Initial Response Flashcards
Functions of first on scene
- Attending the scene at an early stage
- Taking control of the situation
- Co-ordinating tasks
Examples of incidents not initially identified as a homicide
- 2M report
- Unexplained death
- Abduction
- Repot of violence where fatalities are not reported
- Hit and run
- Suicide
- Fatal fire
- Drug related death
VAWSEIPO
Victim - ID and locate
Appreciation - Assess risk and preserve life
Witnesses - Locate and contain
Scene - Preserve
Exhibits - Note, preserve if required
Ingredients
Powers - Identify and consider
Offender - ID and apprehend
What is appreciation
A proven method for problem solving to ensure the optimum course of action is decided upon. Considers appropriate factors, weighs risk and benefits of all courses o allow a sound decision to be made. It is an ongoing process
It informs all police what they are expected to achieve
It increases chances of success, manages risk, reduces uncertainty, eliminates duplication
Aim
it is a short, one line which demonstrates a single objective. It must be clear, accurate and concise.
What is courses open?
what are the 4 main principles of initial attendance
freeze, control, guard and preserve
what are the four steps in conducting an appreciation
Aim, factors, courses open, plan
what is factors
any circumstance or fact that could possibly have an effect on the manner in which you will achieve your desired outcome. “so what? what does this mean?”
what are courses open
a list of all possible ways the aim could be achieved, bearing in mind the factors and he deductions made from those factors
+ and - and risks of each alternative must be carefully examined and evaluated
what is a plan
a proposed course of action designed to put the selected course into action in order to achieve the desired aim.
it must be a logical outcome of the appreciation, clear, concise and leave no room for misinterpretation.
GSMEAC
ground, situation, mission, execution, administration and logistics, command and signals
first priority
ensuring police safety, other responders safety and the safety of others at the scene.
second priority
establishing the victims medical status
hospital process
- obtain medical opinion
- seize clothing/belongings
- estblish identity
- obtain pre transfusion blood sample (police toxicology kit)
- seize medical kits used (bandages)
- arrange firearms residue samples
- note and photograph injuries
- DNA swabs
- details of any person contacts/visits victim
- Scope interview
- Prelim - medical staff
S16(1) Evidence Act 2006
nature and contents of statement
circumstances relating to the making of the statement
circumstances relating to veracity of the statement
circumstances relating to the accuracy of the observation of the person
Dying statement
it may be admissible under 18(1) evidence act if the court is satisfied that both the content of statement and person who made it are reliable
Victim - no signs of life
call an ambulance and resuscitate (note movement)
remain with body until relieved
arrange Doctor to pronounce extinct
treat victim as scene
leave clothing on body
if medical treatment given - obtain medical e.g. needles, bandages
scope interview with medical re their actions
ascertain last spoke
record body position
record everything
record exhibits
sketch
provide full info to OC body
what initial action should be taken to preserve scene
identify, secure, preserve, consider and record
Purpose of a scene guard
ensure no unauthorised entry
integrity of evidence or potential evidence is secured
intelligence opportunities are maximised
contamination issues are managed
forensic evidence may be persevered and recovered from witness
DNA swabs of any areas the witness that the suspect may have touched
blood - DNA swabs
forensic such as fingernail scrapings, hair combing
seizure of clothing and footwear and any property touched by suspect
suspect at scene
- seperate
- consider condition
- ask to remain if cooperate/remove with consent/grounds to arrest)
- use officers that havent entered the scene
- caution
- consider searching to avoid CADD
- note apperance and behaviour
- record any prelim if app. DVD interview
- brief OCs
what to brief initial action to OC
what has been done, what hasn’t been done, what needs to be done and staff who have entered/footwear photo
benefits of an appreciation
- informs all police what they are expected to achieve
- increases chances of success ie. investigative aims/objectives
- establishes a sequence of activities to be carried out
- manages risk
purpose of police attending death
to investigate throughly and gather sufficient evidence to satisfactorily explain the circumstances of the death
common approach path
a path for all movements in and out of the scene. using a path avoids any route possibly taken to or from the scene by the suspect or vicim
