My shift starts at 8am and it’s straight into our team briefing where I’m allocated an investigation.
My suspect is currently in custody, having been arrested for an assault that happened in the town centre last night.
Once I’m back at my desk, I log on the system that I am the Officer in the Case (OIC) and start reading through the detail we have. This includes noting what enquiries have already been completed, what is outstanding and what evidence we have.
My first task involves calling the victim, introducing myself as the OIC and explaining what the next steps are. I go through an updated Victim Needs Assessment with them, ensuring I capture their wishes on how they would like to be updated.
The victim has already provided a statement to officers who attended the incident, so we talk about a Victim Personal Statement, safeguarding and signposting to other agencies.
Being based in the town centre, I know the area well and my next focus is looking for CCTV footage of the alleged incident. If there is good quality CCTV, this may make all the difference in what the suspect says in interview and if they go on to plead guilty.
I’m quickly able to locate the assault and there is clear footage of what takes place, right outside a nightclub. I know there will be further CCTV to get, but the club isn’t open, so that will be an enquiry for when I’m next on a late shift.
My next step is to check the custody log, the suspect has requested a solicitor, so I call them and arrange a time for the interview.
I prepare pre-interview disclosure for the solicitor; a summary of what their client has been arrested of and what evidence I want them to know about before the interview.
When I am in the interview room with the suspect, they provide a “no comment” interview despite the clear CCTV, which is frustrating but unsurprising.
After the interview, the suspect goes back to their cell and I speak with my sergeant about the possibility of a charge and remand as the suspect has previous convictions for assault and skipping court bail.
I spend the rest of the shift building my case file for the Crown Prosecution Service and they come back quickly with a decision – charge and remand!
This means that the suspect is kept in police custody overnight until court in the morning. I update the victim and explain the next steps in the court process.
Another investigation progressed quickly and although I don’t know the outcome of the court case, the victim was really pleased to have seen the suspect dealt with so quickly. It’s this sort of outcome that makes me realise the direct impact I am having on people’s lives every day and why I find the job so rewarding.