Crime Indexer

The main role of the Crime Indexer is to code offence behaviour onto our bespoke SCAS database. Each case submitted to the unit is prioritised based on a number of factors which measure the level of risk posed to the public. Having allocated themselves the highest priority case, the Crime Indexer familiarises themselves with the case material in order to populate the SCAS database with details of the offence.

Once the case has been coded onto the database, it is searchable by SCAS Crime Analysts during the analysis stage; therefore, the quality and accuracy of the coding is of paramount importance, as errors could result in potentially linked cases not being identified during analysis.

Another integral part of the Crime Indexer role is to liaise with designated contacts within police forces throughout the UK. Each Crime Indexer is allocated a number of forces for which they are the main point of contact. The Crime Indexer is the first port of call for queries from their forces and they provide advice, information and support to their designated contacts to help them in identifying and submitting cases to SCAS. It is also via the designated force contacts that SCAS receive their case submissions and the Crime Indexer is responsible for processing these. For each case that is submitted to the unit, the Crime Indexer reads the case material and determines whether the case meets SCAS criteria before progressing the case to its next stage within the unit.

Alongside their main role, Crime Indexers have access to a number of development opportunities within the unit. This includes getting involved with research projects, training new members of staff, or attending training events for designated force contacts.