Investigations & Identification of Offenders

Question 1

What are two key tasks of any investigation?

Answer 1

1) gathering & preserving evidence

2) documentation

Question 2

Appropriate & accountable decision making is based on an investigator’s knowledge of?

Answer 2

• the legal framework
• characteristics of crime
• national policies and procedures

Question 3

Good decisions are reached by a process of reasoning based on the following sequence?

Answer 3

1) acknowledge of the situation or problem exists
2) Identify, isolate and analyse the problem
3) formulate a clear objective
4) gather all the data and information required to determine the ways in which the aim might be achieved
5) draw up a list, based on the information, of all the possible ways in which the aim might be achieved
6) weigh and study each of these alternatives individually
7) prepare a plan for putting the selected course into action

Question 4

What are three factors that can effect decision making?

Answer 4

1) Individual bias
2) Verification bias
3) Availability error

Question 5

What is Individual bias?

Answer 5

When one fails to recognise their inconscious perceptions of people, places or things

Question 6

What is a Verification bias?

Answer 6

Occurs when the focus is channeled towards decisions supporting a certain point of view, thereby overlooking other line of enquiry

Question 7

What is Availability error?

Answer 7

Basing decisions on vivid emotionally charged material which not necessarily reflect the scope of material available to make the correct decision. eg: over focussing on the Victims account and overlooking collection of evidence

Question 8

What are the four steps in the Appreciation Technique?

Answer 8

Aim or Objective
Factors
Courses Open
Plan

Question 9

Explain the meaning of “Aims \ Objective”?

Answer 9

An aim or objective is a short statement of intent beginning with a verb

Question 10

Explain the meaning of “Factors”?

Answer 10

A factor is a statement of truth about some known influence or circumstance

Question 11

Give examples of factors?

Answer 11

the time available
possible suspects
available witnesses
material located to date
policy and procedure required
know history of parties
records that can be tapped
the weather at the time

Question 12

Explain the meaning of “Courses Open”?

Answer 12

Courses open are the options you can identify after having assessed the factors and the deductions made from the factors

Question 13

Explain the meaning of “Plan”?

Answer 13

Select the most appropriate courses for attention and place the action you can take:

• It is more than likely that it will be effective?
• Is it proportionate? (effort, time, service?
• Is it achievable?
• Will it pass the SELF test?

Question 14

Critical to an investigative mindset is your ability to exercise. Name four things?

Answer 14

• critical thinking
• decision making
• the application technique
• evaluation

Question 15

The investigation process is underpinned by four key areas of knowledge, understanding and skills in?

Answer 15

• core legislation
• characteristics of crime
• national policies & procedures
• investigative techniques

Question 16

What are the stages of criminal investigation?

Answer 16

• instigation
• initial investigation
• investigative evaluation
• further investigation
• suspect management
• evidence evaluation
• further investigation
• charge
• file preparation
• court

Question 17

What is material?

Answer 17

Material is substance of any kind, including information and objects, sounds and images, obtained in the course of a criminal investigation that has some bearing on an offence under investigation or any person being investigated, or on the surrounding circumstances of the case

Question 18

Name potential sources from which material is gathered from?

Answer 18

• victims
• witnesses
• suspects
• locations
• CCTV recordings

Question 19

In practice the most common formats from material are?

Answer 19

• statements
• documents
• reports
• physical exhibits such as weapons, clothing etc
• fingerprints
• images
• audio or video recordings

Question 20

What are the five principals of the “investigative mindset”?

Answer 20

1. Understanding the source of material
2. Plan and prepare
3. Examine all material
4. Record and collate actions taken and to be taken with material
5. Evaluation should identify and further action required

Question 21

What is investigative evaluation?

Answer 21

Undertaken to determine

• what is known
• what is now known
• consistencies
• conflicts

the key differences between investigative and evidential evaluation is that during evaluation ‘all material is evaluated, even if inadmissible.

Question 22

What is a evidential evaluation?

Answer 22

considers:

• the overall strength of the case
• whether suffcient evidence exists against the offender to proceed to charge

when carrying out an evidential evaluation the strength of the case is evalauted only on admissible evidence

Question 23

What is self/peer evaluation?

Answer 23

will address:

• review of assumptions and decision making
• records organisation and management
• information communication and dissemination
• lessons learnt

self and peer evaluation is a critical component of the practice of professionals

Question 24

What is the appreciation technique?

Answer 24

It is a cognitive tool commonly uses by investigators to take a disciplined approach to their decision making

Question 25

In order for material to be effective it must be?

Answer 25

Relevant, reliable and admissible

Question 26

What is hypothesis?

Answer 26

A suggested explanation for a group of facts either accepted as a basis for further verification or accepted as likely to be true

Question 27

Two forms of written appreciation?

Answer 27

• Full appreciation

- Short appreciation

Question 28

Each source of material must be closely scrutinized. Therefore, as part of the collection process you must ensure four things?

Answer 28

• immediate action is taken in relation to quality and preservation of material
• its reliability is tested at the earliest oppprtunity
• relevant records are made
• the material is appropriately stored

Question 29

Material examination is divided into three areas?

Answer 29

1. Interpret
2. Clarify
3. Challenge - Assume nothing
   - Believe nothing
   - Challenge everything

Question 30

Self and peer test is a criminal component of ?

Answer 30

Practice of Professionals

Question 31

A formal procedure is a procedure for obtaining visual identification evidence that meets what seven requirements?

Answer 31

1. It occurs as soon as practicable after offence is reported
2. The suspect is compared to no fewer then seven others who are of similar appearence
3. No indication is made to the person making the idenification
4. The person making the identification is informed that the suspect may or may not be present
5. A written record of the procedure followed is sworn to be true and complete by the Officer
6. A pictorial record of what the person making the identification looked at is prepared and certified to be true and complete by the Officer
7. The procedure complies with any relevant regulations

Question 32

Name six reasons why a Formal Procedure can not be completed?

Answer 32

1. Suspect refuses and Police don’t have photo
2. Suspect has a singular appearance
3. Suspect has substantially changed their appearance after offence occured
4. No Office involved could have reasonable anticipated identification would be a issue at trial
5. An identification of suspect was made to Officer soon as offence
6. An identification of the suspect was made to an Officer after a chance meeting between the person who made the intensification and the suspect

If there is more then one offender, put them on separate lines