To be effective, any investigation has to be robust, yet proportionate and compliant with Human Rights Legislation.  In today’s world the product of an investigation is likely to be subject to a high level of legal scrutiny whether this is in a courtroom, tribunal or public inquiry. Sancus Solutions have designed a variety of one day investigative training courses to enable all those responsible for undertaking investigations to conduct them to a standard which will satisfy all judicial inquiries.

Who are the courses for?

These courses are designed for all those whose role includes an investigative function; whether you work for a statutory investigative body, or are required to conduct an internal misconduct enquiry, the investigative principles are the same. The input will be relevant to investigators from both the public sector such as local authorities and NHS bodies and the private sector such as insurance companies or private investigators.

What are the courses about?

The various courses will enable delegates to have a thorough understanding of how to undertake an investigation from instigation to its ultimate conclusion.
The one day courses are:

• Principles of an Investigation
• Interviewing Witnesses
• Suspect Management  1 – Planning and carrying out interviews
• Suspect Management 2 – How to deal with legal representatives
• Exhibit Management
• Disclosure of Unused Material
• Courtroom Skills

Each course can be taken as stand alone, or delegates can choose to undertake the full series of courses. The content can be tailored to the particular roles of the audience.

What do the courses deliver?

The courses are presented by experienced investigators, many of whom are former Senior Police Detectives who have been involved in numerous major investigations. Individual modules will explain how to undertake each facet of an investigation, what investigative strategies should be considered and what is best practice. Delegates will complete various exercises in order that they can fully understand the principles of investigations.

What will I get out of it?

At the conclusion of each course, delegates will be able to demonstrate an understanding of that particular strand of the investigation.  By learning how to conduct the investigation in an ethical manner in accordance with all necessary law and procedures, delegates will be able to ensure that all evidence gathered is admissible in any judicial proceedings. Every delegate who successfully completes individual courses will receive a certificate of attendance enabling professional development to be evidenced.

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Principles of Investigation

In order to be successful, an investigation needs to adhere to a clear strategy which identifies objectives and how these are to be achieved. Investigations must maintain the difficult balance between being robust and thorough whilst remaining proportionate.  Investigators themselves are subject to an unprecedented level of scrutiny by courts, tribunals and inquiries.  A carefully and professionally planned investigative strategy will be a major factor in ensuring that your investigation can withstand this process.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for all those whose role includes an investigative function; whether you work for a statutory investigative body, or are required to conduct an internal misconduct enquiry, the investigative principles are the same.
The input will be relevant to investigators from both the public sector such as local authorities and NHS bodies and the private sector such as insurance companies or private investigators.

What is the course about?

This course will enable delegates to:
• Define what constitutes an investigation and the role of the investigator
• Outline the principles of an investigation and reasonable lines of enquiry
• Describe the ‘investigative mindset’
• Demonstrate the design and implementation of an investigation plan
• Identify the strategies to be considered in order to obtain evidence

What does the course deliver?

The course is presented by experienced investigators, many of whom are former Senior Police Detectives who have been involved in major investigations.  This one day course provides delegates with the confidence and knowledge required to plan and carry out an investigation however complicated it may at first appear.  Investigations must adhere to all relevant legislation and policy and investigators must be able to demonstrate that this is the case.  Delegates will receive informative presentations and take part in a scenario based exercise in which they will draw up their own investigative strategies.

What will I get out of it?

After completing this course delegates will be able to plan and carry out structured and ethical investigations achieving the objective of discovering the truth. These methods will furnish investigators with a structure that, if correctly applied, will provide the best prospect of the investigation withstanding the inevitable forensic scrutiny.

Duration One Day

Cost £495 + VAT plus any travel or accommodation costs that may be incurred by the trainer, delivered in house at your own training facility with a maximum of 10 delegates per course

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Interviewing Witnesses

The interviewing of victims and witnesses is central to the success of any investigation.  The actual obtaining of such evidence is a challenging task for investigators.  It is now recognised that planning and preparation are key stages in this process.  Witnesses come from diverse backgrounds and have varying levels of understanding of investigative processes.  Achieving high standards in obtaining statements will drastically improve the professionalism of any investigation.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for all those whose role includes an investigative function; whether you work for a statutory investigative body, or are required to conduct an internal misconduct enquiry, the investigative principles are the same. The input will be relevant to investigators from both the public sector such as local authorities and NHS bodies and the private sector such as insurance companies or private investigators.

What is the course about?

This course will enable delegates to:
• Recognise the importance of planning and preparation for successful interviews
• Explain the PEACE model of interviewing as it relates to witnesses
• Identify and record points to prove required in individual cases
• Explain the various methods of interviewing witnesses and obtaining statements including the five part model
• Describe the Conversation Management style of interviewing of witnesses

What does the course deliver?

The course is presented by experienced investigators, many of whom are former Senior Police Detectives who are highly qualified interviewers and have been involved in major investigations.  Delegates will be equipped to plan and carry out interviews with witnesses.

What will I get out of it?

At the conclusion of the course delegates will be able to carry out structured interviews with all classes and categories of witnesses and maximise the opportunity for obtaining evidence.

Duration One Day

Cost £495 + VAT plus any travel or accommodation costs that may be incurred by the trainer, delivered in house at your own training facility with a maximum of 10 delegates per course

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Suspect Management 1

The interviewing of a suspect can bring together all the strands of a professional investigation.  It is essential that these interviews are properly planned and carried out to ensure that any evidence stemming from the interview is both relevant and admissible.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for all those whose role includes an investigative function; whether you work for a statutory investigative body, or are required to conduct an internal misconduct enquiry, the investigative principles are the same. The input will be relevant to investigators from both the public sector such as local authorities and NHS bodies and the private sector such as insurance companies or private investigators.

What is the course about?

This one day course will enable delegates to:
• Understand the various interview models
• Describe the principles of investigative interviewing
• Outline the importance of planning and preparing for a suspect interview
• Describe the legal requirements of conducting an interview.

What does the course deliver?

The course is presented by experienced investigators, many of whom are former Senior Police Detectives who are highly qualified interviewers.   Delegates will be equipped  to plan, prepare and carry out interviews with those suspected of committing offences.

What will I get out of it?

After attending this course delegates will be equipped to undertake interviews with individuals who are suspected of committing criminal offences or those who may have breached disciplinary codes of conduct.

This course is complimented by the Sancus Solutions Suspect Management 2, one day course which outlines how to deal with solicitors representing suspects.

Duration One Day

Cost £495 + VAT plus any travel or accommodation costs that may be incurred by the trainer, delivered in house at your own training facility with a maximum of 10 delegates per course

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Suspect Management 2

The interviewing of a suspect can bring together all the strands of a professional investigation.  It is essential that these interviews are properly planned and carried out to ensure that any evidence stemming from the interview is both relevant and admissible.  Many suspects are legally represented during the course of an investigation and naturally throughout an interview process.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for all those whose role includes an investigative function; whether you work for a statutory investigative body, or are required to conduct an internal misconduct enquiry, the investigative principles are the same.
The input will be relevant to investigators from both the public sector such as local authorities and NHS bodies and the private sector such as insurance companies or private investigators.

What is the course about?

This one day course will enable delegates to:
• Understand the Role of the Legal Representative
• Explain what is meant by ‘Active Defence’
• Outline the model of the pre interview briefing with a solicitor
• Explain the rationale for staged pre-interview disclosure
• Describe how the investigator should deal with a prepared statement

What does the course deliver?

The course is presented by experienced investigators, many of whom are former Senior Police Detectives who are highly qualified interviewers.   Delegates will be equipped to deal with legal representatives acting on behalf of  individuals who are to be interviewed under caution.

What will I get out of it?

After attending this course delegates will be equipped to undertake interviews with individuals who are suspected of committing criminal offences or those who may have breached disciplinary codes of conduct and in particular deal with the legal representative who will inevitably be present. This course is complimented by the Sancus Solutions Suspect Management 1, which deals with planning and carrying out interviews.

Duration One Day

Cost £495 + VAT plus any travel or accommodation costs that may be incurred by the trainer, delivered in house at your own training facility with a maximum of 10 delegates per course

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Exhibit Management

Exhibits are the physical pieces of evidence recovered during an investigation.  The nature of exhibits can range from barely perceptible scientific samples to large quantities of documents or items such as machinery and motor vehicles.  If they are lawfully seized and correctly handled, exhibits can play a major role in providing evidence,  leading to successful prosecutions.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for all those whose role includes an investigative function; whether you work for a statutory investigative body, or are required to conduct an internal misconduct enquiry, the investigative principles are the same.
The input will be relevant to investigators from both the public sector such as local authorities and NHS bodies and the private sector such as insurance companies or private investigators.

What is the course about?

At the end of the course delegates will be able to:
• Identify what constitutes an exhibit
• Describe the correct way to record seizure and movement of exhibits
• Identify the most appropriate method of packaging
• Understand the requirement to establish continuity
• Identify possible types of scientific examination

What does the course deliver?

The course is presented by experienced investigators, many of whom are former Senior Police Detectives and Crime Scene Examiners who have been involved in major investigations.  The course will equip delegates with the knowledge to seize, package and record all types of potential exhibits.

Delegates will also gain an appreciation of the various types of scientific examination that can be utilised to achieve maximum evidential potential from various common exhibit types.

What will I get out of it?

After completing this course, delegates will have the knowledge and ability to recover and package exhibits within a system that ensures the best opportunity to obtain further scientific evidence that will also be admissible in any judicial or disciplinary proceedings.

Duration One Day

Cost £495 + VAT plus any travel or accommodation costs that may be incurred by the trainer, delivered in house at your own training facility with a maximum of 10 delegates per course

 

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Disclosure of Unused Material

Disclosure of unused material is one of the most important aspects of conducting any investigation. A failure of the disclosure process can lead to either a miscarriage of justice or the failure of an otherwise sound investigation.

The “golden rule” is that fairness requires that  full disclosure should be made of all material held by the prosecution that weakens its case or strengthens that of the defence. Lord Goldsmith, HM Attorney General

The best way to ensure that your investigation does not fail because of a technical breach of disclosure obligations is for you to have a full understanding of the complex set of rules and guidelines which surround this topic.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for all those whose role includes an investigative function; whether you work for a statutory investigative body, or are required to conduct an internal misconduct enquiry, the investigative principles are the same. The input will be relevant to investigators from both the public sector, such as local authorities and NHS bodies or the private sector such as insurance companies or private investigators.

What is the course about?

This course will enable delegates  to:
• Describe the obligations relating to disclosure as outlined in the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 and other   legislation
• Understand the role of the disclosure officer and the obligation to record, retain and reveal material
• Identify relevant material and what material may undermine the case for the prosecution or assist the defence
• Describe the nature of sensitive material and the obligations relating to this in the disclosure process
• Understand the requirement for, and nature of, proper schedules relating to disclosure
• Describe the obligations for defence disclosure

What does the course deliver?

The course is presented by experienced investigators, many of whom are former Senior Police Detectives who have been involved in managing high level investigations and the associated disclosure obligations.  Delegates will obtain a full understanding of their obligations to reveal material to the prosecutor, the methods of ensuring how this is done correctly and the consequences of any failure in the process.

What will I get out of it?

At the conclusion of the course delegates will be able to ensure that their investigations are fully compliant with the various statutes, codes of practice and policy guidelines relating to disclosure of unused material. Robust compliance and scrupulous attention to detail is the only way to ensure that the interests of justice are fully served.

Duration One Day

Cost £495 + VAT plus any travel or accommodation costs that may be incurred by the trainer, delivered in house at your own training facility with a maximum of 10 delegates per course

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Courtroom Skills

A courtroom can be an intimidating environment for both lay and professional witnesses. Sancus Solutions Courtroom Skills Training aims to prepare people who may be called to give evidence by explaining in simple terms what is involved in this process and how best to prepare for a day in court.

The training is delivered by experienced professionals who have both given evidence on countless occasions and also supported many witnesses through the process.

Who is the course for?

The Sancus Solutions course is aimed at both expert witnesses and professionals who may be required to attend court as witnesses or who are responsible for supporting others who may be called as witnesses. This would include social workers, those involved in child care, investigators, police analysts, crime scene investigators and expert witnesses.

What is the course about?

The course aims to remove the mystique surrounding the giving of evidence in court by explaining to delegates the procedures to be expected in a courtroom, the roles of those involved and how to go about giving evidence.

What does the course deliver?

The one day course consists of a series of presentations covering important aspects of a witness’s role in a court hearing. The areas explained in detail will include:

• Different types of courts and tribunals
• Processes to be expected in the various settings
• Roles of other professionals such as judges and lawyers
• Layout of a typical courtroom
• Taking of the oath
• Various types of evidence
• Rules relating to witness testimony
• How to deal with cross examination
• How to prepare for court attendance
• What happens at the end of a court hearing

A number of delegates will have the opportunity to undergo a simulated witness testimony which will include cross examination by a practising barrister.

What will I get out of it?

At the conclusion of the course, delegates will be better able to:

• Understand the processes and procedures which are followed in court;
• Appreciate the different roles undertaken by the people in a courtroom;
• Prepare for attending a court hearing;
• Be prepared for giving evidence as part of a trial or hearing.

Duration One Day

Cost on application

For further information please contact us