Exhibit management in homicide or serious crime investigations

Question 1

What is an exhibit?

Answer 1

An item which comes into the possession of police during the course of an investigation, whether or not it is eventually tendered in formal evidence.

Question 2

**In smaller investigations the OC exhibits (in conjunction with OC investigation) may also conduct an appreciation and facilitate a thorough interrogation of every exhibit to establish:

Answer 2

• Evidential value of each exhibit
• Investigative opportunities presented by each exhibit
• Further enquiries that are needed

Question 3

**The OC exhibits must, where appropriate, update the OC investigation and 2IC with relevant information relating to:

Answer 3

• Where exhibits have been found, and their movements
• The results of any exhibit examinations
• Whether any further enquiries are required

Question 4

Safe storage of exhibits: In the first instance the OC exhibits should only accept an exhibit if:

Answer 4

• The exhibit label contains the exhibit number and the name of the op.
• The property is correctly packaged and sealed
• Prompt preserving action has been taken

Question 5

Forensic strategy meetings are held to:

Answer 5

Determine which exhibit or other forensic examinations are required and the priority of those examinations

Question 6

**Who attends forensic strategy meetings?

Answer 6

OC investigation 
2IC 
OC exhibits 
Crime scene co Ordinator 
Anyone else deemed necessary by the OC investigation

Question 7

Topics covered off during a forensic strategy meeting

Answer 7

• What examinations ESR and others could conduct on exhibits
• Priority each examination should receive
• Whether any further work is needed to assist a reconstruction
• An agreed reconstruction of events relevant to the crime under investigation

Question 8

The OC exhibits must ensure the police form 143 contains sufficient information, including:

Answer 8

• Brief circumstances of the case
• Purpose of the examination
• Location where each item originates from e.g. a particular scene, victim, witness or suspect
• Whether any exhibits are damp or require special attention
• Authorisation by the appropriate supervisor

Question 9

Producing exhibits in court: The OC exhibits is responsible for preparing the exhibits for production at court. This must be conducted in a manner which:

Answer 9

• Clearly demonstrates the evidential value of the exhibits, e.g. by mounting clothes on a mannequin or board
• Avoids any risk of physical injury, disease, accident, contamination or damage

Question 10

**While an exhibit was under their control, each person with custody of the exhibit must be able to demonstrate in IMT or PROP:

Answer 10

• When they received custody of the exhibit and from whom
• Where and how the exhibit was securely stored
• When, why and how the exhibit was moved from one place to another
• How the exhibit has been treated, safe guarded and preserved
• When and why they transferred custody of the exhibit to another person, and to whom