The practice of crime linkage

• Main Author: Davies, Kari
• Published: University of Birmingham 2018
• Subjects: BF Psychology
• Online Access: https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.753060

The aim of this thesis was to conduct research into the practice of crime linkage. A literature review was conducted in Chapter 1, finding that the process of crime linkage has started to be explored, although there is scope for much more research in this area. Similarly, while work has been started into crime linkage efficacy and the effect of computerised tools on the process, further work is required. Chapter 2 responded to a 2009 evaluation by Professor Margot of the University of Lausanne about the use of the Violent Crime Linkage Analysis System (ViCLAS). It highlighted a number of issues with the evaluation, but also noted that evaluation of ViCLAS is necessary and requires further exploration. Chapter 3 addressed some of the research gaps highlighted in Chapter 1 by exploring the process of comparative case analysis (CCA), conducted by analysts at the Serious Crime Analysis Section (SCAS). The process was mapped, and the analysts’ decision making processes were discussed in detail, including the behaviours they found useful when linking crimes, the types of searches they conducted, how they decided whether cases were linked, and whether there was any academic research which assisted them. Finally, Chapter 4 aimed to fill some of the research gaps identified in both Chapters 1 and 2 by investigating the interrater reliability coding of ViCLAS in Belgium. Despite improvements to coding uniformity compared to previous research, there is still room for improvement, and the reasons for the associated difficulties of coding was discussed.