Apply legislation relevant to Roads Policing in respect of vehicles on the strategic roads network. Examine the methods for information gathering and the use of intelligence under the National Intelligence Model (NIM). Appraise the different approaches to ‘Volume Crime Investigations’ and ‘Serious and Complex’ investigations.

The learner will be expected to include;

1) Initial Actions

2) Further Actions

3) Legislation, Policies & procedures.

They may find the mnemonic UPERE (taken from ACPO Centrex, 2005, pp60-3) useful which states the following may assist during the investigation process;

1)         Understanding the source material.

2)         Planning & Preparation e.g. planning an interview.

3)         Examination e.g. witness account.

4)         Recording & Collation e.g. making adequate records.

5)         Evaluation e.g. identify further action.

Case Study.

During 2019, North Yorkshire Police received a number of reports of offences of rape and other serious sexual offences. The modus operandi (method of operation) for the offences reported being young women aged between 18 – 25 years of age, who had been out during the evening, would wake at their home address the following morning to discover that they had been the victim of either rape or a serious sexual offence.

When asked about the events of the previous 24 hours they were able to remember or recite little if anything of what had occurred. It appeared that a number had consumed the rape drug Rohypnol. However some of the victims mentioned getting into a Black cab with the part registration A123 … and that the driver had a visible heart shaped tattoo on his neck.

At 20:00 hours on Saturday 22nd February 2020, Joanna McDonald (22 years) left her flat in Scarborough, making her way to Scarborough centre. During the evening she went into a number of pubs and clubs meeting with friends and consuming a variety of alcoholic drinks.

At 02:00 on Sunday 23rd February 2020, Ms McDonald left the Blue Oyster Club, getting into a black cab with the part registration A123 … , whilst in the back of the cab the driver a white male aged  between 40 – 45 years of age who had a visible heart shaped tattoo on his neck struck up a conversation with her in which he suggested that he had recently won a large sum of money, (he showed her a plastic carrier bag in which there appeared to be a large quantity of £20 and £10 Bank of England notes), he went onto ask Ms McDonald whether she wished to celebrate with him offering her some champagne, when she declined he offered her water.

Although Ms McDonald took the bottle of water she did not consume any of it. Subsequently Ms McDonald was dropped off at her home address.

At 11:00 on the same day Ms McDonald reported what had occurred to the North Yorkshire Police. Following some initial enquires you as a Senior Investigator with one of the Public Protection Unit (PPU) within the North Yorkshire Police led a number of officers to the home address of Richard Smith, aged 43 years (Smith has a heart shaped tattoo on his neck).

Following the arrest of Smith a search of the home address recovered a plastic bag containing in excess of £3,000 made up of £20 and £10 Bank of England notes. Near to the address was a Black cab registered number A123 JWS, you discovered keys for the vehicle in Smith’s address. Upon searching the cab in the boot you recovered what appears to be a home-made kit consisting of Rohypnol tablets, plastic drinking glasses, 4 x bottles of water and 3 x small bottles of champagne, there is also a selection of ‘sex toys’.

Having led the initial enquiries and as a Senior Investigator within the PPU you have now been tasked with planning/organising the investigation that needs to take place. Your plan needs to look at a number of factors/issues including; current legislation, time restraints, Forensics and future lines of enquiry.

Learners may wish to familiarise themselves with the Centrex (2005) document titled ‘Proactive Advice on – Core Investigative Doctrine’.

The Preface to the document conceptualises its content when it states:

‘The performance of the police in the area of investigation is continually under scrutiny by the government, the criminal justice system and the media. There is widespread recognition within the police service that there is a need to improve the professionalism of the investigative process.

The Professionalising the Investigation Programme (PIP) was introduced by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Crime Business Area as a key initiative within the Police reform agenda…

Core Investigative Doctrine provides definitive national guidance of all investigations as defined by PIP on the key principles of criminal investigation irrespective of the nature or complexity of the investigation’.