Serious Crime Flashcards
What are the two key tasks of an investigation?
Gathering and preserving evidence
Accurate and detailed documentation.
The initial Police responders must assess the situation quickly yet carefully and decide what the most important things to do are and what order should be done. Their primary functions are?
Attending the scene at an early stage
Take control of the situation
Coordinate tasks
Appreciation definition
Is a proven method of problem solving. The process follows a series of steps to ensure optimum course of action is decided upon. It considers all appropriate factors and weighs the benefits and risk of all alternative solutions, allowing sound decisions to he taken. It is an ongoing process.
What are the benefits of appreciation?
Informs all Police of what they are expected to achieve
Manages risk
Eliminates duplication
Ensures nothings overlooked
Common approach path
Any possible routes the victim or suspect has taken should be avoided.
Should be considered for all movements in and out of the scene to avoid damaging or losing potential evidence.
Consider stepping plates.
What actions should Police take if the body has been disturbed at the scene?
Do not touch anything
Establish what has been moved
Do not attempt to restore scene to original condition.
Make enquiries to enable original scene to be reconstructed or photographed
OC bodys responsibilities at the PM
Responsible for recording packaging sealing labeling and securing physical exhibits from the body. Including samples taken during PM
Describe the OC Body role during PM
Observe, document and deal with exhibits from the body in a methodical manner
Consider each piece of information carefully to identify its significance for the investigation.
OC general responsibilities
Complete sudden death procedures
Ensure death has been certified
Establish whether the body has been moved or disturbed
Photo of body at the scene and PM
Note details of medical staff or others who have attended the body
Record label secure all exhibits from the body including samples.
What is the purpose of a methodically conducted area canvass
Often there’s a link between the scene and victim/suspect and witnesses
There is a high likelihood of identifying or contacting the suspect, associates witnesses evidence and establish significant facts.
When investigating an alibi the OC suspect must:
Establish where the suspect was, who they were with and what they were doing at the time of the offence.
Complete enquiries with people other then the alibi
Corroboration should be sought from an independent source
Why is it important in some cases to conduct area canvass at the time of the offence?
To ID people who often use that area at the same time of the day.
Provides a snapshot of the community at the and place of the offence
How does criminal/geographical profiling assist the area canvass?
Setting parameters or ID locations where suspects are likely to frequent or reside.
State the types of information that could be obtained by early preliminary witness interview?
Early ID and K9 of suspect
Evidence and info relevant to the offence
Prevent CADD
Prevent further offending
Evidence that can be recovered from witnesses prior to interview?
Physical evidence including;
Footwear
Glass
Clothes
Fibre
DNA
Fingerprints
During the course of trial some witness intimidation may occur, what options are there to mitigate this?
Give evidence in an alternative manner.
National witness protection program.
May be entitled to anonymity by way of application or order by judge
What four main issues should be considered regarding the potential interview of a witness?
Best approach to take with the witness
The availability of the witness
Whether the witness requires special consideration/assistance
What four matters should OC suspect cover in the briefing?
Circumstances of the offence
Full details of suspect
Description of suspect provided by witnesses
MO
Investigating an Alibi witness.
Enquire where the suspect was who they were with and what they were doing at the time of the offence
Complete enquiries with people other than the alibi
Corroboration should be from an independent source.
What particular aspects may influence the setting of priorities when investigating suspects?
The relevant weight of evidence
The likelihood the suspect leaves the area
The urgency to solve the case
The availability of staff
When interviewing the suspect, OC suspect must ensure the interviewer?
Conducts the interview accordance to the suspect investigative interview guidelines
Monitored by experience detective
All explanation is sought for any exhibits found
What specific matters regarding each exhibit must the OC exhibit determine?
Evidential Value
Investigative opportunities
Lines of enquiries
Why is a forensic strategy meeting important?
Allows OC exhibits to prioritize tasks with the direction of the investigation
Describe Chain of Custody..
Every person who has had custody of an exhibit, from the time it was first discovered until the time it is produced in Court. It is used to demonstrate the integrity and admissibility of exhibits
Describe the topics to be covered in a forensic strategy meeting.
What examinations ESR and others could conduct on exhibits
Priority each examination should receive
Whether any work needed to assist a reconstruction.
In relation to a scene with witnesses that are proximate to an event, explain what is meant by evidence transfer?
Trace evidence can be transferred from one item to another. If evidence transfer occurred via a third party during the investigation, this suggest cross-contamination.
Trace evidence can be important when it is found on a significant exhibit.
Best method to protect the integrity of exhibits.. maintaining chain of evidence involves.
Recording details:
When why and who they received custody of exhibits from.
Where exhibits stored
When why and how exhibits moved locations
How exhibits handed guarded and preserved.
