Area Canvas

Question 1

What is the purpose of an area canvas

Answer 1

Identifying or contacting the offender, associate of the offender, witnesses, evidence or exhibits and establishing significant facts

Question 2

What are the 4 main objectives of an area canvas and other benefits

Answer 2

• identifying the offender
• identifying and locating evidence (vehicles, discarded clothing, weapons)
• identifying witnesses
• gathering infromation

Other benefits include

• sightings of the victim or offender before or after the event
• sightings of relevant property or vehicles
• sightings of potential witnesses
• creating the opportunity for an early arrest through ID of offender
• obtaining key information to drive investigation or develop lines of enquiry
• promoting awareness of significant occurrences
• eliminating unidentified vehicles or persons reported by other witnesses
• obtaining an accurate record of the local community

Question 3

Who should attend the external/general scene to make a reconnaissance of the area and conduct an appreciation

Answer 3

OC investigation
OC suspects
OC area canvas

Question 4

What 12 things may be included in the appreciation for an area canvas

Answer 4

• Reason the enquiries were made
• Locations involved
• Parameters covered
• Questions asked
• Staff involved
• Record kept
• Who was/wasn’t spoken to
• Alibi details
• Vehicles owned
• Witness statements taken
• Intelligence obtained
• Identity of any suspect or POI

Question 5

When should an area canvas be carried out

Answer 5

At the same time of the day that the incident happened

to capture people who regularly pass through that area

Question 6

When identifying parameters for the area canvas they must be what

Answer 6

Adequate and relevant to achieving the investigation objectives

Question 7

What 6 relevant locations may influence the setting of location parameters

Answer 7

• scene (victims/witnesses/offenders have been, offences taken place, vehicles, exhibits found)
• premises pathing the line of sight of scenes
• access and egress routes to and from scenes
• areas where an offender may have lain in wait
• locations or premises frequented by the victim
• locations of similar or previous incidents identified by intel as having occurred in the locality as current offence

Question 8

Who may assist with setting parameters

Answer 8

• Behavioural science unit

- Geographic profilers

Question 9

What risks should be considered in the parameter location

Answer 9

• violent offenders
• persons wanted by police for other crimes or warrants
• groups with particular linguistic or cultural needs
• local incidents or issues which residents may raise wth police

Question 10

What 5 things should the time parameters be set for

Answer 10

• the offence (time)
• the scene (times people visited)
• sightings (time seen at location)
• previous residents and visitors to the scene
• consideration of peoples varying work times

Question 11

Witnesses may include people who have witnessed what

Answer 11

• events connected to an incident under investigation
• sightings of the victim or offender before/after the event
• sightings of other potential witnesses
• sightings of relevant property or vehicles

Question 12

What is the purpose of a covert area canvas

Answer 12

To identify persons who may avoid the area if they were aware of the police presence

Question 13

What 4 tools can be used to assist with an area canvas

Answer 13

• street maps
• aerial photographs showing houses and sections
• geological information
• local council records

Question 14

How should the information gathered from an area canvas be recorded

Answer 14

The standard questionnaire, Form A and From B

Care must be taken to ensure the questions do not divulge information known only to Police and the suspect about the crime

Question 15

What 8 points should be covered in an area canvas briefing

Answer 15

• summarise the situation and detail duties and areas of responsibilities
• emphasise the need for thoroughness and for every person/visitors in every household must be seen personally
• questionnaire is only a guide
• FWS to be obtained if evidence of possible probative value
• consider visiting canvass area to record addresses including flats and vacant sections then reconcile these with the map
• ensure all forms are completed and actioned
• reconcile completed locations with the master copy to avoid duplication
• advise staff on what to do if
1) ID suspect
2) locate items of evidential value
3) individuals refuse to assist
4) how to complete the correspondence flow
5) what information can be disclosed
6) what information must not be disclosed

Question 16

Why (4) should the completed area canvas forms be continually reviewed as they are submitted

Answer 16

• evaluate quality of completed work and provide quality assurance
• identity lines of enquiry
• monitor ongoing progress of the canvass
• facilitate the detailed recording of progress

Question 17

What 4 things should be shown on the master record of ongoing progress of the area canvass

Answer 17

• which addresses have been visited
• which occupants interviewed
• documentation completed
• any relevant comments made

Question 18

What 4 points should be considered that may benefit an area canvas

Answer 18

USE OF EXPERTS
eg. in areas with diverse ethnic culture may help alleviate the misinterpretation of responses and behaviour

USE OF AN AIDE-MEMOIR/SCRIPT
eg. access to all relevant information to conduct interviews. TV schedules, significant events to jog memory, photos of victims property

LEAFLETS
eg. with details of the investigation and contact number

OTHER OPTIONS
eg. media, poster campaign, mail drop, hight profile police presence (caravan)

Question 19

What 16 points should be covered during a debrief at the conclusion of the area canvas

Answer 19

• key locations door to door enquires have been undertaken
• parameters of initial police activity
• what questions were asked and any perceived issues from respondents
• what records have been compelted
• who has been spoken to at what address
• whether personal descriptions been taken of persons seen
• whether NIA/intel checks have been completed in respect of persons seen
• any intel obtained
• whether persons have a credible alibi
• whether witness interviews have been conducted and/or statements taken
• details/locations of vehicles owned by persons interviewed
• details of other person who live or were present at the premises
• ID of any suspects
• details of premises where there was no response
• confirmation that all notebooks of staff members of area canvass are accounted for
• whether any issues arose that could improve future performance in canvass enquiries

Question 20

What 3 things should the report to the OC investigation include about the area canvas

Answer 20

• summary of all action taken
• significant findings
• attention drawn to any action that has been taken outside the original phase strategy

Question 21

What is a Part A form required for and what information is recorded on it

Answer 21

Required for:
• each dwelling
• each flat or apartment on a single property
• vacant dwelling/empty section

Records information:
• street name
• house number
• flat number
• personal details of all residents
• personal details of all other people who were visiting at the time of the offence
• vehicles used by all residents and visitors

Question 22

What is a Part B form required for and what information is recorded on it

Answer 22

Required for:
• Each person who is interviewed

Records information:
• personal details
• home details
• work details
• answers to specific questions

Question 23

OC area canvas retains Part B forms to…..

Answer 23

• check them for information relevant to the enquiry
• match them up with the relevant part A forms for that address
• tick off the part A entries to show who has been interviewed

Question 24

What 4 things should be done when a visitor to a house of an area canvas is no longer in the area

Answer 24

• submit a report requesting Police interview the person
• attach two copies of a part B form to that report
• give the original report and part B forms to the 2 IC
• attach a duplicate of the report to the relevant part A form as a record of an outstanding enquiry

Question 25

What 4 things must be done when a person is identified as having relevant information

Answer 25

• arrange a FWS to be taken
• record on part B form they made a FWS and add description of the person interviewed
• ensure the witness information is conveyed to OC area canvass and 2IC
• give part B from to OC area canvas

Question 26

When all enquiries in respect of a particular address have been completed the OC area canvas will do what 3 things

Answer 26

• file part A and B forms together in numerical and street sequence
• send duplicate part B form to file manager for filing alphabetically separate from main file
• shade in the area on the area canvass map

Question 27

Area canvas check list

Answer 27

BEFORE AREA CANVAS
• obtain street and other maps of the area
• visit the site to record every address to establish extent of action taken to date, ID parameters
• reconcile the list of premises with the map
• develop area canvass strategy
• divide area into manageable sections

DURING AREA CANVAS
• fully brief staff
• ensure all forms are completed and actioned
• Shane in the map as each house is completed
• maintain detailed record of results
• visit team members regularly to monitor welfare
• attend investigation confiecenes

AFTER AREA CANVAS
• decried
• ensure all questionnaires are reconciled with master list
• ensure all notebooks are accounted for
• submit report to OC investigation