COLLEGE OF POLICING
NEW BURGLARY GUIDE
WILL SUPPORT OFFICERS TO ‘LOCK UP OFFENDERS’
Officers investigating burglary can now access a new step by step guide which it’s hoped will drive up arrest and conviction rates
The College of Policing practice guide comes after police chiefs agreed forces will attend all residential burglaries. The decision was taken after a rapid evidence assessment from the College found quick police attendance at scenes can increase victim satisfaction and help with investigations. Chief Constable Andy Marsh, from the College, said: “Any intrusion into our home can be traumatic. It’s not just the loss of possessions but the way a burglary can steal a person’s sense of security from the place where they should feel safest. “Officers across the country want to be locking up criminals and keeping communities safe. Our standards will help bring consistency to the police’s response, enable them to get the basics right and deliver what the public expect.” The new practice guide has advice for
everyone involved in dealing with a burglary from call handlers to interviewing officers. Staff and officers taking the first report
44 | POLICE | OCTOBER | 2023
from victims set the tone of the response, and can have a direct impact on confidence, the guide says. It adds that getting this first step right will enable the right priority grading to be decided and, if necessary, a fast-time response so crucial evidence at the scene can be gathered. Forces are being advised to consider if their call handers have the right training to maximise the amount of information gathered during the 999 or 101 call.
As with most crimes the ‘golden hour’, the period immediately after the burglary is reported, is particularly important. “Enquiries undertaken during initial attendance may make the difference between early identification and arresting a suspect and recovering stolen property or not,” the guide makes clear. There is advice around traditional investigation methods like forensics and door to door enquiries but also guidance around more modern techniques such as considering whether the suspect’s mobile
device is connected to the victim’s router or other hot spots.
With research showing 1 in 10 victims of
burglary end up moving home, there is a specific section of the guide which covers how best to support victims. It advises conducting a security risk assessment, giving tailored advice and advising local neighbourhood teams. Chief Constable Andy Marsh added that the guidance “will enable police officers to get more of the basics right and help lock up offenders”. He said: “It will make forces more
accountable within their own communities, bring more consistency to our responses to burglary, and help to improve detection rates. Policing should be able to deliver more of what the public rightly expects of it.”
You can access the practice guide on the College of Policing website:
www.college.police.uk/guidance/ residential-burglary
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
