Recurring concern

Unreliable CRIS investigation information and review processes

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First reported 13 Oct 2014•Latest report 21 Jan 2022

Definition

What this concern includes

Includes failures in the named CRIS investigation process, including accessing and reviewing relevant CRIS information, accurately recording and communicating incident information, assigning or completing required actions, supervisory review and critical assessment before closure.

Not included

Excludes police crime-recording failures not specifically involving the CRIS investigation process.
Excludes general police investigation, staffing, training or communication deficiencies unless they directly impair CRIS information handling or review.
Excludes failures in downstream action after a CRIS investigation has been reliably reviewed and closed.
Excludes the underlying death, offence or incident where no CRIS process deficiency is identified.

Reports: 3
Individual concerns: 3
Date range: 2014–2022
Stated actions: 5

Reports over time

Reports about this concern issued each year.

* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.

Most frequent recipients

Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.

Metropolitan Police Service3

College of Policing1

Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (2017 to 2023)1

National Police Chiefs’ Council1

Concerns and responses across reports

Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

21 Jan2022
East London
Concerns raised1
1. Closure of CRIS investigations without completion review and critical assessment of non-suspicious classification
This report raised 8 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response 4
1. Action
  Introduce tighter governance for unexpected deaths under investigation, including action tracking, local progress oversight and dip sampling.
  Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated planned
2. Action
  Add a DS and DI curriculum lesson on reviewing and signing investigative actions as complete.
  Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated planned
3. Action
  Amend and publish the Death Investigation Policy to require recording post-mortem recommendations, rationale for non-compliance, structured death-investigation definitions, supervisor actions and ADR use.
  Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated in progress
1. Action
  Issue CONNECT policy guidance reinforcing supervisors’ responsibilities for reviewing and recording investigative actions as completed.
  Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated planned
AI-generated summary

Anthony Walgate and 3 others · Prevention of Future Deaths report

This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

Report summary

Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth and Jack Taylor were four young men who were drugged with GHB and murdered. The report raises concerns about serious investigative failings, including how sudden deaths were categorised, the allocation and support of homicide investigations, leadership, recording and review of investigative actions, handwriting verification, death notifications and the response to coroners’ concerns. It also identifies concern that users of the Sleepyboy website could engage escorts without verifying their identities.

Read the report on judiciary.uk
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Closure of CRIS investigations without completion review and critical assessment of non-suspicious classification
Wider context from the report
“A further, related, matter of concern is that the CRIS was closed by supervising officers without any review of whether the actions had been completed or any critical assessment at detective sergeant level or detective inspector level of whether the investigation had established that the death was non-suspicious (MC4B). ”
Source location
Anthony Walgate and 3 others · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 20 · concerns
Open source report
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Introduce tighter governance for unexpected deaths under investigation, including action tracking, local progress oversight and dip sampling.

Verbatim wording from the response
“The existing MPS Crime Report Information System (CRIS) has functionality that allows supervisors to issue key actions and track progress against an investigation. Already used extensively within criminal investigations, it will need to extend to Crime Related Incidents (CRI), also recorded on CRIS, used as a means of recording unexpected death investigations, and will allow key enquiries and forensic submissions to be tracked and progress reviewed.”

Source location
2022-0017-Response-from-MPS_Published
Page 7 · response
Published 25 January 2022
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Add a DS and DI curriculum lesson on reviewing and signing investigative actions as complete.

Verbatim wording from the response
“As part of a forthcoming revision of the existing MPS Death Investigation Policy, stricter guidance will be introduced which will mandate tighter governance around those investigations classed as ‘unexpected death – under investigation’. The Head of Profession for Investigation will ensure that this includes the following:”

Source location
2022-0017-Response-from-MPS_Published
Page 7 · response
Published 25 January 2022
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Amend and publish the Death Investigation Policy to require recording post-mortem recommendations, rationale for non-compliance, structured death-investigation definitions, supervisor actions and ADR use.

Verbatim wording from the response
“Review of Death Investigation Policy and associated guidance on police attendance at Coronial Inquest, role and responsibilities of officer in attendance and expectations on the capture of any comments/findings by the Coroner and police response and subsequent action.”

Source location
2022-0017-Response-from-MPS_Published
Page 10 · response
Published 25 January 2022
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Issue CONNECT policy guidance reinforcing supervisors’ responsibilities for reviewing and recording investigative actions as completed.

Verbatim wording from the response
“b. The CONNECT Investigation platform is replacing CRIS. When it goes live, all new investigations will be recorded and investigated on CONNECT. Outstanding actions on a CONNECT investigation are clearly visible, so when an investigation is going through the two-stage closure process (OIC’s Supervisor & Crime Management Services) it will be clear to the user that an action has or has not been completed. Where an action is marked as complete, it needs a supervisor to review, agree and show the action as complete. The CONNECT Action Plan functionality therefore assists in mitigating the risk of closing an investigation when actions are still outstanding. As with CRIS, it does not – and cannot – prevent a supervisor marking an action as complete when this is inaccurate.”

Source location
2022-0017-Response-from-MPS_Published
Page 13 · response
Published 25 January 2022
Open published response
19 Jul2018
Inner North London
Concerns raised1
1. Failure to review CRIS information before interview
This report raised 18 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.

No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
AI-generated summary

Jeroen ENSINK · Prevention of Future Deaths report

This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

Report summary

Dr Jeroen Ensink was stabbed to death in a wholly unprovoked attack on 29 December 2015. The report identified multiple concerns involving police recording and information-sharing failures, including failures to identify and communicate possible mental health problems and issues in the handling of evidence and custody records.

Read the report on judiciary.uk
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Failure to review CRIS information before interview
Wider context from the report
“15. The interviewing officer did not read the CRIS report, and gave evidence that it was not MPS protocol so to do. The CRIS report contained a record of the question mark over ████████ mental health. ”
Source location
Jeroen ENSINK · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 4 · concerns
Open source report
13 Oct2014
Inner South London
Concerns raised1
1. Failure to accurately record and communicate incident information on the CRIS
This report raised 7 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response 1
1. Action
  Provide continuously available policing toolkits and a Reception Services Manual with checklists and flowcharts for recording, escalating and investigating threats to life and other relevant risks.
  Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated completed
Respondent positions 1
1. Position
  PAO training and business processes are considered sufficient for accurate crime recording and useful initial investigation.
  Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceExisting arrangements considered sufficient
AI-generated summary

Arsema Dawit · Prevention of Future Deaths report

This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

Report summary

Arsema Dawit, aged 15, died on 2 June 2008 after being stabbed by a former friend who had been stalking her; the inquest jury concluded that the death was unlawful killing. Concerns included the recording and classification of the initial police report, inadequate and untimely investigation, insufficient supervision and communication with the family, gaps in investigative procedures, and reluctance to use interpreting services.

Read the report on judiciary.uk
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Failure to accurately record and communicate incident information on the CRIS
Wider context from the report
“(1) The senior reception officer prematurely classified the offence, failed to reclassify it when the full details were known at the end of her interviews and entered a misleading entry on the CRIS that the Inspector whom she had briefly asked a question, had been informed of the incident, which he had not, but others assumed he had been. He was clear that had he known the full account of the incident, he would have required further steps to be taken at the outset. Is the SRO appropriate to complete the CRIS in such a case and is the system of recording and reviewing the entered principal offence now understood by reception officers? ”
Source location
Arsema Dawit · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 1 · concerns
Open source report
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Provide continuously available policing toolkits and a Reception Services Manual with checklists and flowcharts for recording, escalating and investigating threats to life and other relevant risks.

Verbatim wording from the response
“In support of such better decision making, a further innovation since 2008 has been the refashioning of our sometimes unwieldy policies and procedures into a series of user-friendly ‘toolkits’, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from any MPS computer workstation. These are designed to be clear, concise guides, ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ and checklists which can support any frontline officer or staff member before, during, or after dealing with any situation which they may be unfamiliar with. For example, links to an easy to follow flow chart of necessary actions setting out how a ‘Threat To Life’ should be recorded, reported, and progressed is now included in a bespoke online reference guide, the Reception Services Manual, for use by Public Access staff. This manual contains, inter alia, specific guidance on how to deal with:”

Source location
2014-0442-Response-by-Metropolitan-Police
Page 3 · response
Published 13 October 2014
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
PAO training and business processes are considered sufficient for accurate crime recording and useful initial investigation.

Verbatim wording from the response
“The current PAO training course was designed centrally in conjunction with MPS training command, known as ‘Met Training’ and is delivered by dedicated trainers from Met Training. It takes place over 13 days and is a mandatory requirement before a new staff member can take up a post within the MPS. Attendance and successful completion of the course is monitored by line managers on the trainee's home Borough Operational Command Unit (‘BOCU’). The curriculum of the course covers all aspects of the role of staffing a front office or other public access point. Topics covered most relevant to the Dawit case include:”

Source location
2014-0442-Response-by-Metropolitan-Police
Page 2 · response
Published 13 October 2014
Open published response

Data last updated 7 September 2026

What this concern includes

Not included

Reports over time

Concerns raised1

Closure of CRIS investigations without completion review and critical assessment of non-suspicious classification

Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4

Concerns raised1

Failure to review CRIS information before interview

Concerns raised1

Failure to accurately record and communicate incident information on the CRIS

Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1

Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1

Actions described in response 4

Actions described in response 1

Respondent positions 1