The Crime Standards Department is tasked with improving the standards of investigation through quality performance and providing support and assistance to other Headquarters CID departments, Chief Officer Group (COG), district colleagues and ultimately members of the public, in the following areas:

• Policy (all Headquarters CID policy, freedom of information and reviewing all national policy documents).
• Resource Unit (training and development of all police officers and police staff within Headquarters CID.
• Business Improvement Unit (provides support function and promotes continuous improvement across all Headquarters CID departments)
• Crime Standards (audits, review of crime standards and crime management).

The Avon and Somerset Prolific Offenders Scheme also forms part of the Crime Standards portfolio. The aim of this function is to give support and direction to districts on the way they manage their own prolific offenders. It is also a central point of contact between partnership agencies such as Probation and Prison Services. The aim is to ensure a level of corporacy in managing priority prolific offenders in the Avon and Somerset area.