Police Assistance in England & Wales

When a British citizen is killed abroad, the matter should be investigated by the appropriate authorities in that country. However, there are circumstances where it may be best practice for the police in England or Wales to be involved. These might include:

  • Identification of the deceased following a request for forensic samples to be obtained (eg: dental records, DNA analysis and fingerprints).

  • The overseas police service or relevant authority specifically request for enquiries to be conducted in the UK. An example of this would be where the overseas authority contacts police via Interpol or Europol.

  • The deceased’s body is returned to England and Wales and the local coroner requests police assistance for the purposes of an inquest.

  • Where the suspect is a British national there are certain circumstances where the suspect can be prosecuted in England and Wales.

  • The death involves a conspiracy to murder, which has taken place in England and Wales, but the actual death occurs overseas.

  • Bereaved families request police to assist in establishing the circumstances of the death of a British national. This can arise where the family are dissatisfied with an investigation overseas and seek advice on murder investigations. It is important to note that a police force in England and Wales has no power to conduct criminal investigations overseas and the primacy of the relevant foreign jurisdiction must be respected.

  • There is a formal request from an overseas authority for direct investigative assistance in the country where the death occurred.

Irrespective of the circumstances in which the police become involved in an investigation it is considered best practice to appoint a Senior Investigating Officer or Officer In the Case, since such investigations often present unique legal and cultural challenges. The appointment of a Senior Investigating Officer in support of any investigation into the death of a British national abroad is a decision for the local Chief Officer of Police.

Understanding Police Ranks of the United Kingdom

Most of the police forces of the United Kingdom use a standardised set of ranks, with a slight variation in the most senior ranks for the Metropolitan Police Service and City of London Police.

  • Police Constable (PC)

  • Sergeant (Sgt or PS)

  • Inspector (Insp)

  • Chief Inspector (C/Insp)

  • Superintendent (Supt / "Super")

  • Chief Superintendent (C/Supt / "Chief Super")

A police officer with investigative duties, up to and including the rank of Chief Superintendent, is a detective and the word Detective is prefixed to their rank (eg: Detective Chief Inspector), except for the rank of Police Constable where the word Police is omitted, making them a Detective Constable:

    •    Detective Constable (DC)
    •    Detective Sergeant (Det Sgt or PS)
    •    Detective Inspector (Det Insp)
    •    Detective Chief Inspector (Det C/Insp)
    •    Detective Superintendent (Det Supt / "Super")
    •    Detective Chief Superintendent (Det C/Supt / "Chief Super")

‘FLO’ is the abbreviation for Family Liaison Officer - The primary purpose of a FLO is that of an investigator. Their role is to gather evidence and information from the family to contribute to an investigation. The FLO also provides support and information, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, securing confidence and trust of families of victims of crime , ensuring family members are given timely information in accordance with the needs of the investigation.

‘SIO’ is the abbreviation for Senior Investigating Officer - The SIO leads major crime investigations and is accountable to chief officers for the conduct of an investigation. They manage the investigative response, all resources associated with the investigation, develop and implement strategies, procedures and systems that underpin the investigation and ensure the management and assessment of threat, risk and harm.

The standard Chief Officer ranks outside London are:
    •    Assistant Chief Constable (ACC)
    •    Deputy Chief Constable (DCC)
    •    Chief Constable (CC)

Within London's Metropolitan Police Service, the Chief Officer ranks are:
    •    Commander
    •    Deputy Assistant Commissioner (DAC)
    •    Assistant Commissioner  (AC)
    •    Deputy Commissioner
    •    Commissioner

The City of London Police use similar Chief Officer ranks to the Metropolitan Police Service but with fewer ranks:
    •    Commander
    •    Assistant Commissioner
    •    Commissioner.

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police is often considered to be the highest police rank within the United Kingdom, although in reality every Chief Constable and the two Commissioners are supreme over their own forces and are not answerable to any other officer.