Which term is a formal written record documenting the details of an event or crime?

• A. Incident Report
• B. Field Notes
• C. Crime Analysis
• D. Intelligence-Led Policing

Answer: (A)

In policing, the formal written record that captures the details of an event or crime is the incident report. It is created to document who was involved, what happened, when and where it occurred, the sequence of events, witnesses, evidence, and the actions officers took. This makes it an official, complete, and retrievable document used for investigations, court filings, insurance claims, and agency reporting, often following standardized formats and codes.

Field notes, by contrast, are informal, quick observations made during a shift and not the finalized record used for formal processes. Crime analysis involves examining data to identify patterns and inform strategies, rather than detailing a single event. Intelligence-led policing is a broader strategic approach that uses analyzed information to guide operations, not a single incident document.