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Police Procedure
Graham Maranda
One of the most challenging tasks for crime and mystery writers is getting the police procedure right. This column is all about helping you to find out the information you need to know.
Graham Maranda has years of experience to bring to his regular column for crime and mystery authors, with advice about police procedure and an insider's view of criminal activity. You'll find that basic police procedure is similar all over the world. The rules can vary from state to state, so make sure you understand the basic processes, then check the local procedure for your novel's setting.
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Police Officers and Second Jobs/Alternative Jobs
Graham Maranda
Like many other people in the community, police officers sometimes have second (and even third) jobs. Is this officially sanctioned? What rules are there about secondary employment? And what kinds of jobs are police officers or ex-police officers likely to take up? Graham Maranda gives us some insights into this interesting question... . . . keep reading
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General Duty Police
What They Do
Graham Maranda
Recently, I stumbled upon a report prepared by the NSW Auditor-General in 2000 titled 'Performance Audit - Managing Injured Police - NSW Police'. It included an annexure of the 'Inherent requirements of a General Duties police officer'. This formal break-down provides a clear overview of what front line policing entails. I suggest these 'inherent requirements' are consistent for all front line Australian police. . . . keep reading
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Characters and Scenarios
In a Police Procedural Novel
Graham Maranda
Writers often experience difficulties in finding out the information they need to know about police procedure. I've just completed answering a series of questions from a writer whose main characters include the police investigations team of a fictitious Australian rural city (population around 30,000).Here is some of the information I shared... . . . keep reading
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Electronic Surveillance - an Investigative Tool
Graham Maranda
Before you go creating a telephone intercept scene where your villain is implicated in the theft of a box of almond croissants, be aware that interception is only authorised where the offence being investigated falls within the definition of 'Serious Offence'. The 'long arm of the law' is not so long, in many cases. So, what types of offences are considered serious at law? . . . keep reading
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Crime Scenes - Murder
Graham Maranda
What does a police officer have to think about at a crime scene - say, where the body lies on the steps in front of an open door? Such matters as: "Are there any other bodies inside? Is someone in there dying from wounds inflicted? Did the dead man outside, inflict a wound on a person inside the house? Is the dead man's killer inside the house sleeping?" . . . keep reading
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Crime Scenes
Graham Maranda
Who examines a crime scene? Which officers attend? Who is 'who' at a crime scene? What generally happens at a crime scene? What is a crime scene? Who is allowed into the crime scene? Over the next few weeks I will attempt to unravel this beast. Hopefully, this will assist for creating your next crime story... . . . keep reading
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The Right to Silence
Graham Maranda
Writing a story with cops and robbers? Does part of your plot involve questioning, arresting and / or interviewing someone? Does questioning involve informal (questions undertaken in the street or scene of the crime) or a formal (structured interview process which most likely will be presented in a future court hearing)? Let me try to put some clarity to the fundamental matters involved in a person's right to silence. . . . keep reading
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Crossing Genres or Age Groups
Marg McAlister
For one reason or another, you might be thinking of switching genres, or changing from one age group to another. What are the problems you might encounter? Do you have to re-learn or un-learn anything? What are the differences, say, in writing for adults when you've been used to writing for children - or vice versa? . . . keep reading
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Search Warrants Part 2
Graham Maranda
Part 2 of the Search Warrants article covers such things as service of the occupier's notice, hours of execution, announcing your presence before entry, the informant, police characters, and false or misleading information... as well as a final few words from Graham.
. . . keep reading
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Search Warrants - Part 1
Graham Maranda
What is a Search Warrant? It is a legal document generally issued by a court of law following application by investigating police to search particular premises for particular evidence. The search warrant provides police with the power to enter premises (by force if necessary) and to search and seize 'things' mentioned in the search warrant. However, police will only have a certain time frame to execute the warrant... . . . keep reading
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Ann Harth
