Stage 8

This is the stage where the police gather and analyse facts. The police will look over all of the evidence they have collected and analyse this evidence correctly. These facts can come in many forms, such as forensic evidence. Forensic evidence could be evidence that has been found in the crime scene such as fingerprints / footprints, bodily fluids such as blood, semen or saliva, physical evidence such as items of clothing found at the scene or any weapons. All this evidence help a lot in crimes to narrow down who was at the crime scene therefore who was involved in the crime. In the James Bulger case, the fingerprints found in The Strand shopping centre were matched with Jon Venables, proving that Jon had been in The Strand the day James went missing. Forensic evidence was also found where James' body was discovered. The forensic team found an iron bar, described in court as a railway fish plate with matching blood samples on it, 27 bricks and one stone with blood stains on them.

Witness statements can open more leads for the police, in the James Bulger case there were 38 witness statements from people who had seen or even met James Bulger but did nothing to take James away from the two boys despite the fact he had injuries. Witness statements are very useful in cases, especially in murder cases as they can provide the police with new found evidence, or add to the evidence they already have. Witness statements can be used as evidence in court. The 38 witnesses were called to the trial of Jon Venables and Robert Thompson to give a clearer picture of who took the lead in the murder of James Bulger.

Gathering intelligence on a suspect could be the final evidence that the police need to provide them with a good case for the conviction of a suspect. This could be information such as the suspects previous convictions - if they have committed a similar crime to the one that is being investigated, the suspects life style and any associates that know of the suspect and can give information on them, about their character and any other useful information that the police could use. In the James Bulger case, there was no previous similar convictions from Jon Venables and Robert Thompson. The police used character references from family, friends and neighbours who knew of the boys. They also gathered information from their school, by doing so they discovered that the boys had skipped school on the Friday that James was murdered, this was vital information that the police could use for prosecution.