Criminal Investigation Techniques Training Course

Participants can secure scenes, recover exhibits and document evidence continuity.

• Golden-hour actions protect life, preserve evidence, and secure scenes
• Establishing cordons, entry logs, scene control, and contamination prevention
• Systematic scene searches using grid, line, zone, and spiral patterns
• Photography, notes, sketches, measurements, and exhibit locations documented accurately
• Packaging biological, trace, digital, and physical evidence appropriately
• Continuity records demonstrate exhibit integrity from recovery through presentation

Participants can assess evidential value and manage material for fair disclosure.

• Chain of custody requirements for exhibits, samples, and digital media
• Applying relevance, reliability, admissibility, and probative-value tests to evidence
• Disclosure schedules distinguish used material, unused material, and sensitive material
• Identifying exculpatory material and recording disclosure decisions promptly
• Evidence matrices link each element of offence to supporting material
• Prosecutor consultation tests evidential gaps, charging thresholds, and further enquiries

Participants can plan and conduct fair witness interviews that produce reliable accounts.

• Cognitive interview principles improve accurate recall without contaminating accounts
• Preparing witness interviews through objectives, topic plans, and available evidence
• Building rapport while maintaining professional boundaries and procedural fairness
• Using open questions, TED prompts, and appropriate clarification techniques
• Managing vulnerable witnesses, interpreters, intermediaries, and special measures
• Statement structure separates observation, recollection, interpretation, and hearsay

Participants can prepare lawful suspect interviews using a structured, evidence-led approach.

• PEACE interview planning identifies objectives, evidence, legal safeguards, and contingencies
• Rights cautions, access to counsel, and custody records protected
• Rapport, account, challenge, and closure stages applied lawfully
• Strategic disclosure tests accounts without revealing unnecessary investigative detail
• Question sequences distinguish admissions, denials, explanations, and verifiable leads
• Interview recordings, notes, and exhibits prepared for later scrutiny

Participants can convert intelligence into tested hypotheses and targeted investigative action.

• Intelligence requirements convert case hypotheses into targeted collection tasks
• Source evaluation uses the 4x4 intelligence grading system consistently
• Analysis of competing hypotheses tests alternative explanations and confirmation bias
• Link analysis charts associations, communications, transactions, and event sequences
• Timelines expose opportunity, alibi, sequence, and unexplained activity
• Handling codes protect sensitive intelligence, sources, and dissemination controls

Participants can preserve, assess and document digital evidence for investigation and disclosure.

• Digital evidence triage identifies devices, accounts, platforms, and preservation needs
• Lawful preservation requests prevent deletion of volatile electronic records
• Hash values verify forensic copies and detect unintended file alteration
• Metadata, logs, geolocation, and timestamps require contextual interpretation
• Social media enquiries preserve provenance, capture method, and access dates
• Working with forensic specialists defines questions, timescales, and disclosure duties

Participants can analyse financial records to identify criminal benefit, control and asset movement.

• Financial investigation follows money flows, assets, beneficiaries, and control points
• Bank records reconciled against timelines, communications, invoices, and known events
• Source and application of funds analyses identify unexplained transactions
• Beneficial ownership enquiries distinguish nominees, controllers, signatories, and asset holders
• Transaction charts reveal layering, structuring, related parties, and cash movement
• Asset restraint referrals consider evidential thresholds, proportionality, and dissipation risk

Participants can control investigative actions, review case direction and prepare a clear case file.

• Major incident room principles organise actions, documents, exhibits, and decisions
• Action registers assign ownership, deadlines, review dates, and auditable outcomes
• Disclosure management plans schedule review, retention, redaction, and certification
• Case theory reviews redirect enquiries when evidence contradicts working assumptions
• Briefing prosecutors presents facts, legal elements, evidence, and outstanding risks
• Preparing witnesses and exhibits supports clear, accurate court presentation

Participants can identify ethical risks, reduce bias and strengthen accountability in investigations.

• Investigative ethics balance effectiveness, legality, necessity, and proportionality
• Bias interruption techniques challenge tunnel vision and premature case closure
• Supervisory reviews test decision quality, welfare, risk, and resource allocation
• Learning reviews identify procedural failures, evidential weaknesses, and corrective actions
• Personal application plans specify three workplace improvements and review dates
• Professional records demonstrate accountability to courts, oversight bodies, and communities