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Author SCD1 H omicide & Serious Cr i me Command , Policy Unit uate Created I January 2004
Review date - January 2 0 1 0

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Chapter 1 - Overarching Legislation Page 1 October 2009

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Title London H omi c i de M anual Version 1 . 1 5 -Octo ber 2 00 9 Summary Po li cy and guidance in re lation to MPS response to homici de and unexpla in ed d eat h . Bran ch I OCU Spec i alist Cr i me Directorate

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u etailed guidance is provided for all officers involved in the investigation of homicide from the first officers un scene through to the Sla and support for himlher . This manual will include new and updated policy emanating from Public or Judicial Enquiry recommendations that the Commissioner accepts and from recommendations emanating from individual homicide reviews as directed by AC Specialist Crime . This manual is designed to be intranet based and will be regularly updated therefore any hard copies may be out of date and action should only be taken in accordance with the Intranet version .

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The Specialist Crime u irectarate in partnership with Territorial Policing have produced this Manual . Its aim is to complement the ACP O Murder and MIRSAP Manuals and to provide a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the investigation of homicide and unexplained deaths within the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) area, It is an amalgam and update of all previous Police Notices and replaces all previous Police Notices on the subject . The manual sets out areas of responsibility for investigation by Borough, the Specialist Crime Directorate and all MPS staff .

CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 - OVERARCHING LEGISLATION . . .. . . . ....... . . . ....... . . .. . . . . .. .. ... . . . . . 6
1 .1 . i I uman R is~htti I'riizci})l e
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1 .2 . 1 .3 .
1 .4.

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Ut Illf [? t"I 11 Z li? 11

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1 .5. 1 .6. 1 .7. 1 .8 .

Children Act 2004 & Local Safeguarding Children Board ReLlUlations 2006 'I 'he taw relatim, to Homicid e Murder Ulriaislau~~htcr Defences ()11'CnCCs related to homicide

C' li AI'TER 2 - RESPONSIBILI TY FOR INVESTIGATION . ....... . .. . . . . ........ . . 2.7

C [-IAPTER 3 - INITIAL RESPONSE- I NDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES . 4S

4 . CHAPTER 4 - SPECIALIST CRIME DIRECTORATE RESPONSE & IhDIVII)L<AL RESPONSIBILITIES .. ... . . . ....... . . . .... . ....... . . ........ . . .. . . . ...... . . . . .... .. . . ... . . . ....... . . . 70

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a . C:'14 APT E It 5 - POLICY GUIDANCE AND GOOD PRACTICE ... .. ... .... . . ...... 9 6

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5 . C .t1AY 1 Y, it ti - UN N . [1 P 1-iU1 ,I V'Ik . S W I 1 U11 IN 1 Hr: M AJt1K 1 N L ' II3 11 r I ROOM 190

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6. CHAPTER 6 - RI:("()RI7 KEEPING .. . . .. . . .... .... .... . . .. . . ... . ... . .... .... . . .. . . ... . ... . .... .... 14 8

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Glossary of Main Term s

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omicide -Thy killing uf one human being by the act of another .

Unexplained Death is any death (which clearly includes deaths such as apparent sudden infant death syndrome and fatal fires) where a doctor cannot issue a death certificate and the cause of death is not apparent .

Suspicious Unexplained Death - an unexplained death where the BOCUI on-call sen i or CID officer , following thorough assessment believes there are grounds to suspect the death may be due to homicide where culpability for the loss of l ife is likely to be an issue in a criminal court; Critical Incident - Any incident where the effectiveness of the police response is likely to have a significant impact on the confidence of the victim, their family and/or the community . All suspected homicides are critical incidents .

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Throughout this manual reference is made to the following terms :