Spot the Difference. Comparing Current and Historic Homicide Investigation in the Uk

Homicide investigations attract the highest levels of expectation as investigative failure has a significant and lasting impact upon victim families, investigators and wider society. By focusing upon ‘current’ homicides, present UK Investigative resourcing and methodology arguably is in danger of failing to recognize both the risks and potential presented by unresolved (cold) ‘historic’ homicides. This paper argues that significant differences exist between these two types of homicide investigation, and that the embracing of these differences, promises much to the improvement for both types of homicide investigation.