Crime reduction

Cold cases

We work with select police forces in the UK to enhance the effectiveness of Cold Case Reviews. We work with Senior Investigating Officers and investigation teams and support them in uncovering new lines of inquiry and detailed recommendations for action.

Our Cold Case Review process has helped to generate new ideas, theories and recommendations and has led to defined progress, solutions and convictions in most of the cases we have tackled in this way, both in the UK and US.

Cold Case Review sessions are typically led by the Senior Investigating Officers and lead detectives. They begin with a group briefing on the details of the case. realise then works with the leaders by facilitating and deploying our Group Engagement tools to "take rank out of the room", at least initially. Detectives share and reveal their unanswered questions and "hunches" based on their experience and insights.

We invite a wide range of perspectives, ideas, theories and questions. We work with the data and evidence to ensure everyone in the room has a shared knowledge of the case. Expert groups look deeper into the revealed ideas and firm up potential new lines of inquiry. We prioritise against relevant criteria like "Impact" and "Ease of Implementation".

Results are fully considered and a priority decided by the group. Where no clear consensus exists, we explore the reasons for differences and assess what this reveals for the review. The final stage identifies detailed actions needed to pursue new lines of inquiry, ensuring the focused and optimised effort on further investigation.

The Senior Investigating Officer has the report immediately, helping to inform decisions about the specific direction of effort following the review.