4. Area Canvas Flashcards
What is the purpose of an area canvas?
a methodically conducted area canvas presents a high likelihood of identifying or contacting the offender, an associate of the offender, significant witnesses, identifying evidence or exhibits and establishing significant facts.
What are the responsibilities of the O/C Canvas?
must ensure the area canvas team remains focused and that the canvas results in efficient use of resources and the return of relevant and manageable information and material.
What are the main objectives of an area canvas?
- Identifying the offender
- Identifying and locating evidence
- Identifying witnesses
- Gathering information
What are some of the benefits of an area canvas?
- Sightings of the victim or offender before or after the event
- Sighting of relevant property or vehicles
- Sightings of potential witnesses
- Creating the opportunity for an early arrest through early ID of the offender
- Obtaining key info to drive the investigation or develop lines of enquiry
- Promoting awareness of significant occurrences
- Eliminating unidentified vehicles or persons
What are the requirements for an area reconnaissance?
the OC Investigation, OC Area Canvas, and OC Suspects should attend the general scene as soon as practicable to make a reconnaissance of the area, conduct an appreciation and set the parameters and objectives of the canvas.
What are some considerations around the timing of a canvas?
an initial area canvas will normally be conducted when Police first attend the incident. Consideration should be given to conducting a canvas at the same time as the originally offence to capture people who regularly pass through that area at that time of the day.
What are some the relevant locations that may be of interest?
- Sites where victims, offenders or witnesses have been present
- Sites where offences have taken place
- Sites where vehicles, property, or exhibits have been found
- Premises within line of site of scenes
- Access and egress routes to and from scenes
- Areas where an offender may have lain in wait
- Location where the victim was last seen alive
- Locations or premises frequented by the victim
What is needed to be aware of, for risk assessment purposes, when looking at locations?
- Violent offenders
- Persons wanted by police for other crimes or wanted on warrant
- Groups with particular linguistic or cultural needs
- Local incidents or issues which residents may raise with Police
What are key points for team briefings?
- Summarise the situation and detail the duties and areas of responsibility of each canvas team member
- Emphasise the need for thoroughness and that every person in every household must be seen personally
- Stress that the questionnaire is only a guide and should be regarded as flexible
- Advise the evidence of probative value must be obtain in a formal statement rather than notebook
- Ensure all forms are completed and actioned as completed
What needs to be done for team motivation?
OC Canvas should ensure staff morale remains high and this can be achieved by providing regular feedback on the way canvas enquiries are contributing to the progress of the investigation, together with updates on the progress being made with other phases of the enquiry. Attention should be paid to the facilities provided for those involved and canvas team members should be regularly visited to monitor welfare, maintain control, morale, enthusiasm and efficiency.
What does the master record need to be updated with?
- Which addresses have been visited
- Which occupants interviewed
- The documentation completed
- Any relevant comments made
What are some other alternative canvas options?
- Media
- Poster campaign
- Mail drop
- High profile police presence e.g. use a caravan
What must the O/C Canvas do at the completion of canvassing?
- Conduct a debrief of canvas staff
- Ensure all questionnaires are reconciled with the master list
- Ensure all staff notebooks are accounted for
- Submit a report to the OC Investigation, detailing the results of the area canvas
What does the O/C Canvas need to include within their final report?
- Summary of all action taken
- Any significant findings highlighted
- Attention drawn to any action undertaken outside of the original phase strategy
What is the purpose of monitoring progress?
- evaluate quality
- identify lines of enquiry
- monitor progress
- record progress
