Aids and Tools available to the Criminal Investigator When trying to solve a crime, investigators will use all

legitimate resources available to them.

What could they possibly be?

Investigators may use the following:

Evidence collected from the crime scene and later analysed. Technical aids. Surveillance techniques. Sources/Stores of Information.

Technical Aids
In this presentation, we will focus primarily on the technical aids that can be used in criminal investigations.

Scanners
Scanners are used in all kinds of ways. Some are able to create an image of a person through their clothing; some can detect the light reflected from a page; some can detect metal; etc. E.g. Full-body scanners in use at airports. There are two types of full-body scanners: millimeter wave and x-ray backscatter.

Their purpose is to detect any concealed items. Images can be recorded, analysed and used later in court if necessary.

Scanners

Scanners

Bugs
Bugs (or wires) are devices which can detect and transmit information (usually sound). They usual consist of a microphone and a radio transmitter.

Famously used in The Great Seal in 1946-52.

Evidence collected from bugs can be used in court, but only if it was authorised fully at the time.

Bugs

Cameras
Cameras are able to be placed in any public area and can be used to help identify if a crime has been committed and who was involved. The range of location is vast. E.g. Motorways, high streets, schools, shopping precincts, ATMs, etc. They can vary from units which only take still images to units which can record real-time video footage (CCTV)

Cameras

Others
Investigators can use other tools as well, such as:

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR)

Electronic facial ID composition programmes

Both of these rely on specialist software which can analyse images.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR)

Used primarily to identify vehicles (and their drivers) who break the law, and to identify vehicles who need to pay a toll or congestion charge. Often used in conjunction with DVLA database. Can be used to identify the location of a specific vehicle at a specific time. Data is stored on a central ANPR database for at least 5 years.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR)

There are 6 steps in the ANPR process: Plate location Plate orientation Normalisation Character Segmentation Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Syntactical analysis

Electronic facial ID composition

Specific software in combination with cameras can sometimes help to identify people. Can be used in simple terms to identify a human face in a specific image. More recently, programmes can identify parts of the face (I.e. eye shape, face shape, brow position, etc) and create a 2D composition of a persons face which can be used to help identify them. 3D compositions can be made also, but the image quality must be very good.

Old fashion method of recognition is still used. E.g. photos of London Rioters uploaded onto websites and identified by viewers.

Electronic facial ID composition programmes

Profiling
There are also techniques such as profiling that can help an investigator.

Geographical profiling
Psychological and behavioural profiling Offender profiling

Geographical profiling
A strategy which allows police forces and investigators to try and estimate where a criminal may live based on the locations of 1 or more crime scenes Often used in serious cases, such as serial killings. Mixed results.

Behaviour/Psychological profiling
Based heavily on common-sense. This type of profiling is focused on identifying the offender by judging and analysing the crime they committed and how they committed it. Specialists can identify specific personality traits of the perpetrator based on their decisions made before, during and after the criminal act. First offending profile in Britain was in 1986: John Duffy The Railway Rapist/Killer. The profiler (David Canter) made 17 statements in his profile 13 were true.

Offender profiling
This type of profiling is based on knowing who the actual offender is and then judging what their next steps may be based on their actions. This is usually completed by a trained criminal psychologist who will have access to a persons records. Can be used in other contexts as well, such as deciding whether a person is deemed safe to be released from prison.

Intelligence Databases
Police National Computer (PNC) Home Office Large Major Enquiries System (HOLMES), National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS), National DNA Database (NDNAD),

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) database

Other tools, systems or sources?

NIM National Intelligence Model
Ensures that the deployment of police resources is effective by being based on evidence and intelligence.

IMPACT programme
Helps different forces to share information more easily

Crime Mapping
Used to identify hot spots for crime.

Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO)

Promotes and coordinates the development of the police service and produces guidelines for professional conduct.

Any more!?
Criminal Records Crime Statistics

Reports on Crime
Reports on Autopsy Reports on Toxicology Recorded 999 Calls Written, Tape and Video Recorded Statements Personal Records Community Intelligence