Initial Response Flashcards
What are Police response primary functions?
1) Attend scene at an early stage
2) Take control of situation
3) Co-ordinate tasks
Initial response priority is to…
Ensure safety of atrending Police members
Initial actions - enroute
IRIP
Info from comms
Roles + Responsibilities
Inform (10/7 etc)
Plan
Actions prior to attending scene
CLASSES
Cordons- set up Legal - requirements Additional OCs - appointed Specialists - contacted Staff - briefed Equipment - sent for / requested Sufficient - staffing
OC scene
SCENE CRABO
Strategy - for exam Control - (freeze/guard/preserve/safe) Exhibits - overseen (uplift/inspect/delivering) N - relevant exhibits in court Experts - photos/FPs
Communication - scene - OC Investigation Recce + Reconstruction Approach + CAP Brief - staff of duties Oversee - crime scene exam
Objectives of a crime scene exam
DECIEVE IC
Defences - established Establish - if offence committed Corroborate - witness + victim acct Identify - suspects/scene contact Establish - offence key elements/enquiries Verify - admissions + confessions Exonerate- innocent
Identify - people associated with scene
Corroborate/Exclude - other evidence
Arrival at scene
CRAP VISITS
Communicate - with comms
Record - C.A.P
Approach - scene with radios/equip
Park - safely
Vehicles - at scene/leaving/3T Informant - locate Sitrep - early Interference - with scene? Time - of arrival Stop, look, listen
Victim injured
FIRST AID
First aid - call ambo Injuries Record - photograph (injuries) Scene - treat victim as a scene Take - DNA swabs
Accompany - to hospital (status/clothes)
Interview - prelim
Dying - declaration
Dead victim
CORPSE
Call ambo Obtain - life extinct form Record - body position/limbs Persons ID - establish Sketch + photograph Early - update to OC investigation
Suspects at scene
Consider suspects condition/whether injured/under the influence of alcohol/drugs or suffer from mental impairment
CRIMS
Consider - search Record - admissions/routes taken Interview Make notes - demeanor + condition Separate + isolate
Minimising contamination risks
PRE SOAK UU
Preserve + control scene
Records - scene activity/exhibits
Exhibits - pack/label/seal
Stepping plates
Obtain - elimination samples
Avoid - same staff/associated scenes
Keep - records of staff attending/exam
Use - protective clothing
Use - new + clean packaging
What are some instances that are notified to Police that may not be initially identifiable as a homicide?
- 2M report
- 1S infant
- abduction report
- 1X
- 1F fatal
- drug related deaths
What to tell arriving CIB members
- the situation
- what has been done
- what is being done
- what needs to be done immediately
What is the general investigation model?
VAWSEIPO
Victim - ID and locate Appreciation - make an initial app Witnesses - locate and contain Scene - preserve Exhibits - note evidence and preserve Ingredients - of offence established Powers - available Offenders - ID and apprehend
What is an appreciation?
A proven method of problem solving
Considers all appropropriate factors and weighs the benefits and risks of all alternative solutions, allowing sound decisions to be made
What are the benefits of applying the appreciation technique?
- Informs Police what expected to achieve
- Manages risk
- Ensures nothing is overlooked
- Reduces uncertainty
- Effective use of resources
- Establishes a sequence of activities to be carried out
What is the four step process for the first attending CIB member?
1) Gain info
2) Ensure initial action attended to
3) Conduct a recce
4) Carry out an appreciation + take initial action
Explain the zone model
Hot - part of the scene, e.g. exam + evidence collection.
Warm - transition zone. Enables scene examiners to put on + take off protective clothing
Cold - placed within outer cordon for meetings, scene guard, meals.
What are some examples of factors to take into consideration when conducting an appreciation and plan strategy?
- staff availability
- logistics
- zones
- legal powers
- contamination risks
- ground
- staff safety
- seriousness of offence
- communication
- equipment
- transport
- weather
What is a reconnaissance?
A preliminary survey made to get an overall picture of the scene without disturbing the evidence.
What is the purpose of a reconnaissance?
1) Prelim reconstruction
2) Appreciation
3) Plan of action
What are the steps of an appreciation?
AIM - A short one lined statement. Demonstrates a single objective
FACTORS - Any circumstance or fact that could possibly have an effect on the manner in which you will achieve your desired outcome
COURSES OPEN - Are a list of all the possible ways the aim could be achieved
PLAN - Proposed course of actions
What should be obtained from the person reporting the incident?
- Identity of the suspect
- Precise details of the location of the scene
- ID of the victim
- Full contact details of informant/complainant
- Details of anyone else at the scene
- Details of action the informant/complainant has taken and where they have been
If there is going to be a delay in attending the scene or there is a risk of the scene being contaminated - what can you ask the informant?
- To return to the proximity of the scene and guard it
- Not to touch or move anything
- Prevent others from entering scene
- Await Police arrival and ID themselves
Plan/strategy of the scene covers
PARCELS IS
Placement - of zones Any specialists required Recording - system to be used (exhibit) Contamination - protection methods Exhibit - handling (securing/packaging) Likelihood - of evidence deteriorating Starting place - e.g. offenders entry
Individual - taks/responsibilities
Search method - logical + systematic
What are the initial actions to preserve a scene?
Freeze
Control
Guard
Preserve
Scene preservation - FREEZE
FREEE
From or to the scene - no movement Remove - wandering animals Ensure - nothing is touched/moved Every - activity stopped Exhibits - protected
Scene preservation - CONTROL
CONTROL
Clear - the scene
Order - wits/suspects to clear area
Not - to discuss with each other
Take - wits/suspects to station if willing
Rivals - keep apart
Obtain - full particulars/pre-lim interview
Left area - who has?
Scene preservation - GUARD
GUARD
Guard - appoint scene guard Use - civilians if necessary Assembly - point established, safe area Rolls - of emergency tape can be used Define - boundaries
Scene preservation - PRESERVE
Preservation of the scene is reliant on the recce + appreciation to ensure scene is preserved for the formal scene exam
Ensure all main areas of examination + any possible exhibits are protected
What are the three categories of the physical condition of the victim?
- Alive and uninjured
- Alive but injured
- Shows no signs of life
What is the initial action to preserve a scene? 5 steps
IDENTIFY
- carry out initial scene assessment
- warrantless powers
- establish crime scene
- C.A.P
- record all observations
- SITREP/SFP
SECURE
- exercise powers to secure scene
- removal of persons from the scene
- establish cordons
- arrange + brief scene guards
- prevent further loss of evidence
PRESERVE
- best path to scene
- record movements/actions in scene
- leave in-situ
- consider stepping plates
- preserve evidence
CONSIDER
- photos of the scene/persons present
RECORD
- crime scene log
- sketch of scene
- photograph scene
- what has been moved?
- accurate record/report to OC Investigation
What are the steps of a reconnaissance?
1) Gather info available
2) Create C.A.P
3) Sketch the scene
4) Note anything - weather/forensic
5) Re-consider scene boundaries
6) Consider zones
What is the purpose of a scene guard and log?
To ensure:
1) No unauthorised entry
2) Evidence is secured
3) Intel opportunities are maximised
4) Contamination issued managed
Roles of a scene guard
MR SCENE GUARD
Maintains - a register
Relief - brief relieving scene guard
Scene - prevent unauthorised entry Communicate - info to OC scene Ensure - C.A.P is followed No - discussion with bystanders Enter - does not enter
Guards - scene from animals Use - courtesy when dealing with crowd Advises - OC scene of actions taken Records - movement to/from scene Duty - remain until relieved
What is the definition of a crime scene log?
Records details, time and purpose of all persons who enter, attempt to enter or leave the crime scene + other activities the scene guard perceives to be relevant
What issues should the plan to preserve/recover evidence from a forensically important witness consider?
1) Immediate DNA swabs - areas witness/suspect may have touched
2) Immediate DNA swabs of any blood present on the witness
3) Swabs of any other relevant stains
4) Forensic medical exam (fingernail scrapings/hair combings)
5) Seizure of clothing/footwear
6) Seizure of any items of property touched by suspect.
What points should you consider when dealing with forensically important witnesses?
- use different vehicles/interview rooms
- photograph witnesses
- photograph injuries
What key material should be obtained from key witnesses?
1) Full details of person present at the scene
2) Isolate witnesses
3) ID witnesses and conduct brief scoping interviews
4) Establish whether persons have left the area
5) Record registration numbers
6) Seize any CCTV
Steps to follow if a suspect is identified at a scene:
1) Separate from others
2) Consider suspect injuries/influence of drugs/alcohol/mental issues
3) Ask to remain at scene and co-operate
4) If refuses, consider grounds for arrest
5) Prevent cross-contamination. Consider using an officer that hasn’t entered the scene
6) BOR - good cause to suspect
7) Consider search (S&S - vehicle, route, vicinity)
8) Note suspects appearance and behaviour
9) Record everything the suspect says
10) DVD interview
11) Brief OC investigation on arrival
What should you brief the OC investigation on in relation to the initial response?
- what has occurred
- what action has been taken
- what actions have not been done
- what needs to be done
