Behavioural Investigative Advice in the U.K. - Emerging Issues Adam Gregory, Senior BIA Investigative Psychology Conference South Bank University 15th December 2005

The National Crime and Operations Faculty 2 The National Crime and Operations Faculty Helpdesk Regional Advisors/ CISOs Behavioural Investigative Advisors Geographic Profilers “Experts” Database SCAS Investigation SCAS Contact Officers Physical Evidence Operational Support Section

Behavioural Investigative Advice - A Range of Services: 3 Crime Scene Assessment Predictive Profiling Suspect Priority Matrices Investigative Suggestions Interview / Media Strategy Nominal Pool Generation Veracity Assessment Familial DNA Prioritisation Add Value to Investigation by Supporting SIO Decision Making

How Does a BIA Work? Consultation Reference to Behavioural Databases 4 How Does a BIA Work? Consultation Reference to Behavioural Databases Practitioner Experience Behavioural Investigative Advice Mentoring / Peer Review Relevant Research Ethics

Behavioural Investigative Advisors in the UK – Key Points: 5 Behavioural Investigative Advisors in the UK – Key Points: BIAs are a routine part of serious crime investigations There are 5 full-time NCOF BIAs and 30+ external BIAs BIAs accessed through NCOF HD / RA – Team approach BIAs are not all the same and provide a range of services BIAs should recognize the limitations of their expertise BIAs should integrate their advice into the investigation Advice is intelligence NOT evidence Decision support NOT decision making Experience, theory, consultation, research & DBs All BIAs now work to a set of working practices All BIAs’ work is subject to audit and evaluation Measures introduced by ACPO in April 2001 2001 – ACPO WORKING PRACTICES Areas of Expertise Defined Availability Monitored ‘Minimum’ Commitment Notification of ‘Backdoor’ Requests to NCOF Written Advice Copy of Report to NCOF Helpdesk Consent for Reports to be Evaluated 2001 – ACPO AUDIT AND EVALUATION: Strategic Board – Academic & Senior Officers Reports Audited Annually – Format & Content Terms of Reference Timescales Background/Expertise Limitations Explicit Inferences, Refs. SIO Feedback Form

NCOF BIAs Primary service provider of BIA support in U.K. 6 Primary service provider of BIA support in U.K. Full-time staff – Police and Psychology background Rapid deployment and timely written advice 500+ written reports of behavioural advice to major investigations since 2000 120+ Requests for BIA support in 2005 Multi-disciplinary investigative approach Integration of behav. science with related fields Professional links with FBI and European BIAs Emerging role of ‘behavioural liaison’ In-house training and mentorship program Multi-disciplinary approach: RA, BIA, Clinical Psychologist, Geo, Physical Ev / NID etc Focus on investigation – not psychological interest Integration – BIAs knowledge of related fields: FORENSICS (DNA, LCN, Familial, NDNADB, Palynology, Entomology) PATHOLOGY (Injuries, lividity and post mortem staining), TELEPHONY (cell-site, billing), POLICE SYSTEMS (Regional differences, PNC, QUEST) In-house training – next slide

NCOF BIAs – Training and Mentoring 7 NCOF BIAs – Training and Mentoring Independent Assessment of Core Competencies Seven Competencies Identified Interpersonal & verbal communication skills Personal integrity Writing skills Critical thinking skills Managing the work Familiarity with the techniques of behavioural science as applied to criminal investigations Knowledge of the investigative and legal process “Roadmap of Development” to ACPO Approved Status

Emerging Issues: Continuing professional developments 8 Continuing professional developments Transparency, Academic links, Common goals Common goals - PRESS and “talking heads” Live cases - BIAs and other professionals in the field must acknowledge the needs of the investigation as primary (e.g. media strategy) Live or Solved cases - BIAs and other professionals in the field must be aware of their potential impact on BIA as a professional discipline

PROFILING WAY OFF SCENT IN M25 MANHUNT 9 PROFILING WAY OFF SCENT IN M25 MANHUNT “....the Imiela case breaks all the rules and regulations. There is no pattern. What we are having to do is expand our perceptions and it gets difficult doing profiles. We will have to expand our boundaries.”

Emerging Issues: Continuing professional development 10 Continuing professional development Transparency, Academic links, common goals Revisit behavioural consistency and linkage What cases are we looking at when assessing similarity? Revisit background characteristics Do we only know about criminal criminals? Impact of advancements in forensic techniques What cases are BIAs likely to be faced with? Lateral thinking in offender identification We need to do more than predict offender backgrounds Data, data, data SCAS currently supporting 20+ research projects Impact: Fewer cases? More ‘difficult’ cases – Impact on perceived utility/accuracy of profiling Lower probability of having recent criminal convictions Lateral thinking and the problem of No CRO: North Wales – Library ) Leeds – Taxidermy ) CLINICAL? Data - SCAS Projects: Sex Offenders’ Offending Behaviour and Speech Patterns Action System Analyses of Homicide The Journey to Rape Linking Sexual Assault Fabricated Reporting to Police A Study into the Thematic Verbal Behaviour of Stranger Rapists Escalation of Serial Offending Behavioural Consistency and Development – YOUNGS, D. Exploring the Precautionary Behaviour and the Previous Criminal Careers of Sex Offenders The Sexual Assault of Elderly Females The Criminal History and Demographics in Prostitute Murders An Investigation Exploring the Factors Affecting Eyewitness Accounts

11 Adam Gregory Senior Behavioural Investigative Advisor Adam.Gregory@centrex.pnn.police.uk Questions?