Effective Investigation of Child Homicide and Suspicious Deaths 2e

Crimes against children are some of the most serious, demanding investigations that the police and their partner agencies can be involved with. It is an extremely specialized crime area, constantly evolving with updated guidance, legislation, and working practices. This book offers an up-to-date practical approach to managing the investigation of child death, setting the protocols and procedures relating to these deaths, from sudden and unexpected deaths in infancy (SUDI) to suspicious cases and homicide.

Drawing on the author’s extensive experience, this new edition of Effective Investigation of Child Homicide and Suspicious Deaths is an indispensable resource for those tasked with this challenging but essential work. Contributions from key medical professionals frame the complex and technical role of medical evidence and forensic procedures within a more practical setting. This new edition now also offers valuable psychological insight into how personality types, offending behaviours, and motivation can inform professionals’ understanding and approach. A reminder of the nuances of child death investigations is present in the striking but sensitive inclusion of personal accounts from victims’ families, insight from child bereavement support organisations, and child death reviews.

David Marshall, Director of Dave Marshall Consultancy Ltd; Former Detective Chief Inspector at Metropolitan Police, London,

David Marshall QPM, Former Detective Chief Inspector, Metropolitan Police

David Marshall QPM has over 30 years of police service experiencing many facets of investigating serious crime based at New Scotland Yard London. In the last nine years of his service as a detective chief inspector on the Child Abuse Investigation Command he was responsible for all intra-familial child homicides and complex child abuse in London including over 50 child homicides and suspicious death investigations. Since retiring he has delivered training on investigating child death for police forces and others around the UK and internationally. He has an MSc in Forensic and Legal Psychology from the University of Leicester.