Initial Response Flashcards
4 things to think about En route
- Get full details from comms re the suspect (description, vehicle, direction of travel, weapons)
- Keep a look out and make note of vehicles/persons leaving the scene area - you may pass your suspect
- Plan a SFP (recon when possible)
- Discuss and plan with partner what roles and actions you each will take.
The 8 priorities when first on the scene
- Open communications with comms
- Staff safety
- Informant/Victim/Witness
- Scene
- Boundaries
- Scene guards
- Sitreps
- Brief staff
SFP
Safe forward Point:
A safe place for all attending units or supports (ambo, fire) to park and enter the scene
What are the three main considerations to maintain scene integrity
Freeze
Control
Preserve
Freeze
Aim not to move or touch anything.
Keep the scene in its original state.
Control
Control and monitor all movement to, from and within the scene
Preserve
Preserve all relevant evidence and exhibits.
Take measures to ensure they are not damaged or destroyed
Sitreps
Keep comms informed throughout the job. Advise of who is present, what you’ve found, and actions require or resources.
CAP
Common approach path.
A path for all movement through the scene that avoids where the suspect and victim travelled.
What does a scene guard need to know before commencing duty?
- Incident details
- Who is and who isn’t authorised to enter or be briefed
- Scene boundaries
- Suspect and description/info
- CAP
Duties of a scene guard. Think UNBENT
U - unauthorised N - notebook all, people entering/leaving or loitering B - brief authorised E - explore and report and 1C N - no contaminating the scene yourself T - think of the animals
Systematic Approach
Best practise to approach any situation:
VAWSEEPO
V in VAWSEEPO
Victim/informant.
Open Questions and probing questions to obtain what happened.
Note injuries
Offer support
Apply appreciation (is what they’re saying possible?)
A in VAWSEEPO
Appreciation
This is a problem solving technique. Ask yourself all the possible actions and outcomes in each step-constantly changes with new information)
W in VAWSEEPO
Witnesses
Obtain details from them.
Advise you may need to talk further.
(Appreciation- do the stories line up with victims, do they have a personal connection to the incident)
S in VAWSEEPO
Scene Scene integrity through F, C, P Boundaries Scene guard or cordons Safety and hygiene (use PPE)
Appreciation- need back up or specialist units?
E in VAWSEEPO
Exhibits
Protect and or seize all exhibits
(Appreciation- Cover finger prints, can photos suffice)
E in VAWSEEPO
Elements
The elements of the offence.
Appreciation- Are they all present, or do I need to ask more questions
P in VAWSEEPO
Powers
What powers do you have to search, seize, arrest, charge
(Appreciation- new info can change powers available to you)
O in VAWSEEPO
Offender
Identify
Report, warn or arrest.
Appreciation - connection to victim or offence? Find the why
TEDS
Open question technique T - tell me… E -Explain… D - Describe.. S - Show me…
5W + H
Probing questions
Who, what, when, where, why, how
Unresponsive but alive victim actions
- Tender first aid and request ambo
- Dying declaration - if suspect death
- Take note of clothing, position, injuries, what’s around the victim, weapons
- Take photos if possible
- An officer must accompany to the hospital and remain there.
- Obtain incident details if possible
How to approach GBH/Dead victim
- Avoid the path taken by the victim or suspect
- Move/touch nothing unnecessarily
- Take photos and detailed notes
- Leave by the same path
