Area Canvas Enquiries / Witness Management in Homicide or Serious Crime

Question 1

What is the purpose of conducting area canvases

Answer 1

A methodically conducted area canvass therefore 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.

Question 2

Main Objectives of an area canvas

Answer 2

• identifying the offender
• identifying and locating evidence, such as vehicles, discarded clothing, weapons and other articles
• identifying witnesses
• gathering information.

Question 3

Other benefits of area canvas

Answer 3

• 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 early identification of the offender
• obtaining key information to drive the 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 4

Why must area canvass be reviewed regularly

Answer 4

An area canvass must be regularly reviewed as new evidence is gathered and amended accordingly

Question 5

What must happen before an area canvas

Answer 5

• Obtain suitable street and other maps of the area showing houses and location of sections.
• Visit and inspect the canvass area to record every address including flats and vacant sections. Confer with the OC Investigation to assess:
  the extent of action taken to date
  identify the parameters to be covered, including the physical boundaries of the area
  assess the staff, transport and other resource required.
• Reconcile the list of premises with the map.
• In conjunction with the OC Investigation, develop an area canvass strategy addressing:
  area canvass objectives
  location parameters
  time parameters
  risk assessment
  identifying suspects/persons of interest
  identifying witnesses
  resources
  use of questionnaires.
• Divide the area into manageable sections and plan a progressive canvass, completing priority areas first.

Question 6

During an area canvas

Answer 6

• Fully brief all staff, covering the following:
  Summarise the situation and detail the duties and areas of responsibility of each team member.
  Emphasise the need for thoroughness and that every person in every household as well as visitors must be seen personally.
  Stress the questionnaire is only a guide to ensure the questions are asked, but should be regarded as flexible in that information supplied could lead to other questions.
  Evidence of possible probative value is to be obtained by way of Formal Written Statement and this must be endorsed on the questionnaire.
  Provide guidance on what action staff should take if they:
  identify the suspect; or
  locate evidence; or
  encounter individuals who refuse to assist.
  Expectations for how correspondence is to be completed.
  What information can and can not be disclosed.
• Ensure all forms are completed and actioned - see questionnaire guidelines.
• Shade in the map as each household is completed, to enable a quick up-to-date record to be kept of the area canvassed. A similar map, updated daily, is to be kept at the Operation HQ.
• Maintain a detailed ongoing record of area canvass results showing addresses visited, occupants spoken to, documentation completed and relevant comments. An Excel spreadsheet template of area canvass results is provided in the area canvass folder within the Serious Crime Template.
• Visit team members regularly during the area canvass to monitor welfare, maintain control, morale, enthusiasm and efficiency.
• Attend investigation squad conferences and supply situation reports.

Question 7

Preliminary witness interviews