Evaluating the crime desk and its role as investigator

This paper addresses key issues in the implementation of a managed response to crime. Based on a major study of resource allocation decision‐making procedures in the British Police Service, it focuses on the “crime desk”, both as an aid to management and as an operational centre for new forms of investigation. While the authors found a clear indication that crime desks brought benefits by alleviating the administrative burden imposed by the crime recording process, evidence that their potential as an investigative resource was less clear. However, they produce a strong argument that this could be amended if key issues are understood and addressed by the police service.