Expert: Neil Wileman - 7/8/2004

Question
Hello!

I'm so happy to find you. I am writing a british police procedural and I also below to a group that reads British mysteries.  

Our group has had  a question for a while now about who is responsible for what in a murder investigation. In one novel we read, the DS was giving out the action items to the DCs without the direction of the DI or Superintendent. The group found this a bit confusing because usually it's the DI rank or above which initiates action items.

Can a DS be the one who does this or is it restricted to a DI rank or higher?

Also, would you mind answering some proceedural questions I have about my novel.

Thanks so much,

Rochelle

Answer
Hi Rochelle,

Usually in a murder enquiry the entire investigation is "managed" by an incident room. There is usually a SIO (Senior Investigating Officer) who heads up the team. This is usually a Detective Superintendent. The enquiry is usually run on a computer system called HOLMES (Home Office Large Major Enquiry System). As evidence and information is input, it generates "actions". These are usually then passed to teams of officers to complete. There would be nothing wrong with these actions being handed out by a Detective Sergeant.

Hope this helps.

I would be glad to offer any assistance with regards to your proceedural guide.

Regards

Neil