'Unless you've got a conviction, there's not much you can do’: rethinking long-term disruption and exit strategy in RASSO investigations
Allen, Katherine, Khan, Aneela, Horvath, Miranda and Davies, Kari (2024) 'Unless you've got a conviction, there's not much you can do’: rethinking long-term disruption and exit strategy in RASSO investigations. Journal of Criminal Psychology. ISSN 2009-3829
|
Text
RASSO investigations--.pdf Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial. Download (368kB) | Preview |
Abstract
Purpose: This research was undertaken to assess how five Operation Soteria Bluestone (OSB) participating forces integrated principles of procedural justice and proactive disruption of offending into their investigations, specifically during the closing stages of a case when considering exit strategy and longer-term prevention.
Methodology: A mixed-methods approach was taken, including 32 semi-structured interviews with officers and 59 case reviews of recent RASSO offences. Data analysis methods included qualitative thematic analysis of interviews, while data from reviewed case logs was extracted and analysed using a bespoke case review tool.
Findings: Increased workloads, preparation of evidence, and relational/communication difficulties with CPS were identified as barriers to implementing long-term disruption options. Dedicated resourcing, training, and support is needed to promote suspect-focused investigative strategy and wider uptake of long-term disruption methods. Early investigative approach was also found to have ‘snowball’ effects on suspect exit strategy, with initial lack of suspect focus and preoccupation with victim credibility, impeding consideration of long-term disruption and safeguarding options. Findings also point to a disparity between promising practice in relation to procedural justice for victims, and (a relative lack of) proactive policing of repeat suspects.
Originality: The study represents a novel contribution to research on policing RASSO, illustrating the scale and nature of the obstacles to changing how these offences are investigated, even when under intense scrutiny from policy makers. It also highlights how increased organisational investment and support is linked to positive changes in practice in some forces.
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Uncontrolled Keywords: | rape, sexual offending, disruption, repeat suspects, preventive policing |
Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform K Law > KD England and Wales |
Divisions: | Faculty of Arts, Business & Applied Social Science > School of Social Sciences & Humanities |
Depositing User: | Katherine Allen |
Date Deposited: | 16 Jul 2024 07:59 |
Last Modified: | 16 Sep 2024 11:36 |
URI: | https://oars.uos.ac.uk/id/eprint/3885 |
Actions (login required)
View Item |