Investigations Flashcards
Why is a conference held?
What people could attend?
Conference must be held to assist with:
- assessing info obtained
- reconstructing
- establishing possible motives
- identifying suspects
- planning further enquiries
Attending people:
- O/C CIB
- O/C investigation
- Fire investigation liaison officer
- Crime scene co-ordinator
- investigating officers
- specialist fire investigator
- photographer
Who chairs the conference?
Either the fire investigation liaison officer, crime scene co-ordinator or the senior police employees present
Initial action - involving explosives
- Remember there may be a secondary device somewhere
- Do not use cell phones, portable radios or other transmitting devices
- Evacuate scene at least 100m. Consider using explosives detector dog
- If IED located, immediately liaise with and IED operator from the department of labour
- Continue with SITREPs to comms
Examine scene - explosives
- Conduct scene examination
- Remember to continually reconstruct
- Request ESR
Explosions - characteristic damage to look for
- cratering
- spread of debris
- shredding of materials
- smell of exploded material (almonds)
- overlay of dust
- shrapnel marks
Enquiries - not involving explosives
Articles to ESR ASAP
Offence report
Obtain written reports, photographs and plans
Consider - media, bulletin boards, staff line ups, special notices
Plan enquiries and interview relevant people (owner/occ of premises, last person to secure building, person who found fire m, person who reported)
Area canvas if neighbourhood
Consider possible motives, the victims rep and financial position
Contact insurance company
Weather conditions at time of fire
How the suspect can be identified
Circumstances of fire
Fingerprints
Information from witnesses
Media response
Police resources (intel, youth services)
Enquires at prisons, hospitals, rehab, schools
Information from fire crew
Possible suspects may include
Owner occupier (insurance fraud)
Employee (forgery)
Criminal (covering trace of crime)
An aggrieved person suffering from jealousy, hatred, rage or revenge
Mental illness
A pupil or ex pupil of school fire
Fire service member (for excitement/recognition)
A business competitor
Evidence to look for during SW of suspect
Accelerants
Containers
Igniters
Wick fabric
Traces of debris from the scene
Fire and police - MOU
Agreement between police and fire to share info and details the role of both organisations in a fire investigation.
- investigations of fire scenes are efficiently coordinated and expertly and independently conducted
- any relevant evidence is protected and collected for potential prosecution or coronial enquiries
Fire notify police if:
- fire results in serious injury or death
- fire is considered suspicious
Responsibilities of FILO (8)
CAMP PACT
- attending every fire that results in serious injury or death
- co ordinate investigations in their area
- arrange police attendance when required
- maintain relationship with FSILO and specialist investigator
- assist areas with queries
- ensure communication with relevant managers
- co-ordinate training for police employees
- provide other advice and expertise
When will a specialist fire investigator be called to attend (7)
PISS FFC
- when fatality occurs (min 2 to attend)
- life threatening injury (min 2 to attend)
- suspicious structure fires
- significant spread across boundaries
- when built in safety features have failed
- high significance fires
- any other fire called upon by police/other agency
Specialist fire investigator and the designated FILO/other member of police will liaise regarding:
- handover of fire scene
- access to the fire scene
- process for examination and investigation
- identification and collection of evidence
Police responsibility (2)
- must conduct the criminal investigation or coronial enquiry
- undertake responsibility for the protection, collection and recording of forensic evidence
