How to research police procedures and crime scene investigation

So where do I get the police procedural information 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 CSI Portsmouth, CSI Southampton, CSI Winchester, CSI Basingstoke where I have brought together crime authors, police and crime experts to debate crime fiction and crime fact. By doing this I have met many forensic experts who provide me with a wealth of information. Nothing is planned at present on this front but if a new event is organized it will be posted here on my website.Crime and police advisers for writers
Stuart Gibbon is one former detective who provides advice/talks and courses @gibconsultancy. Another is Graham Bartlett @gbpoliceadvisor who has an ever-expanding bank of experts. You can check out his website. He also runs online courses with @Profwriting profwritingacademy.com/police-advisor. There is also @ConsultingCops All of these and information about their services and talks can be found on Twitter.
Consulting Cops for Writers
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. 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, as in my 1950 set mysteries featuring Scotland Yard detective, Inspector Alun Ryga, who is sent to the coast to investigate baffling coastal crimes in DEATH IN THE COVE, DEATH IN THE HARBOUR and DEATH IN THE NETS. In an historical crime novel I don't have to wrestle with the fact that the names of the police departments change. In addition, the red tape that today surrounds serving police officers today was then practically non existent. The challenge though is to get the procedure for that period 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.
JANUARY 12TH, 2019 @ 5:30:33 GMT
Comments
RE: How to research police procedures and crime scene investigation
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 GMT
RE: How to research police procedures and crime scene investigation
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 GMT
RE: How to research police procedures and crime scene investigation
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 @ 20:52:40 BST
RE: How to research police procedures and crime scene investigation
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 @ 10:43:09 BST
RE: How to research police procedures and crime scene investigation
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 @ 10:44:17 BST
RE: How to research police procedures and crime scene investigation
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 GMT
RE: How to research police procedures and crime scene investigation
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 GMT
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