Understanding the challenges in conducting criminal investigations into sexual offences within the Malta Police Force

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the challenges faced by local sexual offence investigators when conducting criminal investigations. Consequently, two research questions were developed, being: 1) What do local sex crime investigators perceive as challenging in their investigations? 2) What possible solutions can address these challenges? This study adopted a qualitative approach, involving five semi-structured interviews with Vice Squad officers. The research tool was created by drafting a set of openended questions based on the literature review and guidance from the researcher’s tutor. These questions were formulated in a way that best fit the research questions. The primary data generated were analysed using thematic analysis, from which three main themes emerged. Subordinate themes were also elicited from each main theme. The first main theme, “The Uphill Struggle” considers the investigators’ main challenges, which stem from psychological, professional, and personal factors. This study proves, both through the findings and the consulted literature, that these factors are intertwined and interrelated. The second main theme, “Fighting the Struggle”, delves into the positive aspects of the participants’ experiences as sexual crime investigators. Meanwhile, the third main theme, “The Light at the End of the Tunnel”, explores a series of solutions for the challenges encountered and the necessary measures to maintain the existing positive elements. Overall, the findings suggest that local sexual crime investigators encounter various challenges that affect all aspects of their work and lives. Moreover, these challenges are complex in nature and can influence or even exacerbate other difficulties, potentially leading to a detrimental cycle that negatively impacts the investigator and, subsequently, the investigation, or vice-versa. That said, the findings also suggest that sexual crime investigations yield some positive factors. This is seen in the strong sense of collegiality and satisfaction obtained from the investigations. The study also uncovers a number of measures to retain such positive factors while addressing the aforementioned challenges. Conducting criminal investigations into sexual offences within the MPF is highly challenging and affects all aspects of the investigators’ lives and work; nevertheless, the investigators still experience positive factors indicating a non-dystopian setting. Moreover, the challenges faced are not deterministically permanent as they can be addressed. This study sets various recommendations for future studies to obtain a further understanding of local sex crime investigations. This study also provides recommendations for policy and practice to effectively address the encountered challenges while maintaining the positive factors. These recommendations include measures to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of these investigations, safeguard the investigators’ well-being, increase the amount of investigators and improve investigators’ capabilities. In conclusion, this study obtained a comprehensive understanding of local sex crime investigators’ experiences to provide a holistic and scientific way forward to address the challenges while maintaining and building on the existing positive factors.