NCJ Number
187337
Editor(s)
Barry Webb
Date Published
2000
Length
66 pages
Annotation
This study examined the skills and abilities needed by senior police detectives in the United Kingdom to lead and to investigate serious crimes effectively and explored how senior investigating officers currently acquire these skills and abilities and ways to facilitate their acquisition in the future.
Abstract
Information came from 40 senior investigating officers (SIOs) from 10 police agencies. The interviews focused on the skills, abilities, and personal characteristics needed to be effective in investigating the low-volume serious crimes of stranger rape, murder, and kidnapping. The research grouped 22 core skills into three clusters: (1) investigative ability, (2) knowledge levels, and (3) management skills. Results revealed that the effective SIO depends on a combination of management skill, investigative ability, and relevant knowledge across the entire investigative process from the initial assessment of the crime scene through to case management after the charge. Ideally, an SIO should possess a high level of competency across each of the three clusters. In reality, this combination is not always possible. Ways for SIOs to acquire the necessary skills include selecting the appropriate individuals, nurturing future SIOs, ensuring a correct balance between training and appropriate experience, encouraging the self-development of investigators, and using both formal and informal debriefing. Recommended actions to ensure enough effective SIOs include coordinating training and experience within the career progression of an SIO, the use of formal systems for early identification and career development of SIOs, and the provision of appropriate opportunities to future SIOs. Additional actions include using mentoring and debriefing programs, specifying core competencies required for SIOs, and using research findings in the national SIO development program. Figures and 25 references