Effective Detective

AcknowledgementsThe current work has been conducted as part of the PRC’s Serious Crime ResearchProgramme (SCRP) based at the National Crime Faculty (NCF) at the Police StaffCollege, Bramshill. The SCRP aims to develop advice to help the police improvepolicy and practice in the investigation of low-volume serious crimes, such asstranger rape, murder and abduction. In its efforts to respond to the operationalissues facing crime investigators, the SCRP receives valued support andcontributions from the staff of the NCF.The authors would particularly like to thank those officers who made themselvesavailable for interview. Interviews were conducted in the following forces: Avonand Somerset Constabulary, Cambridgeshire Constabulary, Humberside Police,Kent Constabulary, Metropolitan Police, Northamptonshire Police, NorthumbriaPolice, South Yorkshire Police, Surrey Police and West Yorkshire Police.Thanks must also go to the members of the project board for their assistance in thedevelopment of this research: Dr Charles Jackson (occupational psychologist),Detective Chief Superintendent Doug Smith (NCF), Detective ChiefSuperintendent Des Donohoe (Dorset Police), Detective Inspector Stuart Williams(Lancashire Constabulary) and Detective Sergeant Kevin Smith (NCF). Thanksalso to Donna Holdaway for her assistance with the analysis, and to both DickOldfield and Andy Feist (PRC) who provided guidance and comments on theinitial drafts of this report.The authorsNicky Smith and Conor Flanagan are members of the Home Office Policing andReducing Crime Unit.PRC wishes to thank Professor Mike Maguire of Cardiff University who acted asexternal assessor of this report.(iv)