Recent Research into the Psychologist and Police Working Cooperatively on Serious Crimes
| Author | L.F. Lowenstein |
| Published date | 01 November 2001 |
| Date | 01 November 2001 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X0107400409 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
DR
L.F.
LOWENSTEIN
Psychologist, Director
of
Allington Manor Psychological
Services, Southern England
RECENT RESEARCH INTO THE
PSYCHOLOGIST AND POLICE
WORKING COOPERATIVELY ON
SERIOUS CRIMES
A. Introduction
There has been increasing research into the effectiveness of the collab-
oration between the police and forensic experts. We will concern our-
selves only with the working link between psychologists and the police.
The National Crime Faculty, Bramshill, has currently adopted the term
'Behaviour Investigative Advisor' for the less useful previous term
'Psychological Profiler'.
Recent research into the collaboration will be considered through
the work of one psychologist as will the value of psychological
profiling. The types of offenders and how they may be identified and
the importance of the crime scene will also be given attention as well as
the suspect's distance of residence from the crime scene.
B. Recent Research
The Relationship Between the Police and Psychological Expert
Recent research into the above indicates that the relationship between
the police and a variety of forensic experts has increased over time.
Ainsworth (1995) considered that psychology can make a valuable
contribution to both the understanding of police work and the training
of police officers. Examined were police-citizen encounters suggesting
ways in which these might be improved and the way in which the
police deal with witnesses, suspects and victims. Recent innovations
such as cognitive interview techniques and offender profiling are pro-
vided as examples of how psychology can help police officers in their
day-to-day work. The selection and training of police officers is also
considered, together with the psychological effect of different training
regimes.
Irving (1996) considers police stress caused by the type of work
they have to do and how the psychologist may be involved in dealing
with this aspect. There are, of course, ethical and methodological issues
to safeguard the ongoing collaboration of police and clinicians. At
present it is violent crimes that receive the greatest attention from
psychological experts (Holmes & Holmes, 1996). This has led to a
greater number of psychologists entering the forensic area after having
become behavioural scientists. The object is to help law-enforcement
The Police Journal. Volume 74 (2001) 343
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