IN01: Initial Action (Katie) Flashcards
What should you do en route to the scene of a crime?
1) Obtain: description of the suspect, description of the suspect’s vehicle (if any), the suspect’s direction of travel, description of any weapons carried.
2) Watch for vehicles that may have come from the scene and note registrations.
3) Discuss areas of responsibility at the scene with your partners. Decide who will deal with any possible suspects and who will deal with possible victims, and how.
4) Plan your vehicle approach to ensure safety and discuss a SFP.
What is a SFP?
Safe Forward Point is a safe location near an incident from which the forward operations can be supported?
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?
1) Think BIG
2) Remember to include the area from which the offender approached, entered and left the scene, including vehicles.
When initially attending a scene there are three main considerations to ensure scene integrity. What are these three considerations and what do they involve?
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.
What should you do when you arrive at a scene?
- Park in a safe, clear place.
- Advise comms
- Revise your plan
- Be aware of what is happening (where, when and with who)
- Ask people of what is happening
- Provide comms with an update
You arrive at a scene and locate the informant. What are four things you should do when initially speaking with the informant?
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.
You arrive at a scene and locate someone laying on the ground with signs of life (but serious injuries). What should you do?
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).
You arrive at a scene and locate someone laying on the group with no signs of life. What should you do?
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.
There are 6 broad duties of a scene guard. What are they?
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.
What info should you provide comms with SITREPS?
- 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
What is the acronym for remembering scene guard duties?
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
What is the CAP?
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.
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?
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.
What is the systematic approach to investigation? What is the acronym used to remember the steps?
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.
What does VAWSEEPO stand for?
V - victim/informant A - appreciation W - witness S - scene E - exhibits E - elements P - powers O - offender
