Writing crime…. Pushing the boundaries of police procedure.

The aim is always to write an exciting page-turner, but crime novels also have to be believable and authentic. I can be in the middle of writing a scene and suddenly think, um…not sure that could happen. The key is to find a way so plot and procedure work hand in hand. This can be challenging, particularly when the storyline requires an officer to appear in a certain scene.

In a murder investigation, many, many people are involved, both police officers and civilians; too many to include as characters in a book. Therefore, sometimes my main characters undertake tasks they may not have done in a real case. 

But how can an author research to keep a novel real? Reading lots and lots of true-crime books. Watching crime documentaries. A couple of years ago I went on an online course, Solving a Murder, with Graham Bartlett, a former police superintendent and now an advisor to authors. He taught us about crime scenes and procedures; who does what, how they collect forensics, the importance of officers wearing protective clothing (to prevent transferring microscopic cellular material) and how preserving life is always the first concern, even if that means contaminating a crime scene. Since the course I have frequently consulted Graham on procedure in my books, including these: 

• In the prequel, Murder at the Museum, two murders happen on the site. This would require a different Murder Investigation Team for each body.
• An exhibit, which may be presented when interviewing a suspect, is labelled with the initials of the person who found it. When I say, ‘showing suspect exhibit TAAR1’, it isn’t letters and a number pulled from thin air. These are Tom’s initials, and the 1 indicates it’s the first piece of evidence he has recovered in this investigation.
• In Wrath of Revenge, bones that have been underground for six years are discovered. This necessitates a forensic archaeologist, the genial Dr Wallace makes an appearance, and mention is made of Dr Yannis, the anthropologist, as well as the pathologist who will undertake the postmortem. The police will hope that the body can be identified by DNA in the bone marrow, that it can be extracted at the lab, and a match may be found on the police database.
• A SOCO can make the assumption whether the body is male or female from the shape of the bones. In Wrath of Revenge, Ellie tells Tom the body is male from ‘the torso, the pelvis, the narrow hips, and then the shoulders and clavicle, plus, the length of the femur.’
• In Deadly Justice (book 2 in the series) I wanted a character who was under arrest to be taken to a potential crime scene where a body may have been buried. I needed to write into the story in what circumstances a SIO (Senior Investigating Officer) might sanction this and how it would be done. The character is handcuffed and would be kept within touching distance of the officers escorting him. The officers wear body-worn cameras to pick up anything useful he might say, as this information could be crucial. The investigating team will also rely on Police Search Advisors, who provide digital maps of the area, give advice on how to search, highlight priority areas and can suggest air support and thermal imagery.
• Also in Deadly Justice, I have pushed things a bit, allowing Tom to interview a 9-year-old and 13-year-old (separately) at their home. Usually, if correct procedure is followed, they would have gone to a police station with a video interview room and specially trainer officers.
• Throughout the series, Tom has dealings with Mickey Longstaff, an informal snout. Mickey has frequent brushes with the law, and also plenty of information he is willing to pass on to the police. Tom shouldn’t be running informants unless he is part of a Source Handling Unit… but that’s not say he wouldn’t. So long as he was very careful and knew it was dodgy and underhand, it could be possible.
• Police officers now make notes on phones, rather than in notebooks.
• And finally, and most importantly, police radios don’t crackle anymore…