Exhibit Management in Homicide or Serious Crime Investigations

Question 1

The OC exhibits should only accept an exhibit if?

Answer 1

OC Exhibits must ensure the person who seized the exhibit has:
• correctly preserved the exhibit
• labelled each exhibit with the exhibit number and name of the operation
• correctly recorded the exhibit in an Exhibits Schedule
• labeled, separately packaged and sealed the exhibit in accordance with Standard Operating Procedure
• assigned a unique exhibit number from the allocated number range.

Question 2

Why are forensic strategy meetings held?

Answer 2

Forensic Strategy meetings are held to determine which exhibit or other forensic examinations are required and the priority of those examinations.

Question 3

What is the purpose of developing a forensic strategy?

Answer 3

Developing a strategy for examination of exhibits allows the OC Exhibits to prioritise tasks in line with the direction of the investigation

Question 4

What is done at the conclusion of a forensic strategy meeting?

Answer 4

Following any Forensic Strategy meeting, the OC Exhibits must record on the Exhibits Register, all decisions taken about the types of examinations to be conducted and the
priority allocated to the examination of each exhibit.

Question 5

What topics are covered in a forensic strategy meeting?

Answer 5

• What examinations ESR and others could conduct on exhibits.
• The priority each examination should receive.
• Whether any further work is needed to assist a reconstruction.
• A plan for any work to be completed that is required to assist the reconstruction.
• An agreed reconstruction of the events relevant to the crime under investigation.

Question 6

What is meant by ‘Chain of Custody’?

Answer 6

The chain of custody includes every individual who has had custody of an exhibit, from the time it was first discovered until the time it is produced in Court. It is used to demonstrate the integrity, and therefore admissibility, of exhibits.