NCJ Number
183575
Journal
Policing Volume: 23 Issue: 2 Dated: 2000 Pages: 246-259
Date Published
2000
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This paper evaluates the "crime desk" and its role as investigator.
Abstract
The paper addresses key issues in the implementation of a managed response to crime. Based on a major study of resource allocation decision making procedures in the British Police Service, it focuses on the crime desk, both as an aid to management and as an operational center for new forms of investigation. While the study found clear indication that crime desks brought benefits by alleviating the administrative burden imposed by the crime recording process, evidence of their potential as an investigative resource was less clear. Crime desks might reasonably be expected to provide the initial response to complaints of crime and to assist in allocating resources at two important stages. First is receiving the initial crime complaint and deciding whether to refer the incident for allocation to a patrol officer or to conduct a telephone investigation themselves. In addition, crime desks play a key role in allocating detective officers to conduct further enquiries into selected incidents. Crime desks also conduct secondary investigations by analyzing reports and integrating data from other sources. The paper includes four suggestions to develop the crime desk’s investigative role. Notes, references, bibliography