Police officers have developed a peculiar language of their own – a lexicon of buzzwords which reduce the most complex technical terms to snappy and easily understood abbreviations and express many aspects of police work and culture in rhyming slang. This book is intended as a reference work for writers of crime fiction, forensic scientists and legal journalists and is also an entertaining and amusing book in its own right. Arranged in alphabetical order, the words and phrases in this dictionary include prison slang, street names for controlled drugs and operational policing terms. There is also a thematic index with entries listed under broad subject headings and a list of recommended reading.

Buy it

This book is an indispensable guide to the technicalities of police organization and the day-to-day working of officers in the fields of crime detection. Due to the previous lack of relevant information, crime writers have, in the past, struggled to produce strictly accurate details surrounding police procedure - endeavouring to overcome the problem by presenting all successful detection as the work of maverick individualists who have scant regard for rules or convention. Today's readers, however, are more discerning and want to see the modern detective portrayed as a member of a highly organized team, required to work within the law's confines, and adhering to rules laid down to maintain the balance between punishment of the guilty and protection for the innocent. Investigative techniques are as varied as the methods used to commit crime, and a detective's resourcefulness in soliciting professional assistance in his quest for a solution often seems limitless. The author attempts to illustrate the routine, methodical and analytical manner in which a detective approaches their work, using a pyramidal process of deduction. Cole relates a series of absorbing crime scenarios that include the majority of tried and tested methods. This book will be of immense value to those who wish to write authentically about crime detection and will also appeal to anyone who wants to know more about the way the police work.

Buy it

Criminal investigations are all based on the search for truth - from the first field interview by the officer on the street, to the interrogation of a suspect by a detective, to the questioning of a witness during a trial. What really happened? Who committed the crime? Who is telling the truth? This book shows how to find the answers to these questions with a high degree of accuracy. The editors present a straightforward method for interviewing witnesses and victims and accurately identifying them as truthful or untruthful. Instead of relying on intuition or a 'gut feeling', the reader will learn how to use four types of question, and apply accurate assessments of non-verbal behaviour and unwitting verbal clues. The text provides complete instructions for using the authors' Integrated Interrogation technique, a 10-point, highly successful approach to obtaining confessions that can stand up in court. It also discusses the advantages and disadvantages of recording an interview or interrogation, including a look at the current legal issues of this practice. The chapters are highly illustrated and include several model worksheets and documents.

Buy it

Described by the author as “101+ things about the law, police and crime that you never knew you needed to know”, this book is an alphabetical collection of policing terms and criminals with a brief explanation of each. It is aimed at police officers and those working in associated industries. As an illustration of the book’s coverage, the first few terms are the A6 murder, Aberfan, Acid House Parties, Dr Bodkin Adams, Sweet Fanny Adams, Advanced Fee Fraud and Agent Provocateur. The contents lists over 400 terms, many of which are cross-referenced and there is also a bibliography at the back.

Buy it

This American book is part of the CRC series entitled 'Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigation'. The topic is the investigation of violent crime and criminal behaviour and the third edition has been expanded to the level of an encyclopaedia of death investigation. This text will be essential to students of criminal justice and policing. Chapters 1 to 8 define all aspects of the initial investigation on scene. Chapters 9 to 22 focus on special procedures and techniques that must also be considered in a major crime investigation. This book has a large number of good quality photographs taken at crime scenes. The DNA section has been revised and updated for this edition, as have the chapters on staged crime scenes, sex-related homicides, investigation assessments and identification of suspects.

Buy it

McBride and Collins are, respectively, a serving inspector and sergeant, and have inside knowledge of current trends and pre-occupations in the service. The first part of the book covers police history, structure, investigation methods, specialist operations and training. They also cover issues such as performance culture and best value, racially motivated incidents and community safety. The second half is devoted mostly to force statistics taken from published sources and brief guides to police vehicles and helicopters. The book is very useful for those outside the service such as government officials, journalists, researchers and members of agencies working with the police.

Written by a law enforcement professional, this book examines the workings of organised criminals and criminal groups that transcend national boundaries. Discussions include methods used by criminal groups to internationally launder money, law enforcement efforts to counteract such schemes, and new methods and tactics to counteract transnational money laundering. The author examines the "Big Six" transnational criminal organisations and terrorist organisations and the strategic alliances among them, and covers the mechanics of money laundering, cyberbanking and the financial institutions used to launder the profits of illicit activity.

Buy it