Product Description

The Crime Writers Guide to Police Practice and Procedure is the detective in your pocket - something you can reach for when you feel your writing needs that short sharp shock of real-life investigating. Every crime writer has paused at some key point in the development of their book to wonder about what happens in real life. How far from that can they safely go for the sake of the plot and still be believable? How does a cop react to a bloated body, or even worse a part of one? This well-crafted book has been written with this in mind. It can be what you want it to be; a handy reference book - how can I use low count DNA to identify the killer? - or a textbook to guide you at the outset whilst you are still developing your plot, leaving you confident that you have covered all the angles.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30838 in Books
• Published on: 2009-04-30
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

About the Author
Michael O'Byrne started his police career in the sixties, aged 19, in the Royal Hong Kong Police, serving there through Mao's cultural revolution. He then moved to the Metropolitan Police, working in Notting Hill, the West End and New Scotland Yard before moving to Surrey then Thames Valley, ending his police career as chief constable in Bedfordshire.

Customer Reviews

At last, a decent guide for crime writers based on English practices and procedures.
After searching fruitlessly for years I found this little gem.
There are any number of guides based on US law and procedures but precious few on English law and fewer still that are up to date.
Michael's book is an excellent reference guide for writers to ensure your "writer's license" doesn't stray too far from facts but, as a bonus, it is also an absorbing read in its own right.
Anecdotes and case histories are included as examples but it doesn't sink into the mire of just being an autobiography.
Michael sets out to write a guide we can all use and he succeeds in spades. A must for every crime writer's reference book shelf. Look no further.

At last, a proper reference book for writers
After trawling through many books on police procedures (which usually end up being based on the US system), I was looking forward to the release of this which I saw advertised on Amazon. I have not been disapointed as it is a pleasure to read; not just as a reference book but as an interesting non-fictional book. Obviously the author has credibility and it is written in a clear style, with the technical language being used without it suffocating the reader. I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the british police force.

Excellent and informative
This book is a well written and well organised overview of how the UK police force operates.
You can tell it was penned by someone who knows what they're talking about. Highly recommended for people who want to know the parameters a modern police force has to stay within and still secure a safe conviction.
Absolutely indispensable in my opinion.