Understanding police capacity issues in sex offence investigations, and considering a team approach as a solution to (some of) these challenges.

Abstract

Purpose Only a small proportion of reported incidents of rape and serious sex offences (RASSO) are fully investigated and prosecuted in England and Wales. Part of the problem is the lack of effective police capacity for the completion of effective investigations. The purpose of this paper is to identify the challenges of meeting this demand and explore whether a team-based solution can address some of the issues. Design/methodology/approach The research used multiple data sets collected during Operation Soteria Bluestone to establish the capacity challenges in RASSO investigations, including case review analysis, ethnographic observations, review of body-worn video footage and victim interviews, and interviews and focus groups with police officers, independent sexual violence advisers, and support practitioners. Findings The findings show that policing’s inability to cope with fluctuations in demand contributes to the lack of completion of investigations. Capacity issues result in the lack of completion of basic investigative actions, the lack of appropriate and satisfactory levels of communication with victims and negative effects on officers, including being detrimental to their well-being. This paper explores how a team approach to investigating RASSO could create resilience and better continuity, especially in relation to victim support. However, there also needs to be sufficient effective capacity in the policing system to meet demand, which can be seen to fluctuate widely over the medium term. Practical implications The work identifies two key decisions for police forces. Firstly, it is essential that the resources provided generate the effective capacity that is capable of meeting demand over time. Secondly, a team-based approach, if adopted, could increase the resilience in the system and improve support for victims. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that demonstrates the psychological and operational challenges related to capacity within RASSO policing and the potential impact of teamwork on RASSO investigations.