Appreciation Technique & Investigative Mindset Flashcards
What are the Four stages of an Appreciation Technique?
Aim - An aim or objective is a short statement of intent beginning with a verb. It should be brief/to the point and only one.
Factors - A factor is a statement of truth about some known influence or circumstances. Examine all information as a risk assessment. So What? Therefore..
Courses Open - The options you can identify after having assessed the factors and the deductions made from the factors.
Plan - Take the most appropriate action. Is it effective? Proportionate? Achievable? SELF test?
Written forms of appreciation
Full - Most often for high-level or difficult tactical or administrative problems.
Short - For non-urgent problems that are not complicated or complex. Applicable to daily Police duties.
When to complete written appreciations..
A written appreciation provides a record of decision making and shows why
a certain course of action was taken.
A written appreciation should be completed when:
- There are several points to be considered and there is a danger of points being overlooked if they are not written down.
- A clear picture of the situation is desired to present a logical argument that will carry conviction to a higher authority.
The investigative mindset is a process underpinned by four key areas of knowledge, understanding and skills in:
Core legislation.
The characteristics of crime (nature of crime and criminal behaviour).
National policies and procedures.
Investigative techniques.
Stages of Criminal Investigations
Instigation Initial investigation Investigative Evaluation- No Further/Further action Suspect Management Evidential Evaluation - No Charge/Further Investigation Charge File preparation Court
What is material?
Material is substance of any kind, including information and objects, sounds
and images, obtained in the course of a criminal investigation that has some
bearing on any offence under investigation or any person being investigated,
or on the surrounding circumstances of the case.
Material may or may not become evidence.
What are the sources of material?
victims
• witnesses
• suspects
• locations, including scenes of crime and the victim’s or suspect’s
premises
• CCTV recordings, telephone records, banking and credit card records;
Intelligence databases.
Forms of material include:
statements • documents • reports • physical exhibits such as weapons, clothing, stolen goods and biological or chemical material • fingerprints • images • audio or video recordings.
Material that is Admissable
hearsay
statements of opinion
expert evidence
improperly obtained material
Part 2 of the evidence act 2006
Whether material becomes information, intelligence or evidence depends on
the use to which it is put.
When planning and preparing initial action objectives consider how…
• the collection of material will be maximised
• legal, policy and procedural requirements are addressed
• specialist or technical equipment or expertise is used
• most appropriate location to conduct the collection is prepared, e.g.
interviewing suite, search warrant, Intel Office.
As part of the collection process you must ensure…
• immediate action is taken in relation to quality and preservation of
material
• its reliability is tested at the earliest opportunity
• relevant records are made
• the material is appropriately stored.
Examination is usually divided into three areas:
- Interpret
- Clarify
- Challenge
The extent to which any area is relevant to a particular examination is
determined by the material source and its characteristics.
ABC means..
A – Assume nothing
B - Believe nothing
C – Corroborate everything
Applying an investigative mindset to the collection of material ensures:
- The maximum amount of material is gathered.
- Its reliability is tested at the earliest opportunity.
- Immediate action is taken in relation to it.
- Relevant records are made.
- The material is appropriately stored.
- Logical deductions are made.
Three times of formal evaluation are inherent in an investigative mindset
1. Investigative evaluation is undertaken to determine: • what is known • what is not known • consistencies • conflicts
2. Evidential evaluation considers: • the overall strength of the case • whether sufficient evidence exists against the offender to proceed to charge.
3. Self / peer evaluation will address: • review of assumptions and decision making • records organisation and management • information communication and dissemination • lessons learnt.
Differences in investigative and evidential evaluations..
The key differences between investigative and evidential evaluation are that
during an investigative evaluation all available material is evaluated even
though it may not be evidentially admissible.
When carrying out an evidential evaluation, the strength of the case is
evaluated taking into account only the evidentially admissible material.
Self and peer evaluation is a critical component of the practice of
professionals.
Relevant material is..
When it has some bearing on the investigation or any
person being investigated, or on the surrounding circumstances of the case.
It is relevant unless it is incapable of having an impact on the case.
Reliability of material..
The reliability of material may have already been established at the collection stage. It is, however, prudent that material reliability be reviewed through evaluation to ensure that any potential problems have not been
overlooked.
Formal evaluation provides the opportunity to revisit decision making about factors such as witness reliability, previous offending, and
known associates, as these factors may not have been known at the time of
collection.
The reliability filter ensures that independent corroboration of the material
that is to be used as evidence for the prosecution.
Hypothesis is defined as…
‘a suggested explanation for a group of facts either
accepted as a basis for further verification or accepted as likely to be
true.’
Another way of describing a hypothesis is building a scenario that best
explains the available material.
Hypotheses can also be used to test if the interpretation that has been put on
the material gathered is the most reasonable one. Developing alternative
hypotheses from the same material may direct further enquiries that help to
confirm which interpretation is likely to be true.
They are made
through deliberate creative thinking.
