Policy P9 - Investigation

The Authorised Professional Practice (APP) has been approved by the College of Policing as the official and most up-to-date source of professional practice on policing. South Yorkshire Police have adopted APP as their Statement of Agreed Policy. This is the agreed policy on Investigation and you may wish to refer to the APP section now.

 

This policy enables the Senior Leadership Team of South Yorkshire Police, and the communities the force serves, to be confident all investigations have a consistent approach focusing on the needs of the victim, to achieve the most appropriate outcome.

South Yorkshire Police conducts a variety of investigations at all levels, ranging from volume offences, to the most serious and complex offences. Each investigation should be proportionate to the needs of the victim, crime type and circumstances surrounding it. 

This policy sets out how an investigation commences and is allocated, how it is managed and by who, and provides expectations of when the investigation will be reviewed and finalised.

 

This policy applies to all investigators and investigation managers within districts and is of relevance to police officers and police staff undertaking all types of investigations.

 

The principles of the policy are to maintain a consistent approach by South Yorkshire Police to the recording and investigating of crime, including those involving vulnerable or intimidated witnesses, whilst ensuring the investigation is tailored to the individual needs of the victim.

The policy will embed the priorities of South Yorkshire Police

• Preventing crime and disorder

• Responding to the needs of the victims and communities

• Focusing on those who cause the most harm

 

• Force Crime Registrar: Final arbiter on NCRS and HOCR interpretation; oversees audit and compliance.

• Force Crime Bureau (FCB): Responsible for initial crime recording, quality assurance and allocation/filing assessments.

• Crime Support Hub (CSH): Conducts desktop investigations and triages based on solvability factors

• Detective Chief Inspectors: Ensure accuracy of recording and integrity of investigations within their areas.

 

All officers and staff

• Must comply with NCRS and HOCR, supporting data accuracy and accurate record the crime.

• Are responsible for completing and recording the INVA.

• Must record vulnerability and repeat victimisation.

• Maintain accurate and timely updates on the crime management system.

Staff and Officers are encouraged to contact the Audit and Governance Unit for any advice on HOCR, reclassifications or cancellations.

 

A report may be made about a crime or incident in several ways including online or to a call handler, to front counter staff, or to an officer or police community support officer (PCSO) on patrol.

The Home Office Crime Recording Rules states that, when making a complaint, victims should be believed for the purposes of recording a crime, unless it is clear at that point that the incident did not happen.

 

The person taking the initial report will need to carry out investigative actions to establish what has happened, what further police actions might be necessary and the urgency for those actions. Even when a person has very limited investigative responsibility, the first actions will help to set the pace and direction of the investigation. They must do the following.

Gather as much information as possible, for example:

• who is involved (victims, witnesses and suspects), including accurate descriptions

• what has happened

• where it has happened

• when it happened and whether the suspect is still at the scene

• why and how the incident has happened, although the latter points may be unclear at this stage

• Undertake an initial assessment of risk or harm including an initial victim’s needs assessment and THRIVE (threat, harm, risk, investigation, vulnerability and engagement), or ensure immediate safeguarding activity is instigated if required.

• Take particular care where a child is involved, ensuring voice of a child is referred to.

• Identify witnesses and provide advice to secure any immediate evidence that might otherwise be lost.

• Undertake relevant intelligence checks to identify repeat victims or suspects. Consider course of conduct offending – for example, domestic abuse, coercive control or harassment.

• Ensure that the report is properly recorded.

• Notify a supervisor and/or take advice if required.

Consider proportionate next steps, such as:

• deploying a resource

• referring for further investigation/allocation (creating a crime report)

• referring to intelligence systems or partner agency

• no further action (NFA)

 

The police response to an incident should be proportionate and appropriate. Early attendance may help to secure material that might be lost to the investigation if attendance is delayed. However, attendance may not be appropriate in every case.

All staff who engage with victims and witnesses have an investigative responsibility to gather material and to secure and preserve evidence. 

The first attending officer should:

• Obtain initial accounts from all victims and witnesses at the scene where possible.

• Provide reassurance and advice to those involved, including identifying vulnerability, managing risk and instigating safeguarding procedures where necessary and appropriate 

First attending officers must also take effective steps to;

• Preserve life

• Preserve scenes

• Secure evidence

• Identify victims and witnesses

• Identify and where appropriate arrest suspects

 

Fast Track Actions

Fast track actions are defined as: ‘Any investigative actions which, if pursued immediately, are likely to establish important facts, preserve evidence or lead to the early resolution of the investigation'.

Material in the form of witness accounts, forensic evidence and articles associated with the crime may be readily available if prompt action is taken to gather them. Whether the crime has been recently committed or not, it is important that every chance to gather material is taken at the first opportunity.

Attending police officers and police staff are responsible for all reports involving vulnerable or intimidated witnesses, liaising with Safeguarding/ CID regarding their suitability for Section 28 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999

 

Crime allocation is a critical step in ensuring that investigations are conducted by the most appropriate and capable resource. While full procedural guidance is contained within Pi9.12 – Crime Allocation Instruction, this section outlines the core principles and best practice expectations.

Allocation decisions must be based on

• Victim vulnerability

• Crime complexity

• Solvability factors

• Crime allocation policy

The Force Crime Bureau (FCB) is responsible for recording crimes in line with NCRS and HOCR, and allocation as per local procedural instruction.

The Crime Support Hub (CSH) is responsible for conducting desktop investigations. The crime at this stage may either be;

• Continued by CSH (i.e. desktop enquiries)

  • Filed

  • Allocated for secondary investigation.

If the investigation is being allocated for secondary investigation, an investigation plan must be completed and adhered to.

Should the investigation be filed, the finalisation process should be followed.  

 

Reasonable Lines of Enquiry and proportionality

Reasonable Lines of Enquiry (RLOE) are investigative steps that are both reasonable and proportionate to pursue in order to gather evidence that could identify a suspect or clarify the circumstances of an offence. Under the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 and the College of Policing APP, investigators must follow all reasonable lines of enquiry, whether they point towards or away from a suspect.

What is considered reasonable depends on the seriousness of the offence, available resources, and the potential evidential value.

This approach ensures impartiality, compliance with legal standards, and public confidence by demonstrating that investigations are thorough and victim focused.

Investigators must consider proportionality on a case by case basis, recognising that what is proportionate, will vary depending on factors such as the gravity of the allegation, vulnerability of those involved, complexity of the evidence, and the potential impact of further enquiries, on victims, witnesses and third parties.

Decisions to pursue or not pursue particular lines of enquiry, must be actively considered, clearly recorded and capable of later scrutiny.

Supervisors are responsible for testing proportionality through early and ongoing review, ensuring that investigations are neither under investigation, nor unnecessarily expanded.

 

South Yorkshire Police will ensure that all investigations are subject to structured, proportionate, and timely supervisory oversight. This is essential to maintain investigative quality, safeguard victims, and ensure compliance with national standards.

 

Supervisory Review timescales (Sergeant and Police Staff Supervisors)

An initial review must take place within 7 days of an Investigation Plan being created by the OIC. If the plan has been created by the PS/Supervisor, a review can be conducted at 31 days after that plan being set.

 

This ensures the first supervisory review occurs at the earliest opportunity to

• Review actions taken.

• Confirm victim support and safeguarding.

• Approve or create an investigation plan.

• Review the investigator’s caseload.

• Set a date for further review.

 

During the period of time the investigation is active the supervisor must conduct a review every 28 days. The review should consider the following.

 

• Victim updates are completed in line with the Victims’ Code (within 1 working day for enhanced rights; 5 days otherwise).

• Investigation plans are live, proportionate, and updated in response to new information or developments.

• Safeguarding, disclosure, and file quality are actively monitored and addressed.

• Where appropriate, supervisors must escalate concerns regarding investigative delays, resource gaps, or risk.

 

Supervisory Review (Inspector and Police Staff Equivalent)

Inspectors and Police Staff equivalents are expected to dip sample investigations on a monthly basis via the Investigation Quality Review (IQR) app.

 

These reviews provide assurance of the supervisory quality and that investigations are progressing to the required standard. They should consider victim engagement and safeguarding, suspect management, investigation quality, governance, and compliance with force investigation standards.

 

Supervisors should use reviews to identify and promote good practice, provide constructive feedback and direction to investigators, and address areas requiring improvement. Reviews should support organisational learning, reinforce the principles of effective investigation, and ensure victims receive a professional service throughout the investigation.

 

Responsibility for the oversight and management of investigations remains with Inspectors and Police Staff equivalents. The IQR process is intended to complement, not replace, ongoing supervisory reviews. Supervisors should apply Threat, Risk and Harm principles to determine which investigations require review and ensure appropriate oversight is maintained throughout the lifecycle of the investigation. This risk-based approach provides flexibility to focus supervisory activity where it is most needed, rather than requiring every investigation to be reviewed.

 

 

The finalisation of an investigation must be lawful, proportionate, and clearly documented. South Yorkshire Police will ensure that all crime outcomes are applied in accordance with the Home Office Counting Rules (HOCR), the National Crime Recording Standards (NCRS), and the Code for Crown Prosecutors.

 

Finalisation Principles

Investigations must only be finalised when they are complete, and the crime filing checklist is filled in, in line with the outcome guide. The checklist is then uploaded to the investigation for a Sergeant/Supervisor to review.

 

Outcome Codes and Authorisation

Outcome codes must be applied in line with HOCR guidance.

All finalisations must be auditable and capable of withstanding scrutiny.

 

Victim Notification

Victims must be informed of the outcome of the investigation and the rationale behind it.

Where applicable, victims must be informed of their right to request a review under the Victims’ Right to Review (VRR) scheme.

All contact must be recorded and reflected in the Victim Contract.

 

Sergeants, Supervisors

Sergeants/supervisors should review the investigation, complete a Sergeant/Supervisors Crime Filing Checklist and attach this to the investigation prior to being submitted for closure as per the outcome guides.

The finalisation of investigations outcome 15 or 16 for rape or high risk domestic abuse require an inspector or police staff equivalent rationale and authorisation prior to filing.

 

South Yorkshire Police is committed to continuous improvement in investigative standards, victim care, and organisational learning. Governance of the investigative process is delivered through structured oversight, audit, and feedback mechanisms.

 

​Equality Act 2010

The Act creates a statutory requirement for all Functions and Policies (Including Procedural Instructions) to be analysed for their effect on equality, diversity and human rights, with due regard to the General Equality Duty.

In principle, this document has been assessed for discrimination, which cannot be justified, among other diverse groups.

The Code of Ethics published in 2014 and revised in 2024 by the College of Policing requires us all to do the right thing in the right way. 

The 2024 Code of Ethics is not a statutory Code of Practice, it has the same status as other guidance produced by the College. The Code of Ethics is supported by the Code of Practice for Ethical Policing. This is a statutory Code of Practice which provides chief officers with direction on promoting and supporting ethical and professional behaviour within their forces.

The purpose of providing policy is to give an indication to staff of the expected course of action.  However it is not possible to cater for every possible combination of factors that would justify a departure from stated policy.  The Human Rights Act 1998 requires the proper use of discretion at all times and nothing within this policy and associated procedural instructions prohibits the proper use of discretion in appropriate circumstances.

Where action is taken that has the potential to interfere with an individual's Human Rights, the reasons behind the making of the decision to act in that way should be recorded on the appropriate forms, or where this is not practicable, in pocket books or policy logs.

Anyone who feels that a member of staff has behaved incorrectly or unfairly, or who is dissatisfied with organisational matters, service delivery or other operational policing issues, has the right to make a complaint.

Initial action should be taken in one of the following ways:

• Complain in writing or in person to the Senior Officer at the appropriate police station or to the Chief Constable of the force concerned.

• Visit a local Citizens' Advice Bureau

• Contact a Solicitor

South Yorkshire Police personnel who feel they have grounds for concern in relation to the implementation of policies may, as appropriate:

• Pursue concerns through their line manager.

• Pursue a grievance formally through the South Yorkshire Police Grievance Resolution Procedure.

• Seek advice from their staff association or trades union.

Use procedural instruction Pi23.11 - Management of Complaints, in the section entitled Handling Complaints relating to Direction and Control.