This paper reports some of the advantages of using a crime reporting system in police organizations. In particular, it shows how such a system enables detectives to access records and files more easily than before, and, given the centrality of files, records, and reports to detectives' work, how the system has increased efficiency and ‘professional’ competence. It will be argued that these are advantages that might be expected; but in addition, that detectives seem able further to improve their ability to locate correct files, especially in relation to offences ‘taken into consideration’, by interviewing accused persons while accessing the system. It will also be noted that the system can be used to ‘bluff’ information from suspects. These are unexpected findings. The data for these observations derive from interviews with detectives in a medium-sized shire force. The impact of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 on these practices is remarked and the limitations of the research are discussed.