Area Canvass Enquiries in Homicide or Serious Crime Investigations Flashcards
Introduction
Area canvass must be methodical, timely, flexible and tactical. It provides a snapshot of the community at the time and place at which the offence occurred.
Purpose of Area Canvass
Often links exists between the scene of crime and the offender, victim and witness.
A methodically conducted area canvass there 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 as the offender needed to move into and out of the scene itself.
Responsibilities of OC Area Canvass
OC AC reports to the OC Investigation and together must ensure the canvass is conducted thoroughly and recorded accurately.
Main Objectives of Area Canvass
- Identify the offender
- Identify and locate evidence, such as vehicles, clothing, weapons and other articles
- Identify witnesses
- Gather information.
Other benefits:
- Sightings of the offender, victim, property, vehicles, potential witnesses before or after the event
- Eliminating persons or vehicles
- Create opportunity for early arrest
- Develop lines of inquiry
- Promote awareness of significant occurrences
- Obtain accurate record of local community.
Getting Ready for an Area Canvass
Preparation:
- Area canvass checklist
- OC Area Canvass should familiarise themselves with the serious crime template.
Reconnaissance:
OC Investigation and OC Area Canvass should attend the general scene as soon as practicable, to make a reconnaissance of the area and conduct an appreciation and set the parameters and objectives of the canvass.
Objectives:
- Realistic
- Communicated to all staff involved
- Ensure all understand
- Should be approved by the OC Investigation.
Timing of the Area Canvass
- Initial area canvass when Police first attend the incident
- Formal area canvass
- Revisits are required to capture persons who were not present
In some cases, area canvass should be conducted at the similar times as the offence occurred to capture people who regularly pass through the area at the time of day.
Identifying Local Parameters
OC Area Canvass should ensure all available information has been analysed to identify locations which are significant to the investigation.
Relevant locations which may influence the setting of location parameters:
- Scenes where victim/offender/witness have been present
- Scenes where offence took place
- Scenes where vehicle/property/exhibits have been found
- Premises with line of sight of scenes
- Areas where offender may have lain in wait
- Location where victim was last seen alive
- Locations frequented by the victim
- Locations of similar or previous incidents identified by intelligence.
Behavioural Science Unit or Criminal or Geographic Profilers may be consulted for setting parameters.
Parameters may be set to correspond to natural boundaries - roads, railways.
Risk Assessment
Once location parameters have been set, intelligence systems should analyse whether there are people or events in the area which the Canvass Staff should be aware of. This may include:
- Violent offenders
- Persons wanted by Police for other crimes
- Groups with particular linguistic or cultural needs
- Local incidents or issues residents may raise with Police.
Identifying Time Parameters
Time parameters are used by canvass staff to verify the presence of individuals at an address or area, and to interview potential witnesses. Time parameters should be set for:
- Times when (offence) is though to have occurred
- Times when people visited the (scene)
- Times when victim/offender/witness were (sighted)
- Previous residents and visitors at the scene
- Consideration of people’s work times.
Identifying Suspects / Persons of Interest
When POI is established at an location, identify:
- All persons residing/working at that location
- Accounts of their movements at relevant times
- Corroborate their accounts.
Discreet Area Canvass
Setting “Subject” Parameters
Resources and Canvass Tools
Questionnaires
Discreet Area Canvass:
- Convert canvass phase to identify people who may avoid particular areas due to Police presence.
Setting “Subject” Parameters:
- Identify people with particular characteristics who are not offenders. Seeking identity sighted by other witnesses e.g. man with a dog.
- Exclusion of groups of community e.g. under 14yrs.
Resources and Canvass Tools:
- Street maps
- Aerial photographs
- Geological information
- Council Records
- Open source internet APPs
- NIA
OC Area Canvass to plan a manageable, progressive canvass focusing on priority areas first.
Questionnaires:
To ensure relevant information is gathered in a consistent manner. OC Investigation to authorise use.
- A form: Full details / vehicle / persons present during offence
- B form: Questionnaire used in Investigation.
Key Points for Team Briefings
- Summarise the situation and detail the duties and responsibility of each canvass team member.
- Emphasise the need for thoroughness and that every person in every household and visitors must bee seen personally.
- Questionnaire is only a guide, be flexible responding to information supplied.
- Evidence of probative value must be obtained in a FWS. Questionnaire must be endorsed if FWS taken.
- Visit canvass area to record every address.
- Ensure all forms are completed.
- Complete locations on master copy to avoid duplication.
- Advise staff:
- Action upon identifying offender
- Action if they locate exhibits
- Action if persons refuse to assist
- What information can be disclosed during area canvass
- What information must not be disclosed.
Monitoring Progress
- Review quality of work
- Identify lines of enquiry
- Monitor ongoing progress
- Detail recording of progress: addresses visited, people spoken to, documents completed, relevant comments made.
Points to Consider
Use of Experts:
- For areas of diverse ethnic culture to avoid misinterpretation of response and behaviour.
Use of Aid Memoir:
- Ensure staff have all information to conduct interviews.
Leaflets:
- People who are reluctant to give information can later communicate with Investigation Team.
Other Options:
- Media
- Poster campaign
- Mail drop
- High profile Police presence, using a caravan.
Studies shown 40% of occupants within canvass zone could be unknowing witnesses.
Debriefing
At the conclusion of the area canvass, a thorough debrief must be carried out. This may include confirming such aspects as:
- Key locations where door to door enquiries have been undertaken
- Relevant information provided
- Identity of suspects
- Descriptions of persons seen
- Confirm all enquiries are documented
- Issues arising and future improvements.
