Part 16 - Exhibit Management In Homicide Or Serious Crime Investigations

Question 1

Essentially , what is an exhibit?

Answer 1

Any item which comes into police possession during the course of an investigation, whether or not it is eventually tendered in formal evidence.

Question 2

OC Exhibits:
Who should be appointed OC exhibits and what should they preferably have experience in?

Answer 2

suitably qualified in terms of training and relevant experience and should have previous experience in:
- mass exhibit handling
- forensic principles
- methods of exhibit recovery
- approved procedures for packing and security of evidence
- managing contamination and cross-contamination
- use of standardised documentation as contained in the IMT APP

Question 3

Purpose:
What is the OC exhibits responsible for?

Answer 3

Establishing and maintaining exhibit management systems and for maintaining the physical security and continuity of all exhibits

Question 4

Standard operating procedures:
What is the OC exhibits responsible for?

Answer 4

Establishing required standards for the recovery, handling, labelling, storage, submission to experts, presentation at court and disposal of exhibits and ensuring these processes are complete in accordance’s with requirement set by OC and IMT.

Question 5

Briefings and liaison:
What must the OC exhibits, where appropriate update the OC investigation and 2IC with relevant info relating to?

Answer 5

• what exhibits have been found, and their movements
• the results of any exhibit examinations
• where any further enquires are required

Question 6

Safe storage of exhibits:
In the first instance the OC exhibits should only accept an exhibit if?

Answer 6

• the exhibit label contains exhibit number and the name of the operation.
• the property is correctly packaged and sealed, and exhibit label is visible and secured in the outside
• any prompt action necessary to preserve the exhibit has been taken eg drying wet bloodstained clothing in drying store

Question 7

Forensic strategy meetings:
FSM are held to determine which exhibit or other forensic exams are required and the priority of those exams.

What topics may be included during a FSM?

Answer 7

• what exams ESR and others could conduct on exhibits
• the priority each exam should receive
• whether any further work is needed to assist a reconstruction
• a plan for any work to be completed that is required to assist the reconstruction
• an agreed reconstruction of the events relevant to the crime under investigation

Question 8

Submission of exhibits for exam:

What is OC exhibits responsible for in regard to submission of exhibits for exam and what steps should be followed?

Answer 8

OC exhibits is responsible for managing the subsequent transfer of any exhibits identified during FSM as requiring forensic exam.
When forwarding for exam, following steps should be taken:

1. Ensure exhibit exam decisions confirmed through FSM
2. Record in IMT all decisions taken we about types of exams
3. Ensure OC investigation has authorised proposed exam
4. Prepare necessary paperwork
5. Ensure any exhibits identified for forensic exam are prepared before being delivered, specifically:
   • all items separately wrapped
   • all parcels sealed
   • all items or their packages are labeled and numbered
   • a list of all items is attached to POL 142
   • the POL 143 is consistent with labels
   • items are in appropriate condition
   The OC exhibit must ensure the POL 143 contains sufficient info, including:
   • brief circumstances of the case
   • purpose of the exam
   • location where each item comes from
   • whether any exhibits are damp or require special attention
   • authorised by appropriate supervisor
6. Deliver exhibits for scientific exam promptly
7. Inform the expert if it is no longer required

Question 9

Producing exhibits in court:
In regards to court what is the OC exhibits responsible for and in which manner?

Answer 9

Responsible for preparing the exhibits for production in court. This must be conducted in a manner which:
- clearly demonstrates the evidential value of the exhibits, eg by mounting clothes in a mannequin or board.
- avoids any risk of physical injury, disease, accident, contamination or damage

Question 10

Exhibit management process:
For each person that has had an exhibit under their control, what must they be able to demonstrate?

Answer 10

• when they received custody of the exhibit and from whom
• where and how the exhibit was securely stored
• when, why and how the exhibit was moved from one place to another
• how the exhibit has been treated, safeguarded and preserved
• when and why they transferred custody of an exhibit to another person, and to whom.

Question 11

Understanding cross contamination:
What is it?

Answer 11

Evidence that has been transferred to the exhibit via a third party during course of investigation could represent potential cross-contamination

Question 12

Exhibit numbering:
What is the purpose?

Answer 12

• be consistent
• allow delegation of exhibit numbers to staff who will utilise them
• cope with multiple scenes
• be compatible with technology, allowing searching to be conducted using exhibit numbers
• encompass all exhibits

Question 13

OC exhibits checklist: