Crime Scene Investigation 1 Flashcards
The actions of first responding Police have a critical effect on an investigation and on the
potential for capturing evidence. Enquiries will vary depending on specific circumstances.
The general investigation model, should be applied in all cases, this being
VAWSEIPO
Victim: Identify and locate the victim(s).
Appreciation: Make an initial appreciation of the incident. Assess personal risk and then
preserve the lives of others.
Witnesses: Locate and contain witnesses.
Scene: Preserve the scene (e.g. set boundaries).
Exhibits: Note evidence and preserve any that would otherwise be lost or
destroyed.
Ingredients: Consider whether the ingredients of the alleged offence have been
established.
Powers: Identify what powers are available and consider whether to execute them.
Offenders: Identify and apprehend suspect(s).
Applying an appreciation technique can provide the following key benefits:
- Informs all Police what they are expected to achieve
- Increases the chances of success,
- Establishes a sequence of activities to be carried out
- Manages risk
- Reduces uncertainty
- Eliminates duplication
- Ensures nothing is overlooked
- Effective use of resources
The steps of an appreciation
Aim, Factors, Course Open, Plan
The person reporting an incident is a critical witness in an investigation and it is a priority to
obtain all available information from them. Every effort should be made to obtain:
• identity and location of suspect
a first hand account of what they knows
• details of the location of the scene
• circumstances leading to the discovery
• identity of the victim
• details of anyone else at the scene
• full contact details of the complainant/informant
• demeanour of the complainant/informant
• relationship of the complainant/informant, to the victim or suspect
• action the complainant/informant has taken and where they have been
• details of any hazards or safety issues
In some circumstances a delay may occur between the initial report and Police arriving at
the scene. During this time, evidence may be lost or contaminated. In order to reduce this
risk, the complainant/informant may be asked:
• to return to the proximity of the scene, and guard it, if it is considered safe for them to
do so
• not to enter the obvious boundaries of the scene
• not to touch or move anything
• to prevent others from entering or touching the scene
• to await Police arrival and identify themselves to the first Police at the scene.
What is the first priority of attending Police members
Will always be to ensure the safety of the attending Police members and manage risk
On arrival at hospital, the detective should follow the steps
1 Obtain a medical opinion as to the victim’s current medical condition.
2 Seize the victims clothing and other possessions as evidence.
3 Establish the victim’s identity
4 Obtain a pre-transfusion blood sample using Police Toxicology Kit containers
5 Seize any discarded bandages used to cover gunshot wounds, and record the position on the victim where each bandage had been applied.
6 Arrange firearms residue samples in cases where firearm use is suspected,
including from the victim of any apparent suicide involving a firearm.
7 Note and photograph any injuries.
8 Arrange DNA swabs to be taken from the victim’s skin,
9 Obtain details of any and all persons who visit or contact the victim.
10 Conduct a scoping interview with the victim using appropriate open questioning
11 Conduct a preliminary interview with ambulance and emergency staff who treated the victim, using appropriate open questioning
Follow these steps when you discover a body.
1 Consider calling an ambulance and resuscitation, if appropriate
2 Remain with the body until relieved by CIB or a supervisor
3 Arrange a doctor to pronounce life extinct, unless death is obvious
4 Treat the ‘victim’ as a scene
5 Instruct medical staff to leave clothes on the body
6 If medical treatment has been given then request that connecting tubes, needles, bandages and other medical items are left ‘in situ’
7 If possible, conduct scoping interviews with medical staff who treated the victim and establish their actions, apparent cause of death and injury type(s).
8 Ascertain if the victim spoke to anyone before death and record what wassaid.
9 Record body position, lividity (gravitational settling of the blood), obvious injuries and clothing.
10 Objectively record everything observed using all senses, including sight, sound and smell.
11 Record all exhibits.
12 Sketch a plan including the position of the body and position of exhibits.
13 Provide full information to the OC Investigation, at an early stage.
Initial action to preserve a scene
Police who arrive at the scene first, should follow the steps
Identify Secure Preserve Consider Record
In regards to initial action to preserve a scene what action should be covered under IDENTIFY
• Gather information and carry out an initial assessment of the scene.
• Consider your warrantless powers to deal with evidential material in
respect of serious offences,
• Establish the ‘Crime Scene’ itself
• Consider possible approach paths and establish a Common Approach
Path
• Consider other ‘related’ crime scenes.
• What is happening at the scene and who is there?
• Note and record observations.
• Establish a scene headquarters, and safe arrival / assembly points.
• Provide a SITREP/SFP to Comms
What is the purpose of a scene guard. A scene guard and the log maintained by that person, is employed in order to ensure:
- there is no unauthorised entry into the scene
- integrity of evidence or potential evidence is secured
- intelligence opportunities are maximised
- contamination issues are managed
To what extent a scene guard is able to determine which events or information are relevant
to the case, will largely depend on how well they have been briefed. The duties of scene
guards include:
Secure scene Record details Control movements Record movements Brief others Avoid disturbance Protect scene Brief replacement Respect security Demonstrate courtesy Inform others
When a scene guard records details they should record the following
- name and designation
- authority to enter the scene
- purpose of the visit
- time of entry and time of exit
The plan to preserve and recover evidence from a forensically important witness should
consider these issues, where applicable:
- Immediate DNA swabs of any areas of the witness that the suspect may have touched.
- Immediate DNA swabs of any blood present on the witness.
- Immediate swabs of any other relevant stains present on the witness.
- Forensic medical examination, i.e. fingernail scrapings, hair combing etc.
- Seizure of clothing and footwear.
- Seizure of any items of property touched by the suspect.
What actions should be taken in obtaining key material from witnesses
1 Obtain full details of all persons present at the scene.
2 Assemble people in a clear area, ensuring a police officer remains with them.
3 If possible, isolate witnesses from one another to reduce the likelihood of contamination and/or collusion.
4 Identify witnesses and conduct a brief scoping interview, using open TEDS questioning.
5 Establish whether any persons have left the area.
6 If the witness has made telephone calls from the scene,
7 Record registration numbers of nearby vehicles to establish which drivers/passengers may have been in the area.
8 Seize any CCTV relevant to the vicinity/routes to establish who may have been in the area at the relevant time
