Statistical modelling in specific case analysis.

In spite of the problems associated with the development of a statistical approach in specific case analysis, the potential of two statistical methods, logistic regression and Bayesian belief networks, has been investigated and found encouraging in the context of a database relating to child murders with a sexual connotation. Continual collaboration between statisticians and detectives would be needed in the collection of the data, the choice and construction of the models, and the interpretation of the results.