INVESTIGATING SKILLS IN MODERN LIFE Whether you‘re investigating a crime, accident, a person or an organisation, investigation
skills are an essential part of our day-to-day lives. Because here at Skills Platform, we
recognise that we have all:
1.
Been lied to or been told contradictory information. 2.
Faced difficult decisions we cannot choose between. 3.
Had to place blame or accountability on one individual. Or
4.
Have experienced a conflict that needs resolving fairly. Investigation skills are also vital in our work environments. Whether you‘re a detective,
doctor, or working in recruitment, interviewing potential candidates – you are bound to
face these challenges. When that happens, you need the ability to gather and analyse
relevant information in order to discover the truth or help make an informed decision on
how to proceed.
What are investigation skills? Investigators are hired to gather information and use the data available to them to
discover the truth (or the culprit). But knowing how to use that information is key.
Nicky Smith and Conor Flanagan (of the Home Office and Reducing Crime Unit,) define
―investigative ability‖ as that which requires the skills to assimilate (to learn and
comprehend), assess and prioritise incoming information, and draw inferences from that
information that will inform a line of enquiry. The aim being to gain further relevant
(more detailed or valuable) knowledge on the matter.
In short, investigators use various investigative techniques to gather information and then
use their critical judgement to aid them in prioritising what is relevant and what isn‘t
when contradictory data or multiple lines of enquiry arise.
The police force According to Gary Shaw of the Northumbria Police Department, what‘s remained
constant in the Police Force over the last 50 years is the need for an investigative and
inquisitive mindset.
Whether they‘re investigating thefts, assaults, fraud or road collisions, detectives are
encouraged to exhaust as many pipelines as possible. Nevertheless, there are six
investigative techniques police usually start with: obtaining relevant documents and
performing background checks on suspects; physical and electronic surveillance; use of
informants; undercover operations; conducting interviews and interrogation tactics, and
laboratory analysis of physical evidence (actually performed by a forensic scientist).
The more obscure the crime, the harder it is to solve, and sometimes the most serious
crimes are the hardest to prosecute because the punishment is so severe. Thus it takes a
higher level professional to investigate such crimes, in which The Senior Investigating
Officer (SIO) plays a pivotal role. Concerns have been expressed, however, that there is a
shortage of investigators with the appropriate qualities to perform this role effectively.
