1. SH1988

    SH1988 New Member

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    Uk police procedures

    Discussion in 'Research' started by SH1988, Sep 20, 2015.

    Hey guys,

    Just wondering if anyone can help me with some research:

    - can uniform officers investigate murders

    - how and/or who would call the police to petrol bombings?

    -what are some basic investigatory techniques that police would use

    Thanks guys
     
  2. matwoolf

    matwoolf Banned Contributor

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    Wear a balaclava, find a deserted-looking building. Chuck it and run. Probably some old lady might call cops if her house is on fire.

    They'll all come running - uniformed...eventually SAS will track you down to North Cyprus, Syria. The whole evil apparatus of state on your back for one measly bottle of petrol. At this point it's either the blood-bath stand-off, or possibly turn on your spouse, turn Queen's Evidence: 'She made me do it,' or words to the effect.
     
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  3. SH1988

    SH1988 New Member

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    Not sure any of that answers my questions but ok
     
  4. Tim3232

    Tim3232 Active Member

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    While a lot of writing sites seem to lack any sense of humour I think there are times when it’s out of place – such as the first response to a question from a new member.

    SH – if you’re writing crime you might consider the annual crime writing comp – on the TheCWA.co.uk and from there you will hopefully find the link to the Facebook site for writers who enter the Debut Dagger. You do get writers from the police posting occasionally and they would be able to answer your question. Not that the site is very active.

    In an interview with an author who is an ex-policeman, he or she said what most writers get wrong is the level of formality (much lower in real life) and the turn around on DNA tests.

    You can google as well as anyone else and you will have gained impressions from TV and books.

    I can’t see if you’re UK or elsewhere. I presume there will be differences by country.

    I’m no expert, but would suggest that uniformed officers don’t investigate murders. (If by uniform you mean PC’s.) And even at the Detective Constable level, I would suggest that they are no more than a lowly member of a team.

    Petrol bombings? Anyone can ring 999 same as any crime? Or am I missing the point of your question?

    Basic techniques – everything off TV / books – door to door, forensics, CCTV, traffic cameras, any other witnesses, purchase trails, etc
     
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  5. SH1988

    SH1988 New Member

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    Hi Tim3232,

    Thank you for your reply its a big help :)

    I am based on the UK ans specifically looking to base my story around the Merseyside Police department. My original intention was to look at a fresh faced polic constable and follow his story but given that they would not be heavily involved in my main event I may need to rethink this :)

    When I say "who would call the police" I mean in terms of responding to the crime obviously the fire service would be called but at what point would the police become involved would they automatically respond or would they be notified by the Fire service

    Thank you again for your input and I will certainly look into the TheCWA.co.uk and their competition

    Scott
     
  6. Tim3232

    Tim3232 Active Member

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    No problem. CWA is Crime Writers Association. There is also CRA - Readers. Each has interviews with authors that are some times interesting and useful.

    There was a really good drama on TV not so long back when a copper got involved and committed a murder. He then loitered around the investigation as much as he could but as a beat bobby wasn't really involved with the actual inv.

    Depending on what ambitions you have for your writing it might be worth trying to see what agents are looking for. I suspect police procedural stories will never have their day but are less popular now than they have been. I know 1 or 2 agencies particularly want female crime stories.

    For the CWA comp you need a good synopsis and the 1st 3,000 words. It costs £35 (i think) and you don't win a lot but it is high profile and many short listed entrants go on to be published. This year the dinner at which the Debut Dagger and other awards are presented is being merged back with all the other awards - a much bigger affair.

    I'd be guessing if I suggested what I thought would be the police involvement in a fire. My last story was around an arsonist. I didn't get the police involved until the morning after the fire when it was known that there were deaths. But for me it was when I got my detective on the case - with the fire investigators (and that might never happen for all i know). I suspect that if it was thought that the fire was started with a petrol bomb or similar than the police might be involved at an earlier stage to talk to any possible witnesses - but don't honestly know. Any big fire would get bobbies there directing traffic and keeping people out the way, I suppose. I didn't look at that detail.
     
  7. Shadowfax

    Shadowfax Contributor Contributor

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    You call 999.

    "What service do you require?"

    "Well, some idiot's thrown a petrol-bomb."

    "Yes, which service do you require?"

    "Fire brigade, I suppose."

    Or, maybe the caller includes the police, and the ambulance, if he thinks about it for more than a second.



    But who would throw a petrol-bomb? It's the sort of thing you'd do if you were trying to crank things up at a civil disturbance, where I'd expect the police to be already in attendance.
     
  8. Tim3232

    Tim3232 Active Member

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    Jeez - people on this site really aren't being very friendly are they? Give him some slack. In his mind he might have had a petrol bomb thrown at night, when no one has seen the action. There's now a fire that someone has reported - and what he might be asking is do the police get involved automatically or would the FB call them.

    The writer knows it's a petrol bomb - we don't know who else knows.

    Can't say I'd be encouraged to ask a question on here.

    The last one i responded to was after a member had complained about the topic keep coming up.

    Way to encourage new writers.
     
  9. SH1988

    SH1988 New Member

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    I suppose then Shadowfax to give it some context the petrol bomb is used a diversion to cover up how a victim was REALLY killed my thought is that should I house be attacked by way of a petrol bomb then and bodies are found then there would be the assumption to right it off that the fire caused the death not something else.

    I'm fully aware of how someone would notify the police/FB as a member of the public what I am more interested in is the inter-service communication around such an event.

    Tim again thank you mate its been a big help and gives me a few more things to think about :)
     
  10. Tim3232

    Tim3232 Active Member

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    Hello again,

    don't know if this is any good to you - http://www.firesafe.org.uk/fire-investigation/ or this http://aboutforensics.co.uk/fire-investigation/
    Another link I have isn't working now (but i recall that petrol as an accelerant is easily detected)

    Over on NanoWrimo a couple of years ago someone from a CSI unit (or something like that) said she would answer any questions she could. People asked all sorts - some out of her field. I took a copy but didn't back it up and lost it all..

    I think (but more from TV) that a post mortem would be called to identify the cause of the death (or try to) regardless of the fire.
    If you look up when PM's are carried out - i think they would be for bodies in a fire.
     
  11. Tim3232

    Tim3232 Active Member

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    SH1988 likes this.
  12. SH1988

    SH1988 New Member

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    Wow how freaky
     
  13. Midge23

    Midge23 Active Member

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    I work in the UK emergency services. If you have a residential (or really any) property on fire, it is a 'persons reported' until known otherwise. This means that it is assumed that people are inside and all three emergency service's (Police, Fire, Ambulance) will send a response. It doesn't matter which service is notified first - we all talk to each other.

    Murder investigations are lead by non-uniformed officers - uniformed officers are used for door-knocking for witnesses and securing the crime scene etc.

    The Fire Brigade investigate the cause of fires (specialised unit that attends scene - they do not fight fires). They will tell the police what they believe was the cause of the fire.

    You would need to know the signs of a 'petrol bombing' so your fire investigators can discover it and tell your police.
     
  14. SH1988

    SH1988 New Member

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    Midge that's great and a huge help thank you
     
  15. Shadowfax

    Shadowfax Contributor Contributor

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    In the UK, a post mortem would automatically be carried out in the event of an "unanticipated death".

    As in, if your doctor could certify your death because you'd been suffering from cancer (e.g.) for some time, and he could comfortably ascribe your death to that , it would be anticipated. If you were found one morning by your wife, and you were fine when she went to bed, there would be a P.M.
     
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