I estimate the average time spent in a police cell before the police ‘allocate’ the job to an OIC is around 12 hours, followed by average time spent in custody altogether around 18 hours. Question I have is what on earth do the police do for 12 hours?

Expeditious?
Diligence?

It’s interesting reading the responses from the police to this tweet, some of them very awful indeed. The truth is, my tweet is based on data and it’s backed up by academic research. Sure, further investigation is needed during detention, but question marks for delay remain.

If you are a real, anonymous or an ex-police officer who has responded (whether it is bile or professionally engaging), you may wish to read Crim. L.R. 2020, 2, 129-147 by @DrVickyKemp.

Thank you to those that have engaged in reasoned debate. It would seem there’s merit in suggesting delay differs amongst each force; delay caused by change in arrest & IVing officer; and delay caused by allocation. Improved ‘critical pathway analysis’ may remedy the latter.

The final point I would make is that we view things in silo. Perhaps a good analogy is the construction industry. If one party is delayed at the beginning of a project, it impacts on everyone else. The pinch point therefore in custody is ‘allocation’.

Happy Sunday!