First responder

Question 1

What is an incident scene

Answer 1

The place where any incidents occurs which is or may be defined as a routine investigation, a serious non-criminal situation or major investigation or a scene established as a cream scene under the PPRA.

Question 2

Responsibilities of a first responder

Answer 2

Assume control: 
Identify extent (contain the scene)
Render the scene safe: 
Scan for evidence/protect the evidence 
Assist the public
Take notes

Question 3

Define a routine investigation

Answer 3

An investigation of a criminal offence which does not fall within the definition of a major event investigation and which can be adequately dealt with at station or establishment level and requires limited or no specialist support

Question 4

Define a serious non-criminal situation

Answer 4

A serious non-criminal situation is defined as a situation requiring a police response which is not the result of unlawful activity and which cannon be adequately resolved within the capability of local resources.

Question 5

define a major investigation

Answer 5

Involves serious violence against the person, armed offences, substantial loss of property and systematic offences

Question 6

If we first arrive at a scene, and the suspect has just fled the scene. What information do we want to gather about the suspect to give to other police officers?

Answer 6

Description?
Manner? Weapons? Violent?
What direction? What kind of vehicle?

Question 7

When responding to an investigation, what are somethings a first responder should be doing?

Answer 7

Survey/scan incident. 
Define the affected area. 
Give assistance
look for evidence that needs to be preserved
Take details of evidence and where
Suspect details 
decide/organise support

Question 8

How would you preserve the scene

Answer 8

Ensure no evidence is contaminated, lost, damaged, destroyed
mark location by using police tape/cones/baricades/police vehicles
exclude all person from entering the scene
Commence a log of events

Question 9

If a crime scene is not in a public place what do we do? Who do we need to go to?

Answer 9

Supreme Court to get a warrant.

Question 10

Explain PPRA 165: Give police the power to establish crime scene

Answer 10

(1) If a police officer enters a place that may be a crime scene, or is lawfully at a place, and decides the place is a crime scene, the police officer (the responsible officer) may establish a crime scene and exercise crime scene powers at the place.

For crime scene powers, see division 3.

(2) If another police officer assumes control of the crime scene, that police officer becomes the responsible officer instead of the other officer.
(3) The responsible officer may establish the crime scene in any way that gives anyone wanting to enter the place enough notice that the place is a crime scene.

Question 11

Explain PPRA 163A/B: Establishing a crime scene

Answer 11

163A: crime scene threshold offence means
(a) an indictable offence for which the maximum penalty is at least 4 years imprisonment; or
(b) an offence involving deprivation of liberty.
responsible officer see section 165(1).

163B What is a crime scene
A place is a crime scene if—
(a) either of the following apply—
(i) a crime scene threshold offence happened at the
place;
(ii) there may be evidence at the place, of a significant
probative value, of the commission of a crime
scene threshold offence that happened at another
place; and
(b) it is necessary to protect the place for the time
reasonably necessary to search for and gather evidence
of the commission of the crime scene threshold offence.