Criminology Unit 3 - 1.2 - Assess the usefulness of investigative techniques in criminal investigations
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1.2 Assess the usefulness of investigative techniques in criminal investigations
-Use at least 2 strengths and 2 weaknesses for each.
-Link to scenario where applicable
-forensics, surveillance, profiling, experts, witnesses, databases
Technique and Outline Evaluation
Use of intelligence databases- Strengths-
(preferably don’t do) -Intelligence databases are used to assist law enforcement agencies in order to solve crime.
Policing technologies have dramatically They contribute when it comes to eliminating suspects which ultimately saves the police time,
evolved, especially shown in the resources and effort. Overall, databases have directly led to thousands of convictions.
creation of intelligence databases. Such -The PNC also provides useful information when investigating crimes. Furthermore, it has links to
databases include the Police National European databases allowing information sharing between countries. This links to the case of
Computer and Interpol.These databases Pritchert and Guthrie who fled to a foreign country in order to hide from the police.
are used to help the police store and -Information is available promptly for the police making it useful for quick arrests as well as
access information further assisting them providing real time checks for vehicles, properties and people.
in the fight against crime.
-A strength of the Gangs Matrix is that the police can identify and risk-assess gang members
The police National Computer (PNC) across London aiming to reduce gang-related violence and safeguard those exploited by
contains several separate databases gangs.
and holds extensive information on
people, vehicles, crimes and property. Limitations-
It withholds details of over 12 million -The database doesn’t show photos. Police often have to guess whether a person is a suspect
people’s arrests, fingerprints, based on the description given.
convictions, etc. -The police can’t search the database directly, possibly causing a delay in identifying
criminals.
-However, there are ethical issues. Information commissioner, Elizabeth Denham, suggested
, This information may be stored in a that the police were taking too much personal information from victims and witnesses' phones
variety of different databases that which may discourage them from reporting crimes.
police officers can access such as
International databases. The police can -The gangs matrix has been criticised as racially discriminatory and in 2021 the Met police had
also access databases that share to remove over 1000 young black males for the database. It has also been subject to leaks. In
information between police forces in 2017, 2013 alleged gang members names and addresses were accidently leaked and it
different countries. These include the subsequently fell into the hands of rival gangs. Some of those named suffered serious violence.
INTERPOL databases on child sexual
exploition, biometric records (DNA and Criminal Investigation (Situations and types)-
fingerprints), stolen property, firearms Intelligence databases are useful in most types of crimes due to the variety of information they
and organised crime networks. contain. They are especially useful in property crimes as well as vehicle crimes because the
police may identify on the spot whether the vehicle has been stolen for instance.
A final example of police databases is They are used in multiple situations including at the police station because they can access
the Crimint and the Gangs Matrix. The the computers which give them that information.
Crimint holds information on criminals,
Cases-
suspects and protestors while the Gangs
Craig Pritchert and Nova Guthrie were bank robbers. His role was forcing workers to open the
Matrix holds information on suspected
vault at gunpoint while she kept the car’s engine running. In 2 years, they had stolen $500,000
gang members.
from banks. They fled to South Africa where Interpol tracked them down and arrested them
after 8 years of being on the run. This links to Interpol and international intelligence databases
as without them, the criminals may never have been tracked down.
Forensic- Strengths-
Forensics refers to the scientific -Once collected, the evidence can be examined by forensic specialists and the results are
techniques and tests that are used to shared with the police to assist their investigation. Since DNA is found in almost every cell of the
assist in investigating crime. Forensic body, and each person’s DNA profile is unique, this improves its reliability when searching for
evidence can include biological an offender. Furthermore, it provides an opportunity to solve cold cases, bringing justice to
materials (eg.. blood and hair), alo with victims later on.
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