What’s not measured still does not get done: An empirical exploration of the police response to rogue trading incidents

Abstract

This paper explores the police response given to rogue trading doorstep crime incidents. Using a mixed-methods Applied Thematic Analysis of a year’s records of the Thames Valley Police force’s crime recording database, the research draws upon police officers’ own accounts to illustrate the way the crimes are recorded and investigated. Despite rogue trader criminality meeting a number of police priorities, including protecting vulnerable victims and tackling organised crime, the findings reveal a widespread failure to identify, record, and fully investigate criminal offences. It identifies a lack of consideration of the relevant legal requirements and a failure to investigate the ‘work’ undertaken by suspects to victims’ homes. Discussing these findings within the wider framework of fraud and white-collar crime, this paper proposes that the substandard police response may result from negative organisational cultures as well as a lack of training or familiarity with this crime type.