tools and aids

8/3/2019 Tools and Aids

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Aids and Tools available to the Criminal Investigator

When trying to solve a crime, investigators will useall legitimate resources available to them.

What could they possibly be?


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Evidence collected from the crime scene and

later analysed.

Technical aids.

Surveillance techniques.

Sources/Stores of Information.

Investigators may use the following:


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Technical Aids

In this presentation, we will focus primarily on the

technical aids that can be used in criminalinvestigations.


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Scanners

Scanners are used in all kinds of ways. Someare able to create an image of a person through

their clothing; some can detect the light reflectedfrom a page; some can detect metal; etc.

E.g. Full-body scannersin 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 usedlater in court if necessary.


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Scanners


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Scanners


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Bugs

Bugs (or wires) are devices which can detect

and transmit information (usually sound).

They usual consist of a microphone and a radiotransmitter.

Famously used in The Great Seal in 1946-52.

Evidence collected from bugs can be used incourt, but only if it was authorised fully at thetime.


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Bugs


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Cameras

Cameras are able to be placed in any public

area and can be used to help identify if a crimehas 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 stillimages to units which can record real-time videofootage (CCTV)


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Cameras


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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.


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Used primarily to identify vehicles (and

their drivers) who break the law, and toidentify vehicles who need to pay a tollor congestion charge.

Often used in conjunction with DVLAdatabase.

Can be used to identify the location of

a specific vehicle at a specific time.

Data is stored on a central ANPRdatabase for at least 5 years.


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There are 6 steps in the ANPR process:

Plate location Plate orientation

Normalisation

Character Segmentation

Optical Character Recognition (OCR)

Syntactical analysis


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Electronic facial ID composition

Specific software in combination with cameras can sometimeshelp to identify people.

Can be used in simple terms to identify a human face in aspecific image.

More recently, programmes can identify parts of the face (I.e.eye shape, face shape, brow position, etc) and create a 2Dcomposition of a persons face which can be used to helpidentify them. 3D compositions can be made also, but theimage quality must be very good.

Old fashion method of recognition is still used. E.g. photos ofLondon Rioters uploaded onto websites and identified byviewers.


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Electronic facial ID composition programmes


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Profiling

There are also techniques such as profiling that canhelp an investigator.

Geographical profiling

Psychological and behavioural profiling

Offender profiling


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Geographical profiling

A strategy which allows police forces andinvestigators to try and estimate where a criminalmay live based on the locations of 1 or more crimescenes

Often used in serious cases, such as serial killings.

Mixed results.


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Behaviour/Psychological profilingBased heavily on common-sense.

This type of profiling is focused on identifying theoffender by judging and analysing the crime theycommitted and how they committed it.

Specialists can identify specific personality traits of theperpetrator based on their decisions made before,during and after the criminal act.

First offending profile in Britain was in 1986: JohnDuffy

The Railway Rapist/Killer.The profiler (David Canter) made 17 statements in his

profile 13 were true.


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Offender profiling

This type of profiling is based on knowing who theactual offender is and then judging what their next

steps may be based on their actions.

This is usually completed by a trained criminalpsychologist who will have access to a persons

records.

Can be used in other contexts as well, such asdeciding whether a person is deemed safe to bereleased from prison.


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Intelligence Databases

Police National Computer (PNC)

Home Office Large Major Enquiries System(HOLMES),

National Automated Fingerprint IdentificationSystem (NAFIS),

National DNA Database (NDNAD),

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)database


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Other tools, systems or sources?

NIM National Intelligence Model

Ensures that the deployment of police resources iseffective 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 professionalconduct.


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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

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