Stage 2

The preliminary investigation is the stage that comes after the initial response. This is the stage where the police look at any evidence found and if there are any suspects they can interview. It is the police's job to interview any witnesses or any suspected victims, this is very important for getting the correct information to continue with the case. The interviews with witnesses need to be held as soon as possible to make sure the witness can recall what they saw accurately. The preliminary investigation differs depending on which type of crime is being looked at, if there is a victim, a crime scene, if there's any witnesses. For example, if there is a crime scene, the police will have to cordon off the crime scene so that no evidence can be contaminated, then all evidence will be collected from the crime scene and secured.

In the James Bulger case, James' mother had given a description of what he was wearing that day, therefore when viewing the CCTV from that day, the police spotted James. This was very important evidence. The image found on the CCTV was of Jon Venables holding James Bulger's hand walking through The Strand shopping centre with Robert Thompson leading. At the time, the police did not have any idea who the two boys with James Bulger were. The police had assumed the two boys on the CCTV were teenagers.