Exhibits Flashcards
What is an exhibit:
An exhibit is any item which comes into the possession of Police during the course of an investigation, whether or not it is eventually tendered in formal evidence.
What is the purpose of the OC exhibits?
OC Exhibits is responsible for establishing and maintaining exhibit management systems and maintaining the physical security and continuity of all exhibits.
Safe storage of exhibits:
OC exhibits should only accept an exhibit if:
- the exhibit label contains the exhibit number; the name of the operation; description of item; details of finder; time/ date/ location of finder; ensure recorded in PROP/ IMT.
- properly packaged and sealed and the label is visible and secured on the outside of the package.
- prompt actions to preserve the exhibit has been taken, for example drying wet or bloodstained clothing in a drying facility.
*** What is a forensics strategy
Why is it important
A Forensic Strategy is a strategy for examination of exhibits that allows the OC Exhibits to prioritise tasks in line with the direction of the investigation.
The strategy must be approved by the OC Investigation and continually reviewed throughout the investigation to keep abreast of developments.
Topics covered in a forensic strategy meeting:
- 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 required work to be completed to assist the reconstruction
- An agreed reconstruction of the events relevant to the crime under investigation.
When forwarding an exhibit for examination, follow these steps:
- Ensure exhibit examination decisions are confirmed through the forensic strategy meeting process
- Record in the IMT or PROP Application all decisions taken about the types of examinations to be conducted and the priority allocated to each examination.
- Ensure the OC Investigation has authorised the proposed examination
- Prepare the necessary papers for the ESR or other expert, eg the Police 143 forms
- Ensure any exhibits for examination are prepared before being delivered (eg. Sealed, wrapped separately, labelled, numbered etc)
- Deliver the exhibits for scientific examination promptly to avoid deterioration and loss of evidence.
- Inform the expert undertaking a scientific examination if it is no longer required.
What to do with results of examination:
Must update the Exhibits Register with the results of the examination.
Must inform OC Investigation and not assume that they are aware of it by some other means.
Preparing exhibits for Court
It is the OC Exhibits responsibility to prepare exhibits for court. This must be conducted in a manner which:
- clearly demonstrates the evidential value of the exhibits, eg. Mounting clothes on a mannequin or board
- avoids any risk of physical injury, disease, accident, contamination, or damage.
** Explain a Common Approach Path
A ‘common approach path’ is a path that runs within the scene between the Police Cordon and the Scenes focal point, and causes the least amount of disturbance to the scene.
Investigators must take care not to use the route believed to have been taken by the offender, so that any potential evidence is preserved and the integrity of the scene is maintained.
What action should be taken when OC Exhibits recognises further enquiries are required for a particular exhibit?
They must highlight this to the 2IC so that follow up enquiries can be initiated.
What is the Chain of Custody and what is it’s purpose?
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 the exhibits.
