Specialist Departments

With serious investigations where the lives of people are at risk specialist departments such as the major crime squad will often become involved, an investigation such as the abduction of a child. Some of the roles and responsibilities of specialist units and departments within the criminal investigation are developing the investigation plan these are better suited for developing an appropriate investigation plan to move the investigation into a major crime forward as they are specialised in the area and usually know what to do and how to do it. If the specialist department is involved they will take over the investigation as they outrank the detective, they will usually be in charge of the case until its solved. The specialist departments will attempt to gain as much information about a crime as possible to allow them to identify any possible suspects or persons of interest. The specialist departments will carry out the investigation; the investigation plan, setting up an incident room, investigating leads, researching and analysing intelligence systems, gathering and analysing facts, identifying patterns and links, process of elimination and ethical considerations, they will carry these out until the case is over.

In the case of Christine Jessop the York Police Force didn't contact the specialist units as the York Police haven't got any specialist units, it would have been helpful if they did have the specials because this would have meant the case could have possibly been resolved sooner. Without specials the detectives had to stay in charge of responsibilities.

The incident depends on what type of specials is involved, for example a bomb squad would not be involved in a kidnapping they would be involved in, for example, a suspected terrorist attack. The specials are really important in major cases as they can push the case through and help it succeed as long as the correct special is involved in the case.