REPORT WRITING

Lesson 15
DEFINITION OF TERMS:
• Affidavit - summary judgment. The kind of affidavit necessary to support a summary
judgement is that affidavit from which it may be clearly drawn that certain facts
pleaded by either party are certain, undisputed and indubitable which dispense with
the hearing or trial of the case.(PNP definition).
• After operation report - it is a report that may be rendered after any successful police
operation that leads to the arrest of any member or some members of syndicated
crime group.
• After soco report - it is a report rendered by the team leader of the SOCO that
conducted the scene of the crime operations, processing or investigation.
• Agents report - it is a report rendered by a documented agent who answers an
intelligence requirement.
DEFINITION OF TERMS:
• Agreement - Proposal. A proposal remains an offer even if not answered and irrespective of the length
of time that has passed. It only becomes an agreement when accepted by the other party.(PNP
definition).
• Book of account - a book containing charges and showing a continuous dealing with persons generally.
To be admissible in evidence, it must be kept as an account book and the charges made in the usual
course of business.
• Case officer - the person responsible for and in charge of the investigation of the case.
• Police blotter - a record or log where all types of operational and under cover dispatches shall be
recorded containing the 5 "W" and 1 "H"(Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How of an information.
• Spot report - refers to an immediate initial investigative or incident report addressed to higher
headquarters pertaining to the commission of the crime, occurrence of natural or man-made disaster or
unusual incidents involving loss of lives and damage of properties.
DEFINITION OF TERMS:
• Tactical interrogation report - the report rendered by an interrogator which contain the following
information: 1. Personal and family background 2. Educational background 3. Professional background 4.
Criminal activities,associates/armaments 5. Plans
• Summary of information (SOI) - an intelligence report rendered regarding any illegal activity or violation of
laws being observed by intelligence operatives within a given area of responsibility. This is the usual basis of
case operations hence, information received should be cared, validated, countered checked, analyzed and
evaluated.
• Police Report - report made by the police containing the initial statement made by the victim at the time
she or he reported the crime. A police report consists of a testament, specific details of the event and names
of people involved.
• Index Crime - are very serious crimes that happen frequently or regularly that they can serve as index of the
crime situation. Index Crime is basically anything that is physically pursued by the person committing the
crime while non index crimes consists of non physical confrontation.
DEFINITION OF TERMS:
• Non Index Crime - refers to all crime not classified as index crime. These crimes are mostly victimless.
• Crime Solution Efficiency - means the number of crimes solved after the arrest of the suspects and filing of
charges against them.
• Crime Clearance Efficiency - means the number of crimes considered solved because the suspects have been
identified and charged but they remain at large.
• Crime Incidence - the number of crimes reported as index or non index crimes within a given period.
• Crime Volume - is a basic indicator of the frequency of known criminal activity. It represents the number of
reported offenses.
• Crime Trend - represents the percentage change in crime based on data reported in a prior equivalent period.
• Crime Rate - the measure that gives an index of crime occurring in a particular jurisdiction for a specific time
period.
DEFINITION OF TERMS:

 Investigative Reporting – is an objective statement of the investigator‟s findings. It is an

official record of information relevant to the investigation which the investigator submits to
his/her superior.
 Communication – the use of language, spoken or written, to exchange ideas or transfer
information.
 Report – is a detailed account of an event, situation, etc., usually based on observation or
inquiry.
 Reporting – is knowingly passing along information to someone else.
 Report Writing – is a communication that lends itself to a useful tool for people in a free
society to express their thoughts and ideas and to obtain what they need or want.
DEFINITION OF TERMS:
 Fact – is anything which either through careful observation or investigation, has been proven
to exist as to have happened.
 Note Taking –is defined as a brief notation concerning specific events that are recorded while
fresh in your mind and used to prepare a report.
 Chronological Order – is the arrangement of events and/or actions in order by the time of their
occurrence.
 Investigation – is the collection of facts to accomplish a threefold aim: to identify the suspect;
to locate the suspect; and to provide evidence of his guilt.
IMPORTANCE OF INVESTIGATIVE WRITING
The Importance of investigative writing are as follows:
1. They serve as records for police administrators in planning, directing, and organizing the
unit‟s duties;
2. Reports can be used as legal documents in the prosecution of criminals;
3. Reports can be used by other agencies;
4. Reports can be useful to local media that needs access to public documents;
5. The author of a report should also consider that the (written) work is reflective
of the writer‟s personality; and
6. Reports can be a basis for research.
REQUISITES OF A GOOD INVESTIGATION REPORT

A good investigation report contains the following requisites:

1. Accuracy – The report should be a true representation of the facts to the best of
the investigators ability.
2. Completeness – The question of “when, who, what, where, why and how?”
should be answered.
3. Brevity – Irrelevant or unnecessary materials should be omitted.
REQUISITES OF A GOOD INVESTIGATION REPORT

4. Fairness – The investigator should take the facts as he finds them.

5. Form and Style – The arrangement of the materials presented should be in a
manner which will make the report easy to read.
6. Clarity – The language and format of a report are simple and to the point.
7. Specific – Use of specific words that bring the reader close to first-hand
experience.
8. Timeliness – Completion of a report promptly.
BASIC TYPES OF INVESTIGATION REPORT
The following are the basic types of Investigation Report:
1. Spot Report is an immediate initial investigative or incident report addressed to Higher Headquarters
pertaining to the commission of the crime, occurrence of natural or man-made disaster or unusual incidents
involving loss of lives and damage to properties.
2. A Progress Report is an accounting of the actions or series of actions undertaken in relation to an ongoing
investigation of a case.
3. After Operation Report is a report that may be rendered after any successful police operation that leads to
the arrest of any member or some members of syndicated crime group.
4. Final Report is a thorough, in-depth and lengthy account regarding an investigation into an incident or
case as mandated by higher authorities to establish a determination of the truth and/or how far it could be
determined based on the facts and circumstances with the appropriate recommendation for the proper
course/s of action/s to be made.