It’s pretty much all been said, but as someone whose degree is in Criminology I would like to assure you that the claims made by “psychics” of “assisting the police” are pure bullshit.
What tends to happen in practise is that these people make highly emotive and unverifiable assertions in the media, then make a claim that the police are not “listening” to them, which results in the police getting a whole lot of phone calls, emails or letters supporting the “psychic’s” viewpoint. All of which only adds to the background “noise” with which the investigative officers have to deal.
When has any “psychic” and/or their supporters offered their assistance in a “low-profile” case?
I’m an atheist, and a scientist of sorts (there are many who would contend that as a social science, criminology doen’t count as a “real” science); I’ve certainly had experiences which I cannot explain in terms of my current understanding of science (or indeed anyone else’s).
Are there people who have observed relevant fact relating to crime which they didn’t immediately, recall? You bet. You don’t even have to argue the existence of a deity, let alone some “supernatural” force in order to substantiate these claims.
“Psychic”, however, has become a dirty word not because of it’s origins and what it originally meant, but because of what those people who now sell their services as $5 per minute imply by their use of the world.
It’s a con - but it’s a con in which the victims are willing conspirators. They want to believe, just like Fox Maulder.
Psychic? What fucking bullshit. Give met the age, gender, socio-economic status of a child and their family history and I can take a very good guess not only at their fate but the mile radius, the time frame, and the condition in which you will find their body. Lots of the time - happily - I’ll be wrong; but criminologists rarely make public projections, whereas “psychics” often do (and charge for them).
Criminologists work the numbers - we do so within the context of the legal framework and we are very often wrong. But we do NOT charge by the minute or by the hour for opinions which we are very aware are only our interpretation of the facts as presented to us.
“psychic”, smychic - these people are opportunitst, pure and simple.