After a crime is reported to the police, an investigation starts. This involves gathering as much evidence as possible about the incident, including speaking to people who were involved and examining the scene. It also involves obtaining physical evidence like blood samples, fibres and fingerprints which will be sent to a lab for analysis.
A specialist investigator will be assigned to a case, often one with expertise in more serious crimes like murder or cybercrime. They will visit the crime scene to observe it in detail, looking for things like weapons, bloodstains, footprints and other clues that could identify a suspect (if one hasn’t already been caught). The physical evidence is collected and documented and properly stored.
Interviews with witnesses and victims are conducted to gather statements about what happened, and can include video recordings if appropriate. These will be transcribed for future reference. Detectives are expert interrogators and know how to get a confession. They are allowed to use their powers of persuasion, but they are also bound by the law to respect a person’s rights.
When the investigation is complete, it will be sent to prosecutors who will decide whether to file criminal charges. The prosecutors will base their decision on the evidence presented and what they believe to be the likelihood of success at trial. The defence will then have the opportunity to challenge that evidence in court.
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