Investigation • Core questions

5WH police meaning

5WH formula — core investigation questions. A straightforward operational memory aid for 5WH.

Short answer

College of Policing APP (Investigation process) tells investigators to apply the 5WH formula — who, what, when, where, why and how — with the relevance/reliability/admissibility filters to organise knowledge, spot gaps in material and set lines of enquiry. Also used to structure interview questions alongside TED prompts.

5WH
5WH formula — core investigation questions
WWho
WWhat
WWhen
WWhere
WWhy
HHow

When officers use it

College of Policing APP (Investigation process) tells investigators to apply the 5WH formula — who, what, when, where, why and how — with the relevance/reliability/admissibility filters to organise knowledge, spot gaps in material and set lines of enquiry. Also used to structure interview questions alongside TED prompts.

Practical point: use the mnemonic alongside current training, procedures and the live facts.

Why Section includes this

Section is a fast UK police reference app for officers and student officers: offences, points to prove, PACE powers and operational mnemonics in one offline place.

What does 5WH stand for?

W = Who, W = What, W = When, W = Where, W = Why, H = How.

ADVOKATE — Assessing eyewitness identification evidence (Turnbull factors) GOLDEN HOUR — Effective early investigative action PEACE — Investigative interviewing framework

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