A psychic detective (PD) is a person who claims to investigates crimes claiming to use supernatural powers or magic. This is a popular feature in some types of fiction, but whether or not people actually possess such powers is disputed.
In reality
A number of people claim that they have these psychic abilities and that they have assisted police in solving kidnapping and murder cases, or usually locating a corpse. No psychic detective has ever been praised or given official recognition by the F.B.I. or US national news for solving a crime, preventing a crime, or finding a kidnap victim or corpse. (Lyons and Truzzi, 1992 & Nickell, 1994)
Typically, little evidence is provided to back up these psychics claims, and many law enforcement agencies say that they regard psychics as a waste of time and a hinderance to police work (see below). Movies, television dramas and "entertainment news shows" showcasing psychic detectives are for audience entertainment.
In a study of psychic detectives, Piet Hein Hoebens and Marcello Truzzi found ample reason to doubt the claims of psychic abilities solving crime: " ... some PDs' 'visions' are bound to be 'correct' often enough for the credulous to be duped. What seems like an accurate perception is due to its vagueness, commonness, and the latitude available as to what will count as a psychic hit. E.g., 'I see water near the body;' 'I see trees.' Some PDs are very skilful in their use of vagueness and ambiguity, and provide 'the verbal equivalent of a Rorschach test'".
Abilities of psychic detectives are frequently alleged include postcognition (the supernatural perception of the past), psychometry (the paranormal divination of information based on reading the 'aura' of a place or object), and telepathy. Psychic detectives also use tarot reading, voodoo, numerology and dowsing. In murder cases they will often claim to communicate with the spirits of the murder victims.
Skeptics point out that if psychics ever did provide useful information leading to solving a crime, the police might consider them to have privileged knowledge, that would thereby make the psychic a suspect.
Specific psychic detectives
Sylvia Browne has claimed to help solve crimes. Her claims so far have been vague enough that their truthfulness could not be confirmed or denied.
In 1979, Brazilian medium Chico Xavier, a renowned spiritual leader in his country, is alleged to have transcribed a statement from a murder victim declaring the innocence of the man convicted of the crime. The letter was accepted as evidence and soon the victim allegedly "testified" through Chico who the actual murderer was - resulting in a man being set free.
Psychic Scott Russell-Hill appeared on Australian TV show "Sensing Murder", using numerology calculations to try to solve a mysterious murder.
Official police responses
Australia
Australian police have said that they do not accept assistance from psychics. This was in response to an Australian TV show "Sensing Murder" in which self-professed psychics attempt to crack unsolved murders.
Additionally, an unnamed Australian federal police officer was suspended following his seeking the aid of a "clairvoyant" in regards to death threats made against Prime Minister John Howard.
Los Angeles
"The LAPD has not, does not and will not use psychics in the investigation of crimes, period. If a psychic offers free information to us over the phone, we will listen to them politely, but we do not take them seriously. It is a waste of time." (Dan Cooke, PR)
"It is important to note that no information that would have been investigatively useful, such as first and last names, licence plate numbers, apartment house locations etc. was accurately produced by any of the subjects." (LAPD study)
United Kingdom
"Scotland Yard never approaches psychics for information. There are no official police psychics in England. The Yard does not endorse psychics in any way. There is no recorded instance in England of any psychic solving a criminal case or providing evidence or information that led directly to its solution." (Inspector Edward Ellidon)