Skip to main content

History of Decision-Making

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
  • 1080 Accesses

Abstract

The author looks back over 40 years of inquires and reviews of major police investigations such as The Yorkshire Ripper Case. The author identified 7 themes that run through 40 years of historical enquires, which are: Clarity and leadership among senior officers; Skills of SIOs; Systematic failures; Phasing of enquires; The role of the Major Incident Room; Information management; Individual investigative strategy failures. Past inquiries can help inform present or future investigative strategies by providing best practice and highlighting potential pitfalls. The role of the MIR and Holmes since the Yorkshire Ripper case illustrates the progress that has been made although in the case of the Harper, Maxwell and Hogg murders the suspect was not within the system. The issue of leadership among senior management teams and SIOs was discussed in the inquiries researched.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Adhami, E., & Browne, D. (1996). Major Crime Enquiries: Improving Expert Support for Detectives. UK: Police Research Group Special Interest Paper 9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bilton, M. (2003). Wicked Beyond Belief. Harper Collins.

    Google Scholar 

  • IPOC (IPCC) Report on Poppi Worthington.

    Google Scholar 

  • Irving, B., & Dunningham, C. (1993). Human Factors in the Quality control of CID investigations and a review of training. Research papers on Criminal Justice Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, D., Grieve, J., & Milne, B. (2008). The Case to Review Murder Investigations. Policing, 2(4), 470–480.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • KIrby, S. (2013). Effective Policing. Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicol, C., Innes, M., Gee, D., & Feist, A. (2004). Reviewing Murder Investigations: An Analysis of Progress Reviews from 6 Police Forces. Online Report 25/04 UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • NPCC Core Investigative Doctrine. library.college.police.uk/docs/acpo/Core-Investigative-Doctrine.pdf.

  • Orde., H, & Rea, D. (2017). “Bear in Mind These Dead”: The Omagh Bombing and Policing. Belfast: Nicholson and Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, N., & Flanagan, C. (2000). The Effective Detective: Identifying the Skills of an Effective SIO. London: Police Research Group, Home Office, UK.

    Google Scholar 

Reports

  • A Report on the Investigation by Cambridgeshire Constabulary into the Murders of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells at Soham 4 August 2002 HMIC Sir Ronnie Flanagan HMIC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sir William Macpherson Report on the Death of Stephen Lawrence CM 4261. 1 February 1999 Stationary Office, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • The Damilola Taylor Murder Investigation Review: The Report of the Oversight Panel December 2002 Metropolitan Police, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • The Shipman Inquiry 2nd Report: The Police Investigation of 1998 (2003) Chairman Dame Janet Smith OBE HMSO.

    Google Scholar 

  • The Victoria Climbie Report. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-victoria-climbie.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mark Roycroft .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Copyright information

© 2019 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Roycroft, M. (2019). History of Decision-Making. In: Roycroft, M., Roach, J. (eds) Decision Making in Police Enquiries and Critical Incidents. Palgrave Pivot, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95847-4_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95847-4_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Pivot, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-349-95846-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-349-95847-4

  • eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics