Part 1 - Intial Response To Homicide Or Serious Crime

Question 1

What are the primary functions of initial police responders?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Whose responsibility is it for maximising safety and eliminating or minimising risk?

Answer 2

Responsibility of all police staff

Question 3

Identification of homicide cases:

What are some instances where a homicide is not immediately identified?

Answer 3

• report of 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
• suicide
• fatal fire
• drug related deaths

Question 4

Initial response:

What investigation model should be applied in initial response?

Answer 4

VAWSEEPO

Victim - identify and locate victim

Appreciation- initial appreciation of incident.

Witness - locate and contain witnesses

Scene - Preserve and secure

Exhibits - Note evidence and preserve any that would otherwise be lost or destroyed

Elements - consider whether the ingredients of alleged offence have been established

Powers - identify what powers are available and consider using

Offenders - identify and apprehend

Question 5

Appreciation:

What is it?

Answer 5

A proven method of problem solving.

The process follows a series of set steps the ensure the optimum course of action is decided upon.

Question 6

Appreciation: what the the benefits of applying the appreciation technique?

Answer 6

• informs all police what they are expected to achieve
• increases the chances of success
• establishes a sequence of activities to be carried out
• manages risk
• reduces uncertainty
• eliminates duplication
• ensures nothing is overlooked
• effectve use of resources

Question 7

Going to scene

Adopting investigative mentality

What is police purpose?

Answer 7

• Always investigate throughly and gather sufficient evidence to satisfactorily explain circumstances of death.

Question 8

Going to the scene: complainants/informants

every effort should be made to obtain what?

Answer 8

• identity and location of suspect
• firsthand account of what complainant/informant knows
• precise details of the location of the scene
• circumstances leading the the discovery
• indentity of the victim
• details of anyone else at the scene
• full contact details of C/I
• demeanour of the C/I
• relationship of the C/I to the victim or suspect
• details of action of C/I has taken and where they have been
• details of any hazards or safety issues that may affect police approaching scene/victim

Question 9

Going to the scene:

What may the C/I be asked to do if police delay?

Answer 9

• return to the proximity of the scene, and guard it, if it is safe
• not the enter the obvious boundaries of the scene
• not to touch or move anything
• prevent others from entering or touching the scene
• await police arrival and identify themselves to the first police at the scene

Question 10

At the scene: Pres of life

What must police responder ensure?

Answer 10

• their own safety, safety or other responders and that of others at the scene

Question 11

At the scene: risk assessment

What must happen before initial action is undertaken?

Answer 11

Those in charge at scene must conduct an appreciation on the known info and dictate how, why and what form initial action should take

Question 12

At the scene: establish victims medical status

After ensuring safety of those present, what is the next priority?

Answer 12

To establish the physical condition of victim

Question 13

At the scene: victims med status

What are three physical condition status’?

Answer 13

• alive and uninjured
• alive and injured
• shows no sign of life

Question 14

At the scene: what actions should you take in relation to victims physical status?

Answer 14

• alive and well: proceed to preserving scene
• alive but injured: call ambo, consider resuss if necessary. If victim moved, note original body location

If victim taken to hospital take details of ambo officers and destination. If practicable, detective should accompany

Question 15

At hospital: what steps should be followed?

Answer 15

• obtain a medical opinion as to the victims current medical condition
• seize the victims clothing and other possessions as evidence
• establish victims identity
• obtain a pre-transfusion blood sample
  Using police tox kit containers
• seize any discharges bandages used to cover GS wounds and record position are on victim where each bondage had been applied
• arrange firearms residue samples in cases where firearm use is suspected
• note and photograph injuries
• arrange DNA swabs to be taken for victim skin
• obtain details of any and all persons who visits or contacts victim
• conduct scoping interview with victim
• conduct a preliminary interview with ambulance and emergency staff who treated victim

Question 16

Victim shows no sign of life: what do you do?

Answer 16

Police must never assume a person is dead unless no other conclusion is possible. Where the slightest possibility that the person is alive, first aid must be commenced and ambo requested.

Victim should not be moved any more than necessary to establish whether victim is alive

Question 17

Victim shows no sign of life: what steps should you follow when you discover a body?

Answer 17

• consider calling ambo and resuss if appropriate. If victim moved, not original position.
• remain with body until relieved by CIB or supervisor
• arrange dr to pronounce life extinct unless death is obvious i.e badly decomposed or decapitated
• treat victim as scene.
• instruct med staff to leave clothes in body
• if med treatment has been given request all apparatus’ is left in situ
  -if possible, conduct scoping interviews with med staff
• ascertain if victim spoke to anyone before death
  -record body position and condition
• objectively record everything you experience
• record all exhibits
• sketch plan
• provide full info to OC

Question 18

Preserving the crime scene: what must be done?

Answer 18

Freeze, control, guard, preserve.

Question 19

Initial action to preserve scene: what steps should be taken by police who arrive at scene first?

Answer 19

1. IDENTIFY
   - gather info and carry out initial assessment of scene
   - consider warrantless powers for E.V
   - establish the ‘crime scene’ itself.
   - consider possible approach paths and establish a CAP.
   - consider the ‘related’ crime scenes.
   - what is happening at the scene and who is there
   - note and record observations
   - establish a scene headquarters
   - provide a SITREP to comms
2. SECURE
   - where necessary, exercise powers the secure scene (S&S 116)
   - effect removal of persons within scene.
   - establish cordoned parameters using police tape
   - arrange and brief scene guards with clearly defined duties.
   - arrange crime scene logs
   - prevent unauthorised persons from entering or leaving scene
   - prevent any further loss or damage to evidence caused by adverse weather etc
3. PRESERVE
   - consider best other to scene
   - record any movements/action taken in the scene
   - preserve what if there and leave in situ
   - if no immediate life is at risk, consider using stepping plate
   - be prepared to take immediate action to preserve and/ or record evidence that may change.
4. CONSIDER
   - if initial photographs of scene and persons present are necessary
5. RECORD
   - the integrity of the scene by establishing and maintaining a crime scene log
   - observe and record full notes of precise details of the scene
   - complete sketch of scene
   - photograph the scene and consider using video recorder
   - identify anything which is moved, noting the original and eventual positions
   - make an accurate record of these facts and report to OC

Question 20

Crime scene logs: what is a crime scene log?

Answer 20

A log that records the details, time and purpose off all people who enter

Question 21

Crime scene logs: what is the purpose of a crime scene log?

Answer 21

A scene guard and the log minting by that person is employed in order to ensure;

• there is no unauthorised entry into the scene
• integrity of evidence or potential evidence is secure
• intelligence has opportunities are maximised
• contamination issues are managed

Only one CSL must be kept at each point of access to scene

Question 22

Scene guard duties: what will the duties of a scene guard include?

Answer 22

SECURE SCENE
- deny access to the scene unless authorised.

RECORD DETAILS
- maintain a CSL and note for every person authorised to enter the scene:
•name
•authority to enter scene
•purpose of visit
• time of entry and time of exit

CONTROL MOVEMENTS
- ensure everyone entering scene is directed to the CAP.

RECORD MOVEMENTS
- record all movements and vehicle details to, from and near scene in CSL

BRIEF OTHERS
- promptly communicate and relevant info the OC scene

AVOID DISTURBANCE
- do not personally entered, contaminate or interfere with scene

PROTECT SCENE
- be vigilant for activity such as the presence of any animals etc

BREIF REPLACEMENT
- brief oncoming scene guard

RESPECT SECURITY
- do not discuss events or the crime with witnesses etc

DEMONSTRATE COURTESY
- use tact and courtesy when dealing with civilian witnesses and crowds

INFORM OTHERS
- report any actions taken to OC scene

Question 23

Initial questioning of a witness: what points should be established?

Answer 23

• what happened
• where exactly the incident happened
• when it happened
• who was involved
• what the witness did
• what the witness touched
• Who touched the witness
• who else was present
• descriptions of those present
• what did those other people present say/do?

Question 24

Obtaining forensic evidence from a witness: what issues should be considered ?

Answer 24

• immediate DNA swabs of any areas of the witness that the suspect may have touched
• immediate DNA swabs of any blood present in the witness
• immediate swabs of any other relevant stains present on the witness
• forensic medical exam
• seizure of clothing and footwear
• seizure of any items of property touched by the suspect

Where possible consider:
- avoid any potential cross contamination. Different vehicles etc
- photograph witness at scene
- photo graph any injuries suffered by witness

Question 25

What steps will assist in obtaining key material from witnesses?

Answer 25

1. Obtain full details of all persons present at scene
2. Assemble people in a clear area, ensuring a police officer remains with them
3. If possible, isolate witnesses from each other
4. Identify witness and conduct a brief scoping interview.
5. Establish enter any persons have left area
6. If witness has made calls from scene, establish numbers such calls were made from and to.
7. Record rego numbers for f nearby vehicles to establish who may have been in area
8. Seize any cctv relevant to the vicinity/ routes to establish who many have been in the area at the relevant time

Question 26

What steps should be taken if suspect at scene?

Answer 26

1. Separate suspects from other persons at scene
2. Consider the condition of suspect
3. Ask them to remain at scene and co-operate with police
4. If suspect refuses to co-operate, consider grounds for arrest
5. To prevent cross contamination issues. Consider using officer that have not been at scene to manage suspect.

Question 27

What will the OC investigation in a briefing from the officer in charge of initial incident?

Answer 27

• what has occurred
• what action has been taken
• what has not been done
• what needs to be done