Serious Crime 2 Flashcards
The safety of attending Police at a serious crime scene will be their first priority during an initial risk assessment. After ensuring this occurs, what are other safety concerns or priorities that need to be addressed?
- The safety of other responders and that of others present at the scene
- This may include other injured people or a hidden offender
To what extent a scene guard is able to determine which events or information are relevant to the case, will largely depend on how well they have been briefed.
Name four duties of a scene guard?
- Name and designation
- Authority to enter the scene
- Purpose of the visit
- time of entry and time of exit
In a serious crime investigation, a disclosure manager is appointed.
What INTIAL ACTION should the Disclosure Manager take upon appointment?
- Read the disclosure managers desk file’
- Access the current police manual downloaded to the local district shared drive for use during the investigation.
- Report to the 2IC to receive a briefing tasking establishing what information is and is not disclosable and ongoing supervision.
List four of the five things that a person who has had custody of an exhibit, must be able to point to in IMT/PROP records, in order to ensure that the chain of evidence for that exhibit can be proven in court?
- When and whom they received custody of exhibit
- Where and how the exhibit was secured
- When, why and how the exhibit was moved from one place to another
- How the exhibit has been treated, safeguarded and preserved
- When, why and to whom they transferred custody of any exhibit
Area Canvass enquiries are often prolonged and involve a large number of staff. Many hours can be spent walking streets and knocking on doors.
How can the OC Area Canvass ensure that staff morale remains high?
- Provide regular feedback on the way canvass enquiries are contributing to the progress of the investigation.
- Together with updates on the progress being made with other phases of the enquiry.
All decisions relating to the selection of exhibits for forensic examination and their prioritization are made at the forensic strategy meeting.
What matters must the OC Exhibits determine regarding each exhibits after the forensic strategy meeting?
OC exhibits - must determine:
- all exhibits, fully examined in accordance with forensic strategy meeting decisions
- OC exhibits awareness of significant of each exhibit and what examination may be available
- plan/record examination of exhibits and relevant to investigation
Police who arrive at a serious crime scene should identify, preserve and record the scene.
In relation to preserving the scene, what actions should Police take upon arrival?
- freeze, control, guard and preserve scene
- carry out initial assessment of scene
- use a common approach path
- clear the scene
- protect exhibits any any exposed to elements
- arrange and brief scene guards
- establish cordon parameters - consider stepping plates
- call for assistance/resources if necessary
- record - who, what, when, where, why and how
- sketch plan/initial photographs of scene
Police use a unique numbering system for dealing with exhibits. Describe the six categories and their subsequent numbering allocations?
Admin - 10000
Victim - 15000
Witnesses - 20000
Area Canvass - 25000
Scenes - 30000
Suspects - 70000
The pathologist must be supplied with what relevant information?
- MEK kit
- Toxicology kit
- Medical records
- Pol 47
The primary reason for conducting a postmortem examination is to establish the cause of death. The pathologists’ findings will provide information to drive the investigation.
Under what circumstances may the OC Body make any notes of discussions concerning the postmortem examination.
The OC Body must not make any notes of discussions concerning the postmortem examination unless specifically directed by the OC investigation and/or the Pathologist.
It is imperative you conduct a risk assessment on your arrival at a serious crime scene.
What is the first priority of this risk assessment?
The first priority when conducting a risk assessment at the scene of a serious crime incident will always be to ensure the safety of the attending police members.
An area canvass is often conducted after a serious crime. It is best to try and conduct an area canvass at the same time as the original offence occurred?
Explain why this is important?
An area canvass conducted at the same time of the offence to capture people who regularly pass through that area at the time of day.
During an investigation, the OC Exhibits may become aware that further enquiries are required to a particular exhibit.
When this occurs what action must the OC Exhibit take?
Bring it to the attention of the 2IC so that they can arrange for further enquiries to be carried out/completed.
Alibi witnesses who are identified under section 22 of the Disclosure Act 2008 can only be interviewed under the direction of the Crown Solicitor.
When Crown Solicitor directs Police to interview an alibi witness, what actions must the Police take?
- OC suspect to make enquiries re: alibi, results to
- Crown/Solicitor via 21C
- OC suspect to follow up with persons to confirm/deny alibi
- Confirm where suspect was/what they were doing
- where possible, corroboration of alibi via forensic/other sources independent from suspect
You have been appointed OC Area Canvass and as part of your role, you should continually review completed canvas forms as they are submitted.
Outline 4 reasons why these reviews are conducted?
- Evaluate the quality of completed work and provide quality assurance (QA)
-Identify lines of enquiry to be highlighted to the 21C - Monitor the ongoing progress of the canvass
- Facilitate the detailed recording of progress
