The Use of Psychics by Police
Move over CSI and NYPD Blue, a new cop show is coming to town. A recent wave of shows turned up a different kind of police investigator. Shows like Psych and Medium set the line between reality and fantasy closer than ever by introducing a very different kind of character into the field of Criminal Law – a psychic. But just how realistic are these shows? Are there really hired psychics – real or imagined – in police forces?
With a little investigation, it appears that these clairvoyant aids to the police are a mere work of fiction. The British Scotland Yard, the LAPD, and the Australian police (among others) had all once issued statements that they do not, and will not, seek the help of a psychic, nor do they have hired ones. Most of the times, if approached by a psychic, the police force will listen politely but ignore the “advice” of such people. In fact, in April of 2006, a senior member of the Australian Federal police was suspended for turning to an alleged psychic for help on an investigation in progress. The policeman was accused of misconduct and revealing confidential information to an outside source.
This negative publicity has not discouraged psychics from turning up and offering their guidance. Sylvia Browne is a self-proclaimed psychic and medium who has claimed to help solve crimes. So far her hints and help have been vague enough to be difficult to confirm or contradict. And there have been many other cases of unconfirmed psychic help.
If the basis of psychic cop shows is not in modern reality, why do we have such a fascination with the idea? In the past, seeking help from clairvoyant and unconventional sources such as oracles and seers was common practice. There is even documentation of official uses of divining rods, dreams, and communicating with spirits. Whether or not such a practice is useful and results in the truth is still up for debate, but most signs are pointing at no.
The usefulness of psychics in investigation is difficult to judge since in today’s society, any organization that attempts it will be met with ridicule and opposition, as can be seen in the Australian case. However, in a 1996 survey held in Pennsylvania 16% of the police departments surveyed admitted using psychic help in investigations in the past. 78% claimed that they never had, and 10% admit that they had been approached with clairvoyant help but had declined it. A member of the police, when interviewed, stated that psychics are used quite often although those seeking help may stay quiet about it, or may even deny it.
On the surface, psychics hold no place in the criminal investigation field. Many deny using their help, and some are even apprehended for it. Yet people continue to seek the help of these individuals, though unofficially. At this point it seems that this controversial practice may never become official and that characters such as the ones in Psych and Medium may remain just that – fictional characters which exist solely for the purpose of our entertainment.
