What is an investigation and the role of the investigator?

What is an investigation?

There are several definitions of a criminal investigation, but the one for England and Wales is set out in the Code of Practice to the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 (CPIA). This defines a criminal investigation as:​

An investigation conducted by police officers with a view to it being ascertained whether a person should be charged with an offence, or whether a person charged with an offence is guilty of it.​

(CPIA 1996)

Investigations can be either reactive or proactive​ and may be carried out in relation to:​

• Crimes that have been committed​
• Identifying whether a crime has actually been committed, with a view to commencing criminal proceedings​
• Crimes that the police believe may be committed, for example, when premises or individuals are kept under observation for a period of time, with a view to the possible institution of criminal proceedings.

What responsibilities does the investigator have?

An investigator is responsible for:​

• Identifying lines of enquiry​
• Securing material​
• Recording information ​
• Producing a report​
• Giving evidence​
• Retaining records​
• FIM considerations

(Betts 2017)

References

_{Betts, M.,J. (2017) Investigation of Fraud and Economic Crime Oxford: Oxford University Press}

_{London: Legislation.gov.uk Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act (1996) [online]. available from https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/25/part/II [11 July 2019]}