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.
Why is a reccie important for area canvass
Conducting an appreciation and setting parameters and objectives of the canvass
Samples taken from the body at the scene?
Firearm residue
DNA
Glass
Fingerprints
Items of clothing
What should you consider in relation to the suspect at the scene?
Condition of the suspect
Injuries
Alcohol or drugs
Medical or mental conditions
Other special considerations
Types of conferences
Initial conferences
Regular
Debriefing
Phase team
What can a doctor do while examining a suspect?
Note any wounds, marks, injuries
Provide professional opinion regarding condition of suspect
Record any explanation made by the suspect
Explain the process of consultation with the crown regarding witness considerations?
Have early consultation with the crown to manage witnesses in need of special considerations and who may need to give evidence in an alternative manner.
Before arresting the suspect?
Assigned investigator to each suspect
K9 approved by OC Inv
Prompt prep of file
PPS provide authority to contact crown
OC exhibits appointment
Experience in:
Mass handling exhibits
Forensic awareness
Managing cross contamination
Exp in using PROP
Procedure for packaging, securing etc
What must OC exhibits update the OC Investigation about exhibits?
Any examination results
Further enquiries required
What exhibits are found and their movements
Psychiatric evidence
If mental health or sanity is an issue,
Must seek application to court for mental health assessment
Police aim to establish whether suspect knew of nature and quality of their actions.
Also if defence argues diminished responsibility
Police to obtain assessments that cover:
Circumstances of arrest
Mental/criminal history
Symptoms of mental illness
Producing exhibits for trial.
Exhibits will be presented in trial for maximum forensic presentation which:
Demonstrates the forensic value
Is safe and doesn’t risk injury, disease or accidents.
Prep court exhibt schedule as an exhibit for chain of custody purposes
Exhibits for submissions must be;
Ensure approval from OC Investigator
Forensic strategy meeting to confirm examination of exhibit
Record decision of exam in PROP/IMT
Pol 143
Prep exhibits for exam
Deliver to examiner
Advise if no exam necessary
Maintaining high standards for the investigation
Appreciation technique
ATD
Investigative mindset
Effective communication
Why a conferences important
Allows teams to be updated
Allows team to share info
2IC can delegate tasks
OC can debrief separate teams
What to brief scene guard
Secure scene - deny any unauthorized entry
Record details - name, rank, time in/out, purpose, authority to enter
Control and record movements -
CAP, record all movements and vehicles
Protect scene - be vigilant around the scene
Debrief replacement - brief replacements
Inform others - report any actions takenOC scene and OC INC
Purpose of Postmortem examination
Establish mode/time of death
Nature and size of weapon
How injuries contributed to death
Height weight of body
Negate defences
What information should experts consider at the body briefing?
Actions taken by Frontline
ID
Photos and/or videos
Environment
Special considerations
Appreciation before body is removed from the scene.
Notify and get response from coroner
Consult with experts
Family and cultural issues
Views from path and crown
Supervision
Custody of exhibits
Mortuary arrival
Ensure body is untouched
Staff do not wash the body
Body is labeled and in the fridge
OC body is in charge of the key
Arrange formal ID process
Pre postmortem appreciation
Coroner authorizes PM
ID who attends PM
ID body at mortuary
Custody of exhibits
Second PM?
Cultural family concerns
What is OC Bodys responsibilities with exhibits at the mortuary
OC body responsible for recording, labeling, packing,sealing exhibt from body
Items of mutual interest like ligatures projectiles should be recovered and dealt with accordingly
Path may take own sample
OC body checklist at mortuary
Label body
Secure body
Secure body bag
Notify coroner
Notify time and place
Fingerprints
Discuss what procedures and protective materials should be used when preparing the body to be removed.
Procedure to ensure the integrity of the body remains and to prevent cross contamination when handling the body.
If knife secure to body
Full body protection cover
Footwear covers
Protective glasses
Forensic gloves
Second postmortem might be ordered if:
Unable to determine cause of death
Defence seek order for independent PM
Solicitor general orders another PM
Family liason office responsibilities
Work closely with family, bridge relationship between family and INV
Investigative role but can offer support
Liase witn OC INV professionalism and needs of family are met
Governed by Liason plan
What should be covered in the liason plan?
Objectives of liason
Liasing with victim support
Exit plan
Information withheld and provided to family
Appropriate interviews
OC INV Safety appreciation for selecting FLO
Suitability of FLO
Retention of FLO
Additional FLO
Needs of family
Suspect in the family
Not use FLO for K9
Safety of FLO
Consider information shared to family
Monito family communications
Fully document all contact
Prior to meeting the family FLO must
Be aware of the circumstances
Familiarize with details of family
What information they have
What communication they have
Duties of a FLO
Address fears family have in giving evidence. Fully advise of court process
Ensure info is given to family in a timely and regular manner
Open and honest conversation
Ensure welfare and support in place before exiting
Exit plan clearly communicated early on
Protect from media
Obtain evidence
Arrange VIS
Notify family of VNR
Police who arrive at a serious crime scene should identify preserve and record the scene. What actions should Police take to preserve scene upon initial arrival?
Identify -
Gather info conduct appreciation
Provide sitrep to comms
Consider common path
Consider warrantless powers
Secure
Remove all people from the scene
Establish cordon
Arrange and brief scene guards
Arrange crime scene log
Prevent unauthorized entry/exit
Preserve
Ensure nothing is touched or moved
Consider common path approached
Consider
Observe record notes of precise details of the scene
Complete sketch
Photos videos
Identify anything that’s moved and note original position.
What should be covered in an Area canvass briefing?
Full circumstances of the case
Emphasize need for thoroughness
Evidence of probative value should be covered by FWS
Match completed places with master record
Before questioning witness, what forensic information can be obtained?
CCTV
Isolate witnesses from others
Assign officer to witnesses
ID if any person left
Note registration of cars in area
What should be covered after the area canvass phase?
Investigatively important areas visited
ID of any offenders
Things that could have been done better
Intel obtained
Notebooks and FWS obtained
What should an area canvass final report cover?
Circumstances of this part of the phase
Description of any actions taken and any significant findings
Any actions taken outside of the strategy.
What to do if the suspect is identified at the scene?
Separate from others
BOR
Ask to remain and cooperate
Note anything they say
Seize clothing
Note if 1K or 1M
Note any injuries
What is TIE?
Trace interview eliminate
TIE categories are used based on characteristics of a group of people of relevance. Characteristics depend on the circumstances of the crime
List the points of investigation model that should be applied in all cases?
VAWSEEPO
What is the appreciation technique?
AFCO
How can Police satisfy that a hearsay statement is admissible?
18 1 A
16 1 A
Nature and content of circumstances
Circumstances in making of statement
The veracity
Accuracy
What goes into an interview plan?
Monitor
Interview objectives
Time and location
Mode of interview
Quantity of info disclosed
Managing prosecution witnesses
2IC and OC witnesses;
Ensure appearances at court
Arrange witness order
Provide welfare issues to OC INV
Copy of statement provided
Don’t speak to jury
