Latest changes – investigation process

NPCC Community Resolutions Guidance 2022 link fixed

28/05/2024 - Updated link to 'Categories of unexpected death investigations' in 'first investigative steps' sub-section.

Changed wording to Investigation Process under Allocation:

Old wording:

Some crimes may be considered less serious in policing. For example, because the sentence on conviction is low or because there is no apparent physical impact but can still have a profound effect on the victim. These crimes may also indicate a higher risk of future harm and may be precursors to more serious offending. 

New wording:

Some crimes may have been considered less serious in policing. This may be, for example, because the sentence on conviction is low or there is no apparent physical impact on the victim. These crimes, however, can still have a profound effect on the victim because of the nature of the offending. For example, persistent behavioural aspects, may make them more serious than they initially appear. They may also indicate a higher risk of future harm and may be precursors to more serious offending. 

Two new subsections added to investigative process.

1. Adding a subsection called Allocation, after crime and incident recording, before initial engagement. The section is five paragraphs and a reference. It covers how a force can decide which person/team investigates a crime.

    

2. Adding a subsection after jurisdiction and ownership but before Golden Hour - called Linked series crimes. It is four paragraphs in length. It advises officers and staff not to neglect less serious offences when thinking about series crimes and advises on communication across forces, including investigative strategy development and assignment. 

In the section on Instigation, terminology amended from 'police staff receptionist' to 'front counter staff'.

Extensive changes to entire section following June 2023 consultation.

Changes made to 'Jurisdiction and ownership' section are:

• link to Home Office Counting Rules updated
• link changed to Home Office Counting Rules for Recorded Crime (publishing.service.gov.uk)

New reference document (College of Policing (2022) Delivering a death message) added to Investigation process.

Initial investigation text box wording amended from 'unexplained' to 'unexpected'.

Added new section 'Jurisdiction and ownership'.

Updated with new guidance documents for sudden and unexpected death.