Crime and intelligence - Crime recording policy (N05)

1. Summary of changes

1.1. This policy has been reviewed in August 2023 – paragraph 3.4 amended.

2. What this policy is about

2.1. This policy and linked SOP provide guidance and information in regards to crime recording within Kent Police. This includes:

• the impact to adhering to the Home Office Counting Rules (HOCR) and National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS)
• an explanation of different Crime Related Incidents (CRIs) recorded on Athena and a list of outcome codes, introduced in April 2014

Compliance with this policy and any linked procedures is mandatory.

3. Statement of policy

3.1. The purpose of this policy is to provide officers and staff with guidance on the correct processes regarding crime recording, including the interpretation and explanation of CRIs, outcome codes and the NCRS and HOCR.

3.2. In all cases where the HOCR are referred to, consideration should be given to referring directly to these rules. In most cases the full HOCR provides working examples to assist with interpretation.

3.3. This policy is important and failure to comply properly with correct recording procedure can have an effect on Kent Police's accuracy in regards to crime statistics and intelligence picture, and thus its service delivery, reputation and public confidence.

3.4. An incident will be recorded as a crime for ‘victim related’ offences if, on the balance of probability: (A) the circumstances of the victims report amount to a crime as defined by law (the police will determine this, based on their knowledge of the law and counting rules); and (B) there is no credible evidence to the contrary immediately available. A belief by the victim (or a person reasonably assumed to be acting on behalf of the victim), that a crime has occurred is usually sufficient to justify its recording and any investigation which follows is then taken forward with an open mind to establish the truth. This is in accordance with the NCRS.

4. Risk assessment

4.1. This policy has been assessed as medium risk.

5. Equality Impact Assessment (EIA)

5.1. An EIA has been carried out and shows the proposals in this policy would have no potential or actual differential impact on grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, transgender, disability, age, religion or belief or sexual orientation.

6. Consultation

• Investigation Management Unit
• Force Crime and Incident Registrar
• Finance
• Human Resources
• Health and Safety
• Legal
• Freedom of Information
• Equality and Diversity

7.Monitoring and review

7.1. This policy will be reviewed every two years by Investigation Management Unit detective chief inspector with the next review scheduled for August 2025.

8. Security

8.1. Kent Police have measures in place to protect the security of your data in accordance with our Information Management policy (Policy W1000 – Information Management).

9. Retention and disposal of records

9.1. Kent Police will hold data in accordance with our Records Review, Retention and Disposal policy (Policy W1012 – Records Review, Retention and Disposal).