Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act (CPIA) 1996

Question 1

4 R’s of CPIA

Answer 1

Record
Retain
Review
Reveal

Question 2

Relevant material

Answer 2

Material that may have some bearing on:
Any offence under investigation
Any person under investigation
The surrounding circumstances of a case

Question 3

Unused material

Answer 3

Material that may be relevant to the investigation but does not form part of the prosecustion

Question 4

Information

Answer 4

Refers to all information obtained, recorded or processed for a policing purpose

Question 5

Relevancy test

Answer 5

Relevant material can become irrelevant throughout the case dependant on its impact (visa versa) referred to as the ‘relevancy test’

Question 6

CPIA

Answer 6

• regulates the procedures of investigation and prosecution of criminal offences
• aims to provide a process for the disclosure of relevant and unused material in criminal proceedings

Question 7

Disclosure officer

Answer 7

• responsible for examining all material
• reveal certain material to persecutor
• review and reveal material throughout criminal proceedings
• disclose material to the accused (or his legal representative) at the request of the prosecutor

Question 8

Prosecutor

Answer 8

• acts of behalf of the crown
• conduct criminal proceedings resulting from an investigation
• responsible for disclosing relevant material to the defence

Question 9

Investigator

Answer 9

• any police officer involved in the conduct of a criminal investigation
• must notify the ‘disclosure officer’ of the existence and location of material use in the investigation

Question 10

Officer in charge (OIC)

Answer 10

• direct a criminal investigation by ensuring all reasonable lines of enquiry are followed
• be accountable
• smaller cases, disclosure officer will also be the OIC
• retain all relevant material