Evidence needed to mark some a suspect
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.039567
I note you seek access to the following information:
What makes someone get marked as a suspect of a crime and what is included within the suspect category
To try to clarify, I am interested in what sort of evidence is needed to get someone put under as a suspect for a crime
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
What makes someone get marked as a suspect of a crime and what is included within the suspect category
To try to clarify, I am interested in what sort of evidence is needed to get someone put under as a suspect for a crime
To be recorded as a suspect of crime on police indices – the MPS use the CONNECT system – an allegation of crime must be made against an individual, or they may become suspected of being involved in an incident during the course of an investigation.
The MPS has a Crime Recording and Outcome Policy which is underpinned by the Home Office Counting Rules. This essentially stipulates that when police receive an allegation of crime, it must be recorded at the earliest, practicable opportunity, even if there is an initial lack of proof to support the allegation. This MPS takes a victim focused approach to crime recording, to ensure those coming forward to report crimes will be treated with empathy and their allegations taken seriously. Police, therefore, “will believe a victim such that we record the crime allegation. From that point we will investigate impartially and with an open mind to establish the facts” (MPS Crime Recording and Outcome Policy).
Therefore, if someone alleges a crime against an individual, the report will be taken, recorded on CONNECT, and that named person entered as a suspect. However, being named and recorded as a suspect is just that; a suspicion of involvement. Any investigation which follows is then taken forward with an open mind to establish the facts, and “the role of an investigator is to gather all relevant evidence which either proves or disproves a person’s involvement in an alleged offence” (MPS General Investigation Policy).
There are caveats to this; where credible evidence exists that negates the allegation that a crime actually occurred, an officer can make auditable record of the decision and justification as to why they will not be recording a crime. If there is no crime recorded, then there is no suspect recorded also. For instance, if an allegation was made against a deceased American celebrity that they had contemporaneously committed a petty theft in London, the initial investigating officer would likely decide not to record a crime, or that named individual as a suspect. Similarly, if an allegation was made at the scene of a crime against an individual, but a number of independent witnesses confirmed they were not involved, they may not be recorded as a suspect at that point in time.
However, the named person may still be recorded as a suspect on police indices, but quickly eliminated from being under suspicion. A named or identified suspect can be eliminated from an investigation if it is established that the identified suspect did not commit the offence (i.e. forensic results, confirmed alibi or description), or evidence which establishes the suspect’s guilt cannot be found and further investigation into that suspect’s involvement is no longer pursued (MPS General Investigation Policy).