Lesson 5.1 - Dealing with Death

Question 1

What are the 3 broad categories of death?

Answer 1

• Medical Death
• Unexplained Medical Death
• Police Reportable Death

Question 2

What main categories are considered to be Police Reportable Death?

Answer 2

• Suspicious death
• Drug Misue
• Accidental deaths
• Any death of a child or young person under 18 yearsof age which is unexplained
• Incidents of suicide
• Deaths occurring as a result of neglect or fault
• Any death where the identity of the deceased is unknown and cannot be readily ascertained
• Deaths in legal custody - including 24hrs after being in Police Custody
• Any death as directed by COPFS

Question 3

What is the process for dealing with death?

Answer 3

1. Preserve life
   - Pronouncing Life Extinct
2. Initial Assessment
   - The deceased
   - System checks
   - The locus
3. Response

Question 4

In most circumstances, who can PLE?

Answer 4

• Medical practitioner
• Specially trained nurse
• Paramedic

Question 5

What are the only circumstances a Police Officer can presume death and what must they note when pronounced?

Answer 5

• Decapitation
• Decomposition and decay
• Total incineration
• Significant mutilation
  An officer must note ‘TIME FOUND’ in these circumstances

Question 6

What assessments should be made of the deceased?

Answer 6

• Examine the body for injury (bruising, lacerations, drug misuse, scars or tattoos that may assist identification)
• Weapons
• Carry out Police system checks
• Signs of violence, damage to clothing etc
• Any other observations that seem strange

Question 7

When dealing with a deceased person what system checks should be done?

Answer 7

• Intelligence
• Vulnerabilities
• Incidents
• Crimes
• Firearms certificate holder

Question 8

What considerations should be made when examining the locus?

Answer 8

• Other people within
• Signs of drug misuse
• Signs of forced entry
• Signs of a struggle or violence
• The keys for the property
• Other personal items
• Suicide note
• Personal papers
• Medication

Question 9

What steps should be taken when a death is Police Reportable?

Answer 9

• Secure the scene
• Implement a scene entry log
• Enforce counter contamination measures
• Notify relevant supervisors and the on duty CID resource

Question 10

What information should be recorded when attending a death?

Answer 10

• The exact time and date you arrived at the scene
• Security of the house
• The position and description of the body
• Counter contamination measures taken
• Description of the deceased’s clothing
• The full particulars of any witnesses
• The exact wording used by witnesses when explaining the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the body
• Details of anyone who may arrive at the locus including any other officer
• Any other observations which may assist with the enquiry at a later stage