Researching police procedure and crime scenes for crime novels

So where do I get the police procedural information from and how can writers obtain this kind of information?

Police and government websites
Social Media
Books and reference sources
Events, courses and the Crime Readers Association
I have also run events called CSI Portsmouth and CSI Southampton where I bring crime authors, police and crime experts together to debate crime fiction and crime fact. Nothing is planned at present on this front but if a new event is organized it will be posted here on my website.Of course my crime novels cannot truly reflect real police procedure because if they did they would end up reading like a police manual and bore everyone to tears. So the basics are then spiced up and tweaked by my imagination.
One of the problems with writing contemporary crime novels though is that the police service in the UK is continually being re-organized by the government which means that no sooner do I mention a department than its name changes or it merges with another. It is not possible to be a hundred percent correct on this but they were correct at the time of writing.
There are advantages in writing an historical crime novel, my first set in 1950 is due to be published this autumn (2019) and features a Scotland Yard detective, Inspector Alun Ryga, who is sent to the coast to investigate a complex murder in DEATH IN THE COVE. In an historical crime novel I don't have to wrestle with the fact that the names of the police departments change, also the red tape that today surrounds serving police officers was practically non existent. The challenge though is to get what procedure there was correct and to incorporate that and the way of thinking and investigating into the novel to ensure it is an entertaining and intriguing read. I hope I have done so.
DEAD PASSAGE (DI Andy Horton 14) published October 2019. Available in paperback, as an ebook, on Amazon Kindle and Kobo
Where to buy
Buy Pauline Rowson's books USA
Buy Pauline Rowson's books UK
Buy from your local bookshop
Available from all good booksellers in paperback, as an ebook, Large Print and as unabridged audio book and for loan in libraries in the UK, Commonwealth and the USA.
This article has been updated since it was published in 2014 and 2017





JANUARY 7TH, 2019 @ 5:30:33 UTC
Comments
RE: Researching police procedure and crime scenes for crime novels
Hi Pauline, Im in the throes of writing a fantasy/thriller where I need some knowledge of certain basic police procedures. So far Ive only written what I know by watching TV. My son is a police officer but seems reluctant to advise me of anything I want to know. CSI Portsmouth looks to be a good idea and as I only live across the harbour in Gosport I will do my best to try and get there.
Dave Fry (pen name Dave Charles)
COMMENT BY DAVE FRY, NOVEMBER 2ND, 2015 @ 10:26:23 UTC
RE: Researching police procedure and crime scenes for crime novels
I think you`ll find the CSI Portsmouth event on Saturday 5 March 2016 very helpful. You`ll also be able to make some contacts with the police there which will be useful. Hope to see you there.
COMMENT BY PAULINE ROWSON, NOVEMBER 2ND, 2015 @ 12:04:30 UTC
RE: Researching police procedure and crime scenes for crime novels
Hi Pauline,
You say, "There are also blogs run by serving police officers and ex-coppers, some of whom run courses for writers." Do you know of any yourself - having difficulty finding courses like the one you mention.
Many thanks!
COMMENT BY LAYLA, SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2016 @ 19:52:40 UTC
RE: Researching police procedure and crime scenes for crime novels
Hi, You could check out the following websites, one is the Crime Writers Association website http://thecwa.co.uk/the-debuts/ where there are articles. Talks and events are also often advertised on there. The other is run by a former detective, Stuart Gibbon who I know is very helpful and runs courses and gives talks http://gibconsultancy.co.uk/crime-writing-consultant/ I hope that helps. Pauline.
COMMENT BY PAULINE ROWSON, SEPTEMBER 5TH, 2016 @ 9:43:09 UTC
RE: Researching police procedure and crime scenes for crime novels
Hi, You could check out the following websites, one is the Crime Writers Association website http://thecwa.co.uk/the-debuts/ where there are articles. Talks and events are also often advertised on there. The other is run by a former detective, Stuart Gibbon who I know is very helpful and runs courses and gives talks http://gibconsultancy.co.uk/crime-writing-consultant/ I hope that helps. Pauline.
COMMENT BY PAULINE ROWSON, SEPTEMBER 5TH, 2016 @ 9:44:17 UTC
RE: Researching police procedure and crime scenes for crime novels
Hi Pauline,
I`ve been reading about police procedures in the UK, but most mention the finding of a body. If this were to be a body part, such as a hand including fingers and up to the elbow would these procedures be the same as a body, or would the police remove the body part and start procedings after that. Thank you, in advance, for your help.
COMMENT BY CHERYL CAMPBELL, FEBRUARY 15TH, 2019 @ 12:44:37 UTC
RE: Researching police procedure and crime scenes for crime novels
Hi Cheryl, They would certainly seal off the area in order to search for more body parts and for any forensic evidence. The scene of crime team would go in, even if it is skeletal remains. I`ve used this is the latest DI Andy Horton novel DEAD PASSAGE, where skeletal remains are found on Rat Island in Portsmouth Harbour. A forensic archaeologist is called in to examine the remains and determine how old they are, but a much more in depth analysis follows in the lab along with laboratory tests to see if more information about the individual is forthcoming. In the case of Rat Island being MOD property the army forensic team were called in to examine the area rather than the police scene of crime team.The scene of the discovery of the parts might not be where the victim was killed, they could have been transported there even so forensic evidence could still be discovered so yes the area would be sealed off. In DI Andy Horton FATAL CATCH a severed hand is found but that is in a plastic container in the sea. Obviously the sea can`t be sealed off and the container having been in the water would probably not show any evidence although the inside might. The hand would be examined by a forensic pathologist if there is still flesh on it who might also consult with forensic archaeologist and others to extract further information. Hope that helps.
COMMENT BY PAULINE ROWSON, FEBRUARY 15TH, 2019 @ 15:33:06 UTC
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