Initial response Flashcards
VAWSEEPO
Victim - identify and locate
Appreciation - Make an initial appreciation of the incident. Assess personal risk and then preserve lives
Witnesses - locate and contain witnesses
Scene - Preserve
Exhibits - Note, preserve any that maybe lost or destroyed
Elements - consider ingredients of offence
Powers - what powers are available and consider whether to execute
Offenders - Identify and apprehend
Appreciation
Proven method of problem solving.
Considers all appropriate factors and weighs benefits and risk of all alternative solutions.
An appreciation is an ongoing process which involves continually thinking through each new piece of information as it is uncovered.
Benefits of Appreciation
-Informs all Police what they are expected to achieve
- Increases the chances of success
- Establishes a sequence of activities to be carried out
- Manage risk
- Reduce uncertainty
- Eliminates duplication
- Ensures nothing is overlooked
- Effective use of resources
Appreciation (AFCP)
Aim -
Factors -
Course Open -
Plan -
At Hospital with Victim
- Obtain medical opinion as to the Victim’s current medical condition
- Seize the Victim’s clothing and other possessions as evidence
- Establish Victim’s identity
- Obtain a pre-transfusion blood sample using Police toxicology kit containers
- Seize any discarded bandages used to cover gunshot wounds, and record the position on the victim where each bandage had been applied.
- Arrange firearms residue samples in cases where firearm use is suspected, including from the victim of any apparent suicide involving a firearm.
- Note and photograph any injuries
- Arrange DNA swabs to be taken from the Victim’s skin, where they would be relevant to the particular circumstances of the case.
- Obtain details of any and all persons who visit or contact the victim
- Conduct a scoping interview with the victim using appropriate open questioning to establish what happened and who was involved; where this would not adversely affect the medical welfare of the victim. (consider hearsay statement if possible death)
- Conduct a preliminary interview with the ambulance and emergency staff who treated the victim, using appropriate open questioning to establish what happened and who was involved.
Discovery of a Body
- Consider ambos and resus if appropriate. If Victim has to be moved for this purpose, note the original body position and record any previous movements.
- Remain with the body until relieved by CIB or supervisor
- Arrange a doctor to pronounce life extinct, unless death is obvious
- Treat the ‘Victim’ as a scene (do not move the body unnecessarily.
- Instruct medical staff to leave clothes on the body
- If medical treatment has been given then request the connecting tubes, needles, bandages and other medical items are left in situ
- If possible, conduct scoping interviews with medical staff who treated the victim and establish their actions, apparent cause of death and injury type(s)
- Ascertain if the victim spoke to anyone before death and record what was said.
- Record body position, lividity(gravitational settling of blood), obvious injuries and clothing
- Objectively record anything observed using all senses, including sight, sound and smell. Include what is considered unimportant or non-evidential as after further investigation, such information may become relevant.
- Record all exhibits
- Sketch a plan including the position of the body and position of exhibits
- Provide full information to the OC Investigation, at an early stage
Initial Action to Preserve Scene
- Identify
- Secure
- Preserve
- Consider
- Record
Initial Action to Preserve Scene
1. Identify
Identify
- Gather information and carry out an initial assessment of the scene
- Consider warrantless powers to deal with evidential material in respect of serious offences
- Establish the ‘Crime Scene’. Think as widely as possible, considering evidence that may have been discarded
- Consider possible approach paths and establish a Common Approach Path (CAP)
- Consider other related crime scenes
- What is happening at the scene and who is there
- Note and record observations
- Establish a scene headquarters, and safe arrival / assembly points
- Provide a SITREP/SFP to Comms and obtain acknowledgement
Initial Action to Preserve Scene
2. Secure
Secure
- Where necessary exercise powers to secure the scene pursuant to section 116 S&S
- Effect removal of all persons within the scene in a way that causes minimum of disturbance to the scene. (CAP and witnesses do not remove anything from scene)
- Establish cordoned parameters using Police emergency tape
- Arrange and brief scene guards with clearly defined duties
- Arrange crime scene logs
- Prevent unauthorised persons from entering or leaving the scene
- Prevent any further loss or damage to evidence caused by adverse weather or other factors, such as animals.
Initial Action to Preserve Scene
3. Preserve
Preserve
- Consider the best path to the scene
- Record any movements/ action taken in the scene
- Preserve what is there and leave in situ. Ensure nothing is touched or moved. The scene must be kept in its original state.
- If no immediate life is at risk, consider using stepping plates
- Be prepared to take immediate action to preserve and/or record evidence that may change if nothing is done. For example rain may damage footprints and bloodstain
Initial Action to Preserve Scene
4. Consider
Consider
- If initial photographs of the scene and persons present are necessary.
Initial Action to Preserve Scene
5. Record
Record
- The integrity of the scene by establishing and maintaining a crime scene log of movements, names, times and reasons for entry and exit to the scene.
- Observe and record full notes of precise details of the scene, particularly the location of the Victim.
- Complete a sketch of the scene
- Photograph the scene and consider using video recording
- Identify anything which is moved, noting the original and eventual positions
- Make an accurate record of these facts and report them to the OC Investigation at an early stage
Crime Scene Logs - Purpose
A scene Guard is employed to maintain a scene log and ensure
- there is no unauthorised entry into the scene
- integrity of evidence or potential evidence is secured
- intelligence opportunities are maximised
- contamination issues are managed
Scene Guard Duties
- Secure Scene (deny any person entry unless authorised)
- Record details
- Control movements (CAP)
- Record Movements - eg vehicles near or movement near scene
- Brief others (Promptly report any relevant info to OC Scene/Case)
- Avoid Disturbance
- Protect Scene
- Brief Replacement
- Respect Security (Do not discuss with anyone)
- Demonstrate Courtesy
- Inform Others (report any actions taken to OC scene / case)
Obtaining Key material from Witnesses
- Obtain full details of all persons present at the scene
- Assemble people in a clear area ensuring a police officer remains with them
- If possible, isolate witnesses from one another and explain the reason to them
- Identify witnesses and conduct a brief scoping interview. Include descriptions of other people mentioned
- Establish whether any persons have left the area
- If witnesses have made telephone calls establish numbers to from and when etc this can help with timelines.
7.Record registration numbers of nearby vehicles to establish drivers/passengers that may have been in the area - Seize any CCTV relevant to the vicinity / routes to establish who may have been in the area at the relevant time
