IN01 Initial Action

Question 1

What does VAWSEEPO stand for?

Answer 1

V - victim/informant A - appreciation W - witness S - scene E - exhibits E - elements P - powers O - offender

Question 2

What considerations should you use with the V in VAWSEEPO?

Answer 2

• Obtain full particulars (full name, address, phone number, occupation, employer, DOB, email) - TEDS and 5W+H questions.

Question 3

What considerations should you use with the A in VAWSEEPO?

Answer 3

Used to consider all possible factors and alternative to assess any incident and decide on the best course of action. 1) What you want to achieve? 2) Factors relevant to achieving your aim 3) Alternative courses of action open to you 4) A plan outlining the best course of action open to you 5) Any safety issues for you, other staff or the public 6) If any assistance is neede 7) Time constraints 8) Resources, such as other staff, lighting, barriers, protective equipment and communications

Question 4

What considerations should you use with the W in VAWSEEPO?

Answer 4

Locate witnesses and find out what happened. - Consider TEDS + probing questions - Seek corroboration - Interview/take statement - Make some appreciations

Question 5

What considerations should you use with the S in VAWSEEPO?

Answer 5

Identify the scene, including entries or exits. Keep boundaries wide. They can always be brought in after the fact. Always freeze, control and preserve the scene. Consider photography. Consider your own safety and hygiene. Make some appreciations.

Question 6

What considerations should you use with the first E in VAWSEEPO?

Answer 6

• Consider whether there were articles that were used to commit the offence - Exhibits can help reconstruct what took place when there is nobody else to tell us e.g. blood trails, buttons, damage etc - Can show how an offence happened (e.g. bank statements) If the offence is serious, leave in situ unless risk to its preservations. Make some appreciations.

Question 7

What considerations should you use with the second E in VAWSEEPO?

Answer 7

Identify what offence has been committed and establish that all the elements for that offence are present. Work out how you can prove each element, e.g. intent, damage and other person. Make some considerations.

Question 8

What considerations should you use with the P in VAWSEEPO?

Answer 8

In most situations, a number of courses will be open to you. You can: - arrest, detail, search and seize - search pursuant to legislation - enter premises pursuant to legislation Make some appreciations.

Question 9

What considerations should you use with the O in VAWSEEPO?

Answer 9

Decide what you are going to do with the offender (e.g. warn, report, summons, alternative resolutions. Obtain particulars. If arresting, complete arrest procedure and give BOR. Where appropriate, search under Search and Surveillance Act 2012. Make some appreciations. Provide preliminary interview using 5W+H and TEDS style questions.

Question 10

When initially attending a scene there are three main considerations to ensure scene integrity. What are these three considerations and what do they involve?

Answer 10

1) Freeze – Keep the scene in its original condition. Nothing is to be touched or moved. 2) Control – All movement to and from the scene. All activity in the contained area. 3) Preserve – All relevant exhibits.

Question 11

What is a SFP?

Answer 11

Safe Forward Point is a safe location near an incident from which the forward operations can be supported?

Question 12

Actions you will take when: En route to scene.

Answer 12

• Obtain descriptions of suspect, any vehicle, weapons and direction of travel. (DOT)
• Discuss areas of responsibility with partner.
• Plan approach to the scene.
• Establish Safe Forward Point (SFP).
• Consider options.
• Consider options

Question 13

Actions you will take when: Arriving at scene.

Answer 13

• Update Comms
• Park in a safe area.
• Discuss approach to scene.
• have a radio and torch available
• Note what is happening, who and where.
• Ask for the informant or for witnesses.

Question 14

Actions you will take when: Obtaining information.

Answer 14

• Locate the informant / victim.
• Obtain the brief facts.
• Ask the informant / victim to identify the victim and/or offender and give their whereabouts
• Find out from the informant the location of the victim and the scene.
• If possible keep the informant occupied / ask them to remain at the scene or a specified place so you can interview them later.

Question 15

Actions you will take when: Checking the victim.

Answer 15

If there are signs of life:

• Call for Ambulance
• Define a pathway for medical staff
• note injury’s
• Obtain if possible to get dying declaration
• don’t move deceased body
• Record position of victim before removal.
• Accompany the victim to hospital (to protect exhibits give a sit rep to Comms and record medical staff details)

If there are no signs of life:

• Check for pulse and skin warmth.
• Call for medical assistance.
• Not the condition of clothing, wet or bloody. has it been disarranged?
• Stand still and record what you can see. such as position of the body. any exhibits etc
• If time allows draw a sketch, note the position of everything in the room / location.

Question 16

You arrive at the scene of an incident and locate a victim lying motionless in the middle of a room. You need to check the person for signs of life and possibly to render first aid. Thinking about maintaining the integrity of the scene, what three things must you remember when approaching the victim?

Answer 16

1) Don’t destroy exhibits or contaminate evidence when approaching the victim 2) Try to avoid the path used by the offender 3) Leave by the same path as you entered.

Question 17

You arrive at the scene of a reported stabbing in a local park and are tasked with setting the scene boundaries. What two factors should you consider when setting scene boundaries?

Answer 17

1) Think BIG 2) Remember to include the area from which the offender approached, entered and left the scene, including vehicles.

Question 18

You arrive at a scene and locate the informant. What are four things you should do when initially speaking with the informant?

Answer 18

1) Obtain the brief facts. 2) Ask the informant to: • identify the victim and/or offender • give the offender’s whereabouts 3) Find out from the informant the location of the scene and the victim 4) If possible, keep the informant occupied. Ask them to remain at a specified place so that you can re-interview them later, if appropriate.

Question 19

You arrive at a scene and locate someone laying on the ground with signs of life (but serious injuries). What should you do?

Answer 19

1) Render first aid 2) Call for assistance from doc/ambos via comms 3) Define a pathway for any medical staff who arrive. 4) Note an injuries 5) Consider whether it is possible to obtain an immediate statement, whether the victim can sign it or not, if it is anticipated that they may die (also known as a dying declaration) 6) Record the position of the victim on the ground before removal 7) If the victim is being transported to a hospital, a member must accompany them (to continue speaking with them, ensure clothing and exhibits are retained, record medical staff details and provide comms with an update).

Question 20

You arrive at a scene and locate someone laying on the group with no signs of life. What should you do?

Answer 20

1) Render immediate first aid if there is even the slightest chance of life 2) Get comms to call for medical assistance 3) Note conditions of clothing. Is it wet or bloody? Has it been disarranged? 4) Treat the victim as a scene (do not move the body unnecessarily) 5) Objectively record everything observed using all senses, including sight, smell and sound. Record in your notebook and consider photos. 6) Sketch a plan including the position of the body and position of exhibits.

Question 21

There are 6 broad duties of a scene guard. What are they?

Answer 21

1) Prevent unauthorised people entering the scene. 2) Record in your notebook the details of anyone entering/exiting the scene. 3) Brief unauthorised people. 4) Promptly record and report any suspicious activity. 5) Avoid contaminating or interfering with the scene. 6) Be aware of any animals and remove them from the scene.

Question 22

What info should you provide comms with SITREPS?

Answer 22

• Info that could locate the offender - Advise what assistance is needed - Use your radio or cell in private where possible - Be wary of giving personal details over the phone - Provide location of SFP to others 10-2

Question 23

What is the acronym for remembering scene guard duties?

Answer 23

UNBENT U - unauthorised entry N - notebook recording B - brief authorised people E - explore and report 1C activity N - No contaminating it yourself T - think of animals

Question 24

What is the CAP?

Answer 24

The Common Approach Path should be considered and established for all movements into and out of a scene, using a path which avoids any route possibly taken to and from the scene by the suspect(s) or the victim. Maintain the integrity and ensure that you don’t destroy exhibits or contaminate evidence when approaching the victim.

Question 25

What is the systematic approach to investigation? What is the acronym used to remember the steps?

Answer 25

A flexible, eight step model for initial action when dealing with incidents or offences. VAWSEEPO is the acronym used to memorise the steps in the systematic approach.

Question 26

What is TEDS?

Answer 26

A questioning technique that uses open ended questions. Tell, explain, describe and show.

Question 27

What are the 6 probing type questions?

Answer 27

5W + H What, where, when, who, why and how.

Question 28

How can the principles within the Prevention First strategy be applied to the systematic approach.

Answer 28

Help to

• Prevent crime and victimisation
• Target and offenders
• Deliver a more responsive Police service

Question 29

Why is it important to work in a logical manner when carrying out initial action at a scene of an incident?

Answer 29

The Action you take at any scene of a seriuos offence may be crucial to the successful prosecusion of the offender in court or for the successful resolution of the incident.

Question 30

Scene guards responsibility’s in controlling, freezing and preserving a scene.

Answer 30

• Prevent unauthorised people entering the scene. (including police staff, even senior Ranks)
• Record in their note book details of anyone entering the scene. Name , designation, reason for visit, time in and out of scene.
• Breif authorised people so they are aware of entry and exit points and the route to take while on scene.
• Promptly report any suspicious activity/behaviour and record it.
• Avoid contaminating the scene, don’t use the toilet or phone.
• Be aware of animals at the scene that might eat body tissue etc.

Question 31

Actions you will take when: Clearing the scene

Answer 31

-Remove all people from the immediate scene.
-Ensure that they do not take anything or contaminate the scene.
If possible have a Police Officer:
- contain them in a clear area
- warm them not to discuss what has happened
- Obtain full particulars.
Keep warring factions, families,gang members apart.