Reviewing the situation: practitioner perspectives on the use and effectiveness of 28-day homicide reviews
| Pages | 215-228 |
| Published date | 16 September 2019 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-04-2019-0029 |
| Date | 16 September 2019 |
| Author | Stewart Hill,Martin O’Neill |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
Reviewing the situation: practitioner
perspectives on the use and effectiveness
of 28-day homicide reviews
Stewart Hill and Martin O’Neill
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to report a study of practitioner views on the 28-day homicide
review process.
Design/methodology/approach –The research draws upon primary data from interviews with senior
investigating officers (SIOs) engaged in homicide investigations and review officers tasked with reviewing
homicides unsolved after 28 days.
Findings –The review process was perceived to be meeting the needs of the organization but adding little,
or no direct value to SIOs. Despite this, there was agreement as to the potential value and necessity of the
homicide review process. Issues such as the purpose and process of reviews were considered, with
recommendations providing impetus for the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to review the use of reviewers
commensurate with their expertise, the training and development of reviewers, and the aims, format and
timing of a review.
Research limitations/implications –The study involved the MPS, and its relevance to review processes
elsewhere, whilst likely, is unproven. Further research could identify whether similar issues arise elsewhere,
although the findings of this study could encourage other forces to undertake internal reviews of their own
systems and processes to understand whether improvements could be made. Whilst over a third of the SIOs
and Murder Investigation Team managers took part in the study, a fifth of the review officers were interviewed.
Practical implications –MPS should amend the objectives of a MCR to reflect the role they play in the
prevention of miscarriages of justice. The MPS should conduct a skills analysis of existing staff. Reviewers
should be appointed to cases within their sphere of expertise, and should all be qualified at Professionalising
the Investigative Process (PIP) Level 3. The MPS should consider an arbitration process for contested review
recommendations. The College of Policing should consider a PIP development programme for proactive
SIOs. The College of Policing should review and support SIO continuing professional development
opportunities within the MPS.
Originality/value –The findings are relevant to any police service currently undertaking 28-day reviews of
unsolved homicide investigations.
Keywords Reviews, Policing, Crime, Homicide
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Although many factors contribute to miscarriages of justice (MOJ) (Walker and Starmer, 1999;
Poyser et al., 2018), it is the investigative process that is arguably the most significant and
considered the “golden thread”in generating injustices (Savage and Milne, 2007, p. 613). The
exposure of abuses of authority and power, particularly in high-profile cases has resulted in
repeated criticism of the police (Tong, 2009, p.6) and has been the catalyst for criminal justice
reform (Savage and Milne, 2007, p. 617).
The Yorkshire Ripper Investigation 1975–1981 (Byford, 1981) and the Stephen Lawrence
Investigation 1993 (Macpherson, 1999) are two cases that attracted significant attention from
campaigners and politicians alike (Roycroft et al., 2013). Although public attention had been
Received 11 April 2019
Revised 30 July 2019
Accepted 13 August 2019
Stewart Hill and Martin O’Neill
are both based at the
Department of Law, Criminal
Justice and Policing,
Canterbury Christ Church
University, Canterbury, UK.
DOI 10.1108/JCRPP-04-2019-0029 VOL. 5 NO. 3 2019, pp.215-228, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2056-3841
j
JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH, POLICY AND PRACTICE
j
PAGE215
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