not on the
database his relatives DNA sample allowed him to be convicted for Colletes murder,
showing the usefulness of forensics in criminal investigations.
