Homicide
Major investigation and public protection — Authorised Professional Practice
Summary
This topic covers the police response to homicide investigations, focusing on the protocols and practices required in such cases. It emphasizes the importance of thorough investigations, including the collaboration with other agencies, the sharing of information, and adherence to specific guidelines and legal frameworks. This information is crucial for police officers involved in major crime investigations to ensure a comprehensive approach to handling homicide cases and to protect the rights of all individuals involved.
Key principles
- 1Approach all deaths in custody as potential homicides.
- 2Conduct joint strategy meetings with agencies like the PPO for investigations.
- 3Ensure the sharing of relevant information between police and PPO unless restricted by specific reasons.
Full guidance
Responding to public protection and major investigation issues, for example, child abuse, knife crime and sexual offences
This page is from APP, the official source of professional practice for policing.
The following documents remain current until further notice:
– this document is available to authorised users who are logged on to College Learn . * ACPO (2012) Guidelines on Dealing with Cases of Encouraging or Assisted Suicide – this document has now been superseded. The current guidance can be found in the mental health APP, suicide pacts or assisted suicide
A Memorandum of Understanding has been developed between NPCC and the Prisons & Probation Ombudsman (PPO).
The MoU confirms police SIO primacy in all death investigations but confirms that there is a requirement to collaborate and share information with the PPO‘s investigator. The MoU covers the following points:
the police will approach all deaths in custody as a potential homicide * a joint strategy meeting between the police, PPO and Coroner must be held for all death in custody investigations. It may also be necessary to involve the CPS in some cases * the presumption is that all relevant information will be shared between the police and PPO unless there are specific reasons why this cannot happen
The PPO is an arms-length Body attached to the Ministry of Justice. The Ombudsman has jurisdiction to independently investigate the death of anyone in prison custody, immigration detention or who is a resident of an Approved Premise.
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Read the full APP guidanceSource: College of Policing — Authorised Professional Practice · Crown copyright, licensed under Open Government Licence v3.0. Summary fetched 2026-06-27.