Factors influencing police performance in the investigation of volume crimes in England and Wales

Abstract

This paper examines the investigation of volume crime cases and the processes of attrition through the investigative process using quantitative and qualitative data. More than 3000 burglary and motor vehicle cases in eight Basic Command Units in England and Wales, along with interview and documentary data, were analysed to identify the factors related to detection. Results indicated that whether an offender was caught at the scene; number of sources giving a name; number and types of forensic materials available; and number of other potential leads significantly increased the likelihood of detection. Implications of the research for police performance are discussed.