Murder Investigation Manual

1.1 INTRODUCTION

This manual is concerned with the police investigation of the three offences which are included in the Home Office definition of homicide. These are murder, manslaughter and infanticide. The investigation of homicide presents unique challenges to investigators. Some of these challenges arise because homicide is a serious crime, and bringing offenders to justice is a priority for both the public and the police. As a result, there is often a great deal of pressure on Senior Investigating Officers (SIOs) to identify the perpetrator as quickly as possible. Other challenges arise from the range of circumstances in which homicide is committed. This leads to a great deal of variation in the type of information generated in each case, and the way it is distributed at scenes and among witnesses. This means that SIOs can face numerous, different problems in locating and recovering material. SIOs will be better able to address these problems if they have a clear understanding