Crime Scene Examination

Question 1

What are the objectives of a crime scene examination

Answer 1

E – Establish if an offence has been committed
E – Establish the offences key elements and provide facts for the basis of an inquiry
I – Identify the suspect and establish contact with the victim or scene
I – Identify people associated with the offence
E – Exonerate the innocent
C – Corroborate or contest witness and victim accounts
V – Verify confessions and admissions
E – Exclude possible defences
C – Corroborate or exclude other evidence relating to the offence or incident

Question 2

Responsibilities of the O/C scene

Answer 2

F – Controlling, freezing, preserving the scene and ensuring it is safe
B – Briefing all staff of their duties
C – Coordinating and overseeing the crime scene investigation
C – Providing the communication link between the scene and the OC investigation
P - Ensuring scene is photographed, fingerprinted and examined before search
C – Establishing a common approach path between the cordon and focal point
R – Conducting a reconnaissance to gain overall picture of scene and test reconstructions
S – Planning a Strategy for forensic examination
E – Uplifting and ensuring delivery of labelled exhibits to the exhibit recorded
P – Proving relevant exhibits in court

Question 3

What is a reconnaissance

Answer 3

A reconnaissance is the preliminary inspection or survey made to get an overall picture of the scene without disturbing evidence

Question 4

Steps for conducting a reconnaissance

Answer 4

Gather all information

Create a common approach pathway

Look for: offenders routes in and out, POE, extensions to the scene, obvious evidence

Sketch the scene and briefly note anything of significance

Note and prepare for changes that could impact evidence

Reconsider the scene boundaries

Consider the placement of hot, warm, and cold zones

Question 5

What should a scene strategy cover

Answer 5

1 – Starting Point, POE
2 – Exhibit Deterioration
3 – Specialists Required
4 – Placement of hot, warm and cold zones
5 – Method of Search, systematic and logical
6 – Individual roles and responsibilities
7 – Recording systems to be used, notebook, schedules
8 – Protection methods to prevent contamination of the scene
9 – Exhibit handling

Question 6

What to do when finding an exhibit

Answer 6

• do not touch or move it
• advise the O/C scene - to view it
• consider its significance for reconstruction
• photograph it in situ
• consider fingerprints
• mark the position where it was found
• measure the position from a fixed point
• plot the position on a sketch map

Question 7

Exhibit numbering

Answer 7

Any exhibit located must be assigned an individual exhibit number. This number must be unique, clearly identifiable with that particular exhibit and recorded on the exhibit label and scene schedule.

Exhibit numbering system should be simple, efficient and provide the following attributes:

• be consistent
• allow delegation of exhibit numbers to the staff who will be using them
• cope with multiple scenes
• be compatible with technology, allowing searching to be conducted using exhibit numbers
• encompass all exhibits, eg MEK, blood samples and photographs sent to ESR