Geoff Dean

Police reform: Rethinking operational policing

Abstract This article argues that the work practices of operational police are often neglected on reform agendas. A proposed model is presented which outlines key policing processes, elements, and procedures for the investigation, analysis, and prevention of crime. Difficulties associated with carrying out such operational reform of police work practices are also addressed.

Capturing knowledge of police investigations: towards a research agenda

The purpose of this paper is to articulate a set of interlinked research propositions about knowledge management systems in relation to police investigations and in particular the possibilities of capturing the investigative knowledge inherent in how experienced police understand the investigative process. Moreover, the paper addresses missing links in the literature between ‘know‐what’ and ‘know‐how’ relationships between knowledge management systems and police investigations. A series of policy recommendations are also outlined in relation to this research agenda.

Police management roles as determinants of knowledge sharing attitude in criminal investigations

Purpose – The paper aims to argue that leadership by police managers is needed to stimulate and encourage knowledge sharing in police investigations, and to report an empirical study of what management roles are most important in investigations.Design/methodology/approach – A research model was designed based on six management roles and a set of hypothesized relationships. A survey measuring management roles and knowledge sharing attitude was conducted in Norway. Respondents were senior investigation officers.Findings – Only one management role was found to be a significant determinant of knowledge sharing in police investigations based on the sample used in this survey research within the Norwegian police force: the spokesman role was the only significant role. As a spokesman, the senior investigation officer extends organizational contacts to promote acceptance of the unit and the units work within the organization of which they are a part.Research limitations/implications – The low response rate of 20...

Investigative thinking and creativity: an empirical study of police detectives in Norway

This paper makes distinctions among four investigative thinking styles of detectives: method style, challenge style, skill style, and risk style. Based on previous research, this study empirically tested, to what extent there are cumulative relationships among these thinking styles. Furthermore, this research studied relationships between investigative thinking styles and creativity in police investigations. Significant relationships were found between the extent of the challenge and risk styles and the extent of creativity.

Criminal Profiling in a Terrorism Context

This chapter addresses the issue of the relevance of the offender/criminal profiling paradigm to terrorists. There are three main stumbling blocks inherent in the profiling paradigm that make transferring it to terrorists neither simple nor necessarily helpful and could in fact be dangerously misleading. It is argued that it is more fruitful to shift the focus of the profiling paradigm by engaging in profiling the “process” of terrorism rather than the “person.” A multi-context model is developed to show how various factors operating at different but intermeshing contexts can come together to profile the terrorism process. Data from arrested Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist network members in Southeast Asia were used to demonstrate the utility of this multi-context model of systemic terrorism.

Knowledge Sharing in Criminal Investigations: An Empirical Study of Norwegian Police as Value Shop

Police investigation units represent a knowledge‐intensive and time‐critical environment. The amount of information that detectives come into contact with in the course of their work is astounding. This and the vast knowledge that police officers need, suggest that police officers are knowledge workers. Knowledge sharing is a key process in knowledge activities, including the capture, transfer, and creation of knowledge. Both tacit and explicit knowledge are of critical importance to solve criminal cases. In this paper, police investigation units are defined as value shops, where primary detective activities occur. Knowledge sharing is found to have a significant influence on all primary activities of the police investigation value shop.

Neurocognitive Risk Assessment for the Early Detection of Violent Extremists

This Brief provides a theoretical and conceptual development of a new Risk Assessment Toolbox (RAT) for the early detection of violent extremists. It is based on a neurocognitive perspective, conceptualized as ‘neuroplasticity-in-action’ arising from brain-based neural patterns expressed in mind-based cognitive pathways likely to form a mind-set of violent extremism. This neurocognitive-based Risk Assessment Toolbox (RAT) is comprised of two distinct components: a cognitive indicators instrument that serves as an early detection checklist for trained practitioners, and a software visualisation program. The Brief includes: A framework of contemporary approaches to the risk assessment of violence as well as the background context for the current research project on ‘violent extremism’ and its related concepts of ‘terrorism’ and ‘radicalisation,’ out of which the RAT was developed. A detailed overview of RAT and a pilot case study experiment to highlight the practical value and utility of this neurocognitive Risk Assessment Toolbox. Preliminary research findings of a study conducted with a sample of recognized experts (academics and practitioners) in several countries around the world, to fine tune and validate the risk parameters of the two components that constitute RAT (Risk Assessment Toolbox). The current stage of development of RAT as a practitioner-based system for the early detection of potentially violent extremists as well as its strategic intelligence implications for using a neurocognitive risk assessment approach to violent extremism is discussed. Research limitations and plans for future research studies. This work will be of interest to researchers in Criminology and Criminal Justice interested in studying violent extremism, terrorism and crime prevention and intervention and policing, as well as researchers in related fields of Forensic Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience and Social Work or Social Intervention.

Police leadership roles: empirical study of management attitudes

Purpose – This paper aims to present empirical results from a study of attitudes of police managers to different leadership roles in their jobs in two police districts in Norway.Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire was developed and administered among police managers in two police districts in Norway. Participants in leadership programs were selected for this survey research carried out in March and April 2010. Follo police district and Hedmark police district had a total of 130 participants in these programs with 60 managers from Follo and 70 managers from Hedmark.Findings – The personnel leader role was found to be most important, followed by the resource allocator role. Responding police managers reported that they felt least competent in the liaison role.Research limitations/implications – Limitations were that the relatively small sample size restricted the use of sophisticated statistical tools and the generalisability of results to police services other than Norway.Practical implications –...

Operational knowledge of patrolling police officers in Sweden: management implications

Patrolling police officers need a solid knowledge base working in different locations and situations. Inductive and deductive research identified 31 descriptive statements, which represent knowledge categories for police officers on the street. In this paper, the 31 categories are classified into three cluster sets for knowledge dimensions. The clusters are labelled cognitive dimensions, technical dimensions and social dimensions, respectively. From a police management perspective, developing police officers along these very different dimensions represents a substantial challenge.

A review of organised crime in electronic finance

Criminal Money Management (CMM) has received increased attention in recent years, as organised crime projects by criminal organisations apply transnational and global electronic finance to run their operations. The purpose of this article is to present the core topics relevant to our understanding of organised crime finances. This exploratory research includes topics such as hawala banking and hawala bankers transferring criminal proceeds, the enterprise paradigm of organised crime, the growth of criminal enterprises, a stage model for criminal organisations and the costs of crime for society. These topics are conceptually framed for the core issue of CMM in this article.