Behavioural Investigative Advice in the U.K. Emerging Issues

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Behavioural Investigative Advice in the U.K. -
Emerging Issues

• Adam Gregory, Senior BIA
• Investigative Psychology Conference
• South Bank University
• 15th December 2005

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The National Crime and Operations Faculty
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Operational Support Section
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Behavioural Investigative Advice - A Range of
Services
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• 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
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How Does a BIA Work?
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Consultation
Reference to Behavioural Databases
Practitioner Experience
Behavioural Investigative Advice
Mentoring / Peer Review
Relevant Research
Ethics
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Behavioural Investigative Advisors in the UK
Key Points
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• 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

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NCOF BIAs
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• 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

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NCOF BIAs Training and Mentoring
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• 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

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Emerging Issues
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• Continuing professional developments
• Transparency, Academic links, Common goals

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PROFILING WAY OFF SCENT IN M25 MANHUNT
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• ....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.

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Emerging Issues
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• 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

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Adam GregorySenior Behavioural Investigative
AdvisorAdam.Gregory_at_centrex.pnn.police.uk
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• Questions?