Exhibits

Question 1

An exhibit is?

Answer 1

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. Exhibits will
come to the attention of Police in a variety of forms and by diverse means. Whether they are physical, documentary or biological the need for consistency in how they are managed is critical to ensure the integrity of exhibits is maintained.

Question 2

In homicide and other serious crime investigations, the person appointed to the role of OC Exhibits should be a?

Answer 2

Suitably qualified in terms of training and relevant experience. In a homicide investigation it is recommended that the OC Exhibits is a qualified Detective.

Question 3

The OC Exhibits is a qualified Detective, preferably with previous experience in?

Answer 3

• mass exhibit handling
• forensic principles
• methods of exhibit recovery
• approved procedures for packaging and security of evidence
• managing contamination and cross-contamination issues
• use of standardised documentation as contained in the Serious Crime Template.

Question 4

During any investigation, the OC Exhibits is responsible for?

Answer 4

Establishing and maintaining exhibit management systems and for maintaining the physical security and continuity of all exhibits. Their duties will culminate in the provision of an accurately recorded exhibit package and the availability of exhibits as required throughout the Court process.

Question 5

In smaller investigations the OC Exhibits (in conjunction with the OC Investigation) may also conduct an appreciation and facilitate a thorough interrogation of every exhibit, to establish the?

Answer 5

• evidential value of each exhibit
• investigative opportunities presented by each exhibit
• further enquiries that are needed.

Question 6

The OC Exhibits is responsible for establishing required standards for the?

Answer 6

Recovery, handling, labelling, storage, submission to experts, presentation at Court and disposal of
exhibits and ensuring these processes are completed in accordance with the requirements set by the OC Investigation and the Serious Crime Template. The OC
Exhibits must communicate required standards to all investigation team members, usually at investigation conferences.

Question 7

The OC Exhibits must, where appropriate, update the OC Investigation and 2IC with relevant information relating to?

Answer 7

• what exhibits have been found, and their movements
• the results of any exhibit examinations
• whether any further enquiries are required

Question 8

In the first instance the OC Exhibits should only accept an exhibit if?

Answer 8

• the exhibit label contains the exhibit number and the name of the operation. Other details such as a description of the item, the details of the person finding it, the time, date and location are recorded on the Scene Exhibit Schedule, as downloaded from the Serious Crime Template.
• the property is correctly packaged and sealed, and the exhibit label is visible and secured on the outside of the package
• any prompt action necessary to preserve the exhibit has been taken, for example, drying wet or bloodstained clothing in an appropriate drying facility. The OC Scene,
OC Exhibits and where necessary ESR should be consulted as necessary. For guidance, refer to the ESR Forensic Evidence Guidelines.

Question 9

Whether sealed or not, no exhibits should be taken into the?

Answer 9

Investigation Headquarters

Question 10

All decisions relating to selection of particular types of forensic examination and prioritisation of those examinations in a homicide or other serious crime investigation will be made at a?

Answer 10

Forensic Strategy meeting.

Question 11

Developing a strategy for examination of exhibits allows the OC Exhibits to?

Answer 11

Prioritise tasks in line with the direction of the investigation.

Question 12

Forensic Strategy meetings are held to determine?

Answer 12

Which exhibit or other forensic examinations are required and the priority of those examinations.

Question 13

Those attending Forensic Strategy meetings include the?

Answer 13

OC Investigation, 2IC, OC Exhibits, Crime Scene Co-ordinator/OC Scene, and anyone else deemed necessary by the OC Investigation.

Question 14

Topics covered during a Forensic Strategy meeting may include?

Answer 14

• 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 15

Following any Forensic Strategy meeting, the OC Exhibits must record on the Exhibits Register, all?

Answer 15

Decisions taken about the types of examinations to be conducted and the priority allocated to the examination of each exhibit.

Question 16

Ensure any exhibits identified for forensic examination are prepared before being delivered, specifically?

Answer 16

• all items are separately wrapped
• all parcels are sealed
• all items or their packages are labelled and numbered
• a list of all items is attached to the Police Form 143
• the Police Form 143 is consistent with the labels on the items
• items are in an appropriate condition, for example, clothing is dry and
blood samples are refrigerated.

Question 17

The OC Exhibits must ensure the Police Form 143 contains sufficient information, including?

Answer 17

• brief circumstances of the case
• purpose(s) of the examination
• location where each item originates from e.g. from a particular scene,
victim, witness or suspect
• whether any exhibits are damp or require special attention
• authorisation by the appropriate supervisor.

Question 18

All exhibits photographed in a Police photographic studio must have the?

Answer 18

Exhibit number displayed in the photograph.

Question 19

The OC Exhibits must facilitate the inspection of exhibits by?

Answer 19

Defence counsel, in circumstances where Police have an obligation to allow such inspection, under section
19(1) of the Criminal Disclosure Act 2008

Question 20

The OC Exhibits is responsible for arranging the transportation of exhibits to and from Court, for their?

Answer 20

Security at the venue and for their production, as directed by the Prosecutor.

Question 21

The OC Exhibits is responsible for preparing the exhibits for production at Court. This must be conducted in a manner which?

Answer 21

• clearly demonstrates the evidential value of the exhibits, eg. by mounting clothes on a mannequin or board
• avoids any risk of physical injury, disease, accident, contamination or damage.

Question 22

The OC Exhibits should dispose of the exhibits as directed and prepare and submit a report of exhibit disposal to the 2IC. The report should include?

Answer 22

Appropriate receipts for all exhibits that have been returned and certificates of destruction for others.

Question 23

While an exhibit was under their control, each person with custody of the exhibit must be able to demonstrate?

Answer 23

• 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, safeguarded and preserved
• when and why they transferred custody of an exhibit to another person, and to whom.

Question 24

The exhibit numbering system should be simple, efficient and provide the following key attributes?

Answer 24

• be consistent
• allow delegation of exhibit numbers to staff who will utilise them
• cope with multiple scenes
• be compatible with technology, allowing searching to be conducted using exhibit numbers
• encompass all exhibits, e.g. Medical Examination Kits (MEKs), documents, reference blood samples and photographs sent to ESR.

Question 25

Where local practice requires that a Police Form 268 must be completed before property can be accepted into the local property/exhibits store, and exhibits are to be held in this store, then a single Police Form 268 should be completed in respect of all of the exhibits.
This is achieved by?

Answer 25

• listing the range of exhibit numbers submitted
• Listing the name of the operation
• attaching a copy of relevant Scene Exhibit Schedule(s).
This Form 268 will not form part of the evidential chain of custody.

Question 26

A Scene Exhibit Schedule is a list of exhibits relating to a specific?

Answer 26

Place of origin. The Schedule can be used to record exhibits relevant to a particular crime scene, search
warrant, suspect, list of Court exhibits or other property situation.

Question 27

The Scene Exhibit Schedule should record the following information for each exhibit?

Answer 27

• exhibit number
• detailed description of the exhibit
• name of the operation
• location of the scene
• exact location where the exhibit was found, at the scene
• name of the finder
• date and time it was seized
• relevant signatures.

Question 28

The OC Exhibits is responsible for entering information from each Scene Exhibit Schedule onto the?

Answer 28

Exhibit Register, where they will also enter details of all exhibit examinations.

Question 29

A Chain of Custody form must be completed when an exhibit is transferred from the custody of the OC Exhibits to?

Answer 29

Any other person, for example when forwarded for
expert analysis or to another staff member for interrogation. When combined with Scene Exhibit Schedule(s), they provide the date, time, name and witnessing signature for every change of custody, for every exhibit.

Question 30

The OC Exhibits will prepare a formal written statement from the Exhibit Register which forms the master record of?

Answer 30

All exhibits in an investigation. There is therefore no need for the OC Exhibits to prepare a separate jobsheet.

Question 31

OC exhibits should brief each officer in charge of an investigation phase on scene and provide them?

Answer 31

• Exhibit number ranges to be used at each scene
• Standard Operating Procedures for the investigation
• Blank Scene Exhibits Schedules.

Question 32

Take charge of any exhibits from various phases of the investigation. Before accepting any exhibit into their custody, OC Exhibits must ensure the person who seized the exhibit has?

Answer 32

• 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 33

Obtain the original Scene Exhibit Schedule(s) from officers in charge of phases of the investigation so the exhibits received can be audited. Ensure each exhibit is entered on the Scene Exhibit Schedule with the?

Answer 33

• exhibit number
• full description of the exhibit
• name of the operation
• location of the scene
• exact location where the exhibit was found, at the scene
• name of the finder
• date and time it was seized
• relevant signatures.

Question 34

OC exhibits should update the OC Investigation with?

Answer 34

• what exhibits have been found, and their movements
• any examination results
• whether any further enquiries are required.

Question 35

OC exhibits should attend all investigation team conferences and?

Answer 35

• make the Exhibits Register available

* update others regarding exhibits which have been found and the results of expert examinations conducted.

Question 36

What are types of exhibits?

Answer 36

Physical, documentary and biological.

Question 37

Exhibits seized pursuant to a production order or search warrant must be disposed of in accordance with?

Answer 37

Sections 150 and 151 of the search and surveillance act 2012.