Murder Updates: New rules will keep crime witnesses updated

EVERYONE who contacts the police with information during a major investigation will get to know the outcome of the case under new guidelines introduced this week. Detectives talk to hundreds of people during a major investigation – such as a murder, hu

EVERYONE who contacts the police with information during a major investigation will get to know the outcome of the case under new guidelines introduced this week.

Detectives talk to hundreds of people during a major investigation - such as a murder, human trafficking and organised crime - looking for people who may know a victim or have information about the incident.

Historically, only key witnesses or relatives of the victim would be kept updated about the case.

But this is to change as part of the force's commitment to the national 'Policing Pledge'.

Anyone who passes information on to the major crime department will be assessed to see what type of updates they should receive and how often.

Detective Chief Inspector Tony Ixer, from the major crime department, said: "During any major investigation the public are vital to its success and will inevitably provide us with information to help us convict those responsible.

"Historically, we have not considered keeping all of those people informed of the outcome of an investigation, and this will now change.

"Every bit of information we receive from the public is helpful. Its significance to the investigation will vary but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be updating everyone who calls."

An officer dedicated to keeping the public updated will be appointed within each investigation team.