Area Canvass Enquiries in Homicide or Serious Crime Investigations

Question 1

What is the purpose of the area canvass phase?

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

What re the objectives of an area canvass?

Answer 2

The main objectives of an area canvass may include:
• identifying the offender
• identifying and locating evidence, such as vehicles, discarded clothing, weapons and other articles
• identifying witnesses
• gathering information.

Question 3

What are the benefits of the area canvass?

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

What specialist police units can be used in the area canvass phase?

Answer 4

Specialist Police units such as the Criminal Profiling Unit or criminal or geographic profilers may be consulted to assist with setting parameters or identifying locations where suspects are likely to frequent or to reside.

Where practical, parameters may be set to correspond with natural boundaries such as railway lines or roads.

Question 5

What can a risk assessment identify once the boundaries or parameters of the area canvass phase are set?

Answer 5

Once the location parameters are set, intelligence systems should be analysed to establish whether there are any people or events in the area which those carrying out
the enquiries should be aware of. This may include:
• 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.

Question 6

What canvass or resource tools are available to the OC area canvass?

Answer 6

The OC Area Canvass should seek to obtain suitable street maps, aerial photographs showing houses and the location of sections, geological information, local council records
and other applicable references. Consideration can be given to open source Internet applications, Police intelligence systems and public libraries to obtain resources. Maps of
New Zealand, including aerial photographs, are available through Google Maps and the Quality Analysis tools managed on Analysts’ Enterprise workstations.

Question 7

Staff morale:

Answer 7

The OC Area Canvass should ensure staff morale remains high and this can be achieved by providing regular feedback on the way canvass enquiries are contributing to the progress of the investigation, together with updates on the progress being made with other phases of the enquiry.

Question 8

What should the master record contain?

Answer 8

A detailed master record of ongoing progress should be continually maintained and updated by the OC Area Canvass, showing:
• which addresses have been visited,
• which occupants interviewed,
• the documentation completed,
• and any relevant comments made

Question 9

What other options are there for the OC area canvass to compliment the door to door enquiries?

Answer 9

• Media.
• Poster campaign.
• Mail drop.
• High profile police presence, using a caravan.

Question 10

What will the final report from OC area canvass contain?

Answer 10

The report should include; a summary of all action taken, any significant findings highlighted and attention drawn to any action that has been undertaken which was outside of the original phase strategy.