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Serious Crime > Initial response to homicide or serious crime > Flashcards

Initial response to homicide or serious crime Flashcards

1
Q

The initial Police responders primary function include

A

‑ attending the scene at an early stage
‑ taking control of the situation; and
‑ co‐ordinating tasks.

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2
Q

Not initially identifiable as a homicide examples

A 
‑ report of a missing person
‑ sudden unexplained death of an infant
‑ unexplained death
‑ report of an abduction
‑ report of violence where no fatalities are anticipated
‑ crime scene without a body present
‑ hit and run vehicular collision
‑ suicide
‑ fatal fire
‑ drug related deaths.
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3
Q

What is VAWSEEPO

A
  • Victim - Identify and locate the victim(s).
  • Appreciation - Make an initial appreciation of the incident. Assess personal risk and then preserve the lives of
    others.
  • Witnesses - Locate and contain witnesses.
  • Scene - Preserve the scene (e.g. set boundaries).
  • Exhibits - Note evidence and preserve any that would otherwise be lost or destroyed.
  • Elements - Consider whether the ingredients of the alleged offence have been established.
  • Powers - Identify what powers are available and consider whether to execute them.
  • Offenders - Identify and apprehend suspect(s).
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4
Q

What must you remember to do at a scene

A

Freeze, control, guard and preserve.

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5
Q

Appreciation definition

A

An appreciation is a proven method of problem solving. The process follows a series of set steps to ensure the optimum course of action is decided upon. It considers all appropriate factors and weighs the benefits and risks of all alternative solutions, allowing sound decisions to be taken. An appreciation is an ongoing
process which involves continually thinking through each new piece of information as it is uncovered.

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6
Q

Benefits of an Appreciation?

A

‑ Informs all Police what they are expected to achieve
‑ Increases the chances of success, i.e. the investigative aims/objectives being met
‑ Establishes a sequence of activities to be carried out
‑ Manages risk
‑ Reduces uncertainty
‑ Eliminates duplication
‑ Ensures nothing is overlooked
‑ Effective use of resources.

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7
Q

Steps of an appreciation:

A

1 - Aim - An aim is a short (one line) statement which succinctly demonstrates a single objective.
2 - Factors - A factor is any circumstance or fact that could possibly have an effect on the manner in which you will achieve your desired outcome.
3 - Courses open - Courses open are a list of all the possible ways the aim could be achieved, bearing in mind the factors and the deductions made from those factors.
4 - Plan - A plan is a proposed course of action designed to put the selected course into action in order to achieve the desired aim.

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8
Q

What to obtain from complainants/informants?

A

‑ identity and location of the suspect
‑ a first hand account of what the complainant/informant knows
‑ precise details of the location of the scene
‑ circumstances leading to the discovery
‑ identity of the victim
‑ details of anyone else at the scene
‑ full contact details of the complainant/informant
‑ demeanour of the complainant/informant
‑ relationship of the complainant/informant, to the victim or suspect
‑ details of action the complainant/informant has taken and where they have been
‑ details of any hazards or safety issues that may affect Police approaching the scene/victim.

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9
Q

Things to consider when first at a scene

A
  • Preservation of life
  • Risk Assessment - beware of contamination
  • Establish the victims medical status - Alive and uninjured, Alive but injured, no signs of life etc
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10
Q

Steps to do at hospital with a victim

A
  1. Get medical opinion
  2. Seize clothing/possessions as evidence
  3. Establish identity
  4. Obtain blood sample
  5. Seize discarded bandages
  6. Conduct firearm residue kit
  7. Note and photograph injuries
  8. Arrange DNA swabs on skin
  9. Obtain visitor details
  10. Conduct scoping interview
  11. Conduct prelim interview with ambulance/hospital staff
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11
Q

Steps if victim showing no signs of life

A
  1. Call ambo, note body position
  2. Remain with body until relieved
  3. Arrange a Dr to confirm life extinct
  4. Treat victim as a scene
  5. Leave clothes on body
  6. Request medical items be left in situ where able to
  7. Conduct scoping interview with people who treated victim
  8. Ascertain if victim spoke with people before death
  9. Record body position, injuries, lividity
  10. Record all other senses
  11. record all exhibits
  12. Sketch a plan including body position
  13. Full information to O/C
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12
Q

Initial action to preserve a scene

A
  1. Identify - Gather information and carry out an initial assessment of the scene. Consider your warrantless powers to deal with evidential material in respect of serious offences, pursuant to the Search and Surveillance Act 2012.
  2. Secure ‑ Where necessary, exercise powers to secure the scene pursuant to section 116 of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012. Effect removal of all persons within the scene in a way that causes a minimum of disturbance to the scene. For example by using the CAP and ensuring witness don’t disturb or remove anything from the scene.
  3. Preserve ‑ Consider the best path into the scene. Record any movements/action taken in the scene. Preserve what is there and leave it ‘in situ’. Ensure nothing is touched or moved. The scene must be kept in its original state.
  4. Consider ‑ If initial photographs of the scene and persons present are necessary.
  5. 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. A template Crime Scene Log is included in the Serious Crime Template. Observe and record full notes of precise details of the scene, particularly the location of the victim.
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13
Q

Crime scene logs definition

A

A crime scene log records the details, time and purpose of all persons who enter, attempt to enter, or leave the crime scene, as well as any other activity around the crime scene which the scene guard perceives to be relevant to the case.

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14
Q

Purpose of a crime scene log

A

‑ there is no unauthorised entry into the scene
‑ integrity of evidence or potential evidence is secured
‑ intelligence opportunities are maximised
‑ contamination issues are managed.

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15
Q

Scene guard duties

A
  • Secure scene
  • Record details
  • Control movements
  • Record Movements
  • Brief others
  • Avoid disturbance
  • Protect scene
  • Brief replacement
  • respect security
  • Demonstrate courtesy
  • Inform others
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16
Q

Initial questions for witnesses

A 
‑ What happened
‑ Where exactly the incident happened
‑ When it happened
‑ Who was involved
‑ What the witness did
‑ Where the witness went
‑ What the witness touched
‑ Who touched the witness
‑ Who else was present
‑ Descriptions of those present
‑ What did those other people present say/do.
17
Q

Steps for all witnesses at the scene?

A
  1. Obtain full details of all persons present at the scene.
  2. Assemble people in a clear area, ensuring a police officer remains with them.
  3. If possible, isolate witnesses from one another to reduce the likelihood of contamination and/or collusion. Explain this rationale to the witnesses.
  4. Identify witnesses and conduct a brief scoping interview, using open TEDS questioning. Include descriptions of other persons mentioned.
  5. Establish whether any persons have left the area.
  6. If the witness has made telephone calls from the scene, establish the numbers such calls were made from and to, and who answered. This may verify accounts and times.
  7. Record registration numbers of nearby vehicles to establish which drivers/passengers may have been in the area.
  8. Seize any CCTV relevant to the vicinity/routes to establish who may have been in the area at the relevant time.
18
Q

Procedure for suspects at the scene

A
  1. Separate suspects from other persons at the scene.
  2. Consider the condition of the suspect, whether they are injured, under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or suffer from a medical or mental impairment or other special consideration.
  3. Ask them to remain at the scene and to co‐operate with police. As soon as possible, remove the suspect from the scene by consent or with lawful justification.
  4. If the suspect refuses to co‐operate, consider whether grounds exist to arrest them and what the most appropriate offence will be.
  5. To prevent cross contamination issues, consider using officers who have not entered the scene to manage the suspect, if available.
  6. consider caution rights
  7. Consider searching the suspect and the suspect’s vehicle and belongings to prevent the disposal of evidence and for the searcher’s safety, pursuant to the Search and Surveillance Act 2012.
  8. Consider searching the vicinity of the suspect and the area or route they are thought to have taken, in order to recover discarded or secreted evidence.
  9. Note the suspect’s appearance and behaviour. For example: do they appear edgy, shocked or agitated? Are their clothes ripped and/or stained?
  10. Record everything the suspect says and if appropriate, consider conducting a preliminary interview in accordance with the ‘Investigative interviewing suspect guide’.
  11. Whenever possible, interviewing of suspects should be recorded on video in accordance with the ‘Investigative interviewing suspect guide’.
  12. Brief the OC Investigation on their arrival, highlighting any significant risks surrounding cross contamination or movement within or near the scene.
19
Q

Actions before leaving the scene

A

‑ Brief the OC Investigation before handing on responsibility for the scene.
‑ Cover what’s been done, what is being done, and what needs to be done.
‑ Provide Comms Centre with a sitrep.
‑ Update the OC Investigation; to include details of any alterations made to the scene.
‑ All initial attending staff submit copies of notebook entries and all required documentation including copy of footwear if entered scene, before completing duty that day. Formal written statements should be submitted rather than jobsheets, to limit unnecessary duplication and delays.

20
Q

What are the two key tasks of any investigation?

A

Gathering and preserving evidence

Accurate and detailed documentation

21
Q

How do you maintain high standards in an investigation?

A
  • Have investigative mindset
  • Apply the appreciation technique to think through issues and plan course
  • Consider how decisions will be scrutinised under cross examination
  • Pay attention to detail
  • Carry out tasks efficiently
  • Value importance of professionalism, integrity and objectivity in conducting the investigation
  • Maintain excellent communication skills
  • work as a team
22
Q

What is the purpose of a team conference?

A
  • keep all team members up to date on developments
  • Give opportunity to exchange views and pass on important information
  • 2IC has opportunity to pass on instructions on file management and administrative matters
  • Officer in charge has opportunity to brief the team on investigative topics, priorities and lines of enquiry
23
Q

What must team conferences be?

A
  • Planned
  • Recorded
  • Focused and managed to avoid excess time use
24
Q

What are the different types of conferences?

A
  • Initial conference
  • Regular Conference
  • Debriefing Conference
  • Phase team conferences - run by O/C phase for their team
25
Q

Why would you obtain forensic evidence from a witness?

A

Some witnesses have been so proximate to a scene that it is likely evidence was transferred to the witness from the victim suspect or scene itself. A plan must be made to recover this evidence from the witness.

26
Q

What issues/areas should be considered when obtaining forensic evidence from a witness?

A
  • Immediate DNA swabs of any areas of the witness that the suspect may have touched
  • Immediate DNA swabs of any blood present on the witness
  • Immediate swabs of any other relevant stains present on the witness
  • Forensic medical examination
  • Seizure of clothing and footwear
  • Seizure of any item of property touched by the suspect
27
Q

What should you consider in terms of forensic evidence from a witness?

A
  • Avoid any potential cross contamination issues by arranging witnesses who have been present at a crime scene to use different vehicles and interview rooms to those used by other witnesses, the victim or the suspect
  • Photograph the witness for future identification on CCTV
  • Photograph any injuries suffered by the witnesses

Serious Crime (8 decks)

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