Serious Crime Flashcards
Two key tasks of any investigation
- gathering and preserving evidence
- accurate and detailed documentation
To ensure these tasks are carried out efficiently, there are established
management protocols for receiving, processing, evaluating information and prioritising and directing tasks to members of the investigation team.
Who is responsible for the investigation
Everyone in the team is, not just the officer in charge. All team members need to be able to coordinate the procedures and activities that are critical to the investigation of a case.
To maintain high standards in the investigation process you must
- have an investigative mindset
- have the ability to apply the Appreciation Technique to think through issues to ensure the best possible course of action is followed
- always consider how your decisions will be scrutinised under cross examination months later in Court when the case proceeds to trial
- pay meticulous attention to detail
- carry out your assigned tasks efficiently
- value the importance of professionalism, integrity and objectivity in
conducting investigations - maintain excellent communication skills (written and oral), and
- work as a team
Purpose of team conferences
- keep all members of the team up to date with developments in the
enquiry - give team members the opportunity to exchange views and pass on
important information - give the 2IC the opportunity to pass on instructions to staff on file
management and other administrative matters - give the officer in charge the chance to brief the team on important
investigative topics, priorities and which lines of inquiry to follow
Team conferences must be
- planned
- recorded
- focused / managed to avoid excessive time use
Types of conferences
- initial, regular, debriefing, phase team (run by o/c phase only for their staff)
Initial Police responders must
assess the situation quickly yet carefully and decide what the most important things to do are, and how and in what order they should be done.
Initial responders functions
- attending the scene at an early stage
- taking control of the situation; and
- coordinating tasks.
Initial responsibilities - VAWSEEPO
Victim - Identify and locate the victim(s).
Appreciation - Make an initial appreciation of the incident. Assess personal risk and then preserve the lives of others.
Witnesses - Locate and contain witnesses.
Scene - Preserve the scene (e.g. set boundaries).
Exhibits - Note evidence and preserve any that would otherwise be lost or destroyed.
Elements - Consider whether the ingredients of the alleged offence have been established.
Powers - Identify what powers are available and consider whether to execute them.
Offenders - Identify and apprehend suspect(s).
Appreciation - definition
An appreciation is a proven method of problem solving, it’s an ongoing process which involves continually thinking through each new piece of information as it is uncovered.
Appreciation - benefits
- Informs all Police what they are expected to achieve
- Increases the chances of success, i.e. the investigative aims/objectives being met
- Establishes a sequence of activities to be carried out
- Manages risk
- Reduces uncertainty
- Eliminates duplication
- Ensures nothing is overlooked
- Effective use of resources.
Appreciation - benefits
- Informs all Police what they are expected to achieve
- Increases the chances of success, i.e. the investigative aims/objectives being met
- Establishes a sequence of activities to be carried out
- Manages risk
- Reduces uncertainty
- Eliminates duplication
- Ensures nothing is overlooked
- Effective use of resources.
Aim
- Short statement which succinctly demonstrates a single objective.
- must be clear, accurate and concise.
Factors
- any circumstance or fact that could possibly have an effect on the manner in which you will achieve your desired outcome.
Courses Open
- a list of all the possible ways the aim could be achieved, bearing in mind the factors and the deductions made from those factors.
These questions must be asked:
- What are the possible results or consequences of each alternative?
- Which alternative is the most appropriate way to reach the objective?
- From these considerations, decide on the most appropriate course to achieve your aim.
