Serious Crime Flashcards
Every person who undertakes a course of action at a serious crime scene must first consider what risks may exists.
The initial police responders primary functions include (3 things)?
- Attending the scene at an early stage
- Taking control of the situation
- Coordinating tasks
While most offences of homicide are identified as a result of a body being found or an offender making admissions, some incidents notified to the police are not initially identifiable as a homicide.
Such instances may include?
- Report of a missing person
- Report of an abduction
- Hit and run
- Suicide
- Drug related deaths
- Fatal fire
What are the initial responsibilities/actions of first responding police?
VAWSEIPO
Victim - identify and locate
Appreciation - make an initial appreciation of the incident. Assess personal risk and then preserve the lives of others
Witnesses - Locate and contain
Scene - preserve the scene
Exhibits - Note evidence and preserve any that would otherwise be lost or destroyed
Ingredients - Consider if each element has been fulfilled
Powers - Consider what powers are available and whether it is necessary to execute them.
Offenders - Identify and apprehend suspects
What is the definition of an appreciation?
An appreciation is a proven method of problem solving. The process follows a series of set steps to ensure optimum course of action is decided upon. It considers all appropriate factors and weights the benefits and risks of all alternative solutions, allowing sound decision to be taken. An appreciation is an ongoing process which involves continually thinking through each new piece of information as it is uncovered
What are the steps to follow when conducting an appreciation? AFCOP
Aim - short statement which demonstrates a single objective.
Factors - is any circumstance or fact that could possible have an effect on the manner in which you will achieve your desired outcome
Courses open - possible ways the aim could be achieved bearing in mind the factors considered.
Plan - is a proposed course of action designed to put the selected course of action into action in order to achieve the aim
Going to the scene - Adopting an investigative mentality
No matter what the circumstances of a death are, Police’s purpose is always to investigate thoroughly and gather sufficient evidence to satisfactorily explain in the circumstances of the death.
At the scene - Subject to the appreciation of risks - Define Reconnaissance
a reconnaissance should be conducted to establish who is present at the scene. This may include other injured people or a hidden offender.
The first priority will always be to ensure the safety of the attending police members.
Establishing the victims medical status.
This falls into one of three categories - name them?
- Alive and uninjured
- Alive but injured
- Shows no sign of life
What are the 11 steps to take re a victim at hospital?
- Obtain medical opinion as to the victim’s current medical condition
- Seized the victims clothing/possessions as evidence
- Establish the victim’s ID
- Obtain a pre-transfusion blood sample using a police toxicology kit.
- Seize the discard bandages used to cover GSW and record the position on the victim where each bandage was applied
- Arrange firearms residue samples to be taken
- Note and photograph injuries
- Arrange DNA swabs to be taken from the victim’s skin relevant to the circumstances of the case
- obtain details of any people that visit/contact the victim
- consider a scoping interview using TEDS questions. If victim is likely to die consider recording an immediate statement, whether the victim can sign it or not. If victim subsequently dies statement may be admitted as hearsay under section 18(1) of the Evidence Act 2006. The court must be satisfied that the statement and the person making the statement are reliable as held in section 16(1) of the Evidence Act 2006:
- the nature of the statement
- the contents of the statement
- the circumstances relating to the making of the statement
- circumstances relating to the veracity of the person and
- circumstances relating to the accuracy of the observation of the person
- conduct a prelim interview with emergency staff who treated the victim using TEDS questions.
What are the 13 steps to follow if you discover a body showing no signs of life?
- Consider calling ambulance and resuscitation if appropriate.
- remain with the body until relieved by CIB or supervisor
- arrange a doctor to pronounce life extinct, unless death is obvious.
- Treat the victim as a scene within a scene
- Instruct medical staff to leave clothes on the body
- if medical treatment has been given then request the connecting tubes, needles, bandages are left in situ
- If possible conduct scoping interview with medical staff that treated the victim
- Ascertain if the victim spoke to anyone before death
- Record body position, lividity and obvious injuries
- Objectively record everything using all sensors
- record all exhibits
- sketch a plan including the position of the body and position of exhibits
- Provide full information to OC investigation at early stage.
Initial action to preserve a scene
Police who arrive at the scene first should follow these steps.
CRISP
- Consider if initial photographs of the scene and person present are necessary
- Record the integrity of the crime scene by establishing crime scene logs, complete a sketch of the scene, make an accurate record of the facts and report them to the OC investigation at an early stage.
Identify - consider possible approach paths and establish a “CAP” for all movements into and out of the scene using a path which avoids any route possible taken by the suspect.
Secure - Establish cordon parameters using police emergency tape, arrange crime scene logs, prevent unauthorized person from entering or leaving the scene.
- Preserve - Record any movements/action taken in the scene. Be prepared to take immediate action to preserve evidence that my be CADD.
What is the definition of a crime scene log?
A crime scene log records details, times and purpose of all person who enter the crime scene, as well as any other activity in an around the crime scene which may be relevant to the case.
What is the purpose of a scene guard and a log maintained by that person?
COIN
Ensures:
- Contamination issues are managed
- intelligence opportunities are maximized
- integrity of evidence or potential evidence is secured
- there is no unauthorized entry into the scene
What are the duties of a scene guard?
- Control and record movements
- Avoid disturbance and protect scene
- Record details in crime scene log
- Brief replacement and others entering
- Secure and protect scene
What are the 8 steps to follow re witnesses at a scene?
- Obtain full details
- assemble people in clear area
- isolate witnesses to prevent contamination or collusion
- identify witnesses and conduct a scoping interview
- Establish whether any person have left the area
- establish cell phone numbers for witnesses
- Record reg plates of vehicle nearby
- Seize any CCTV footage relevant to the vicinity.
What are the 12 steps to follow for suspects at the scene?
- Separate from other person at scene
- Assess condition of suspect ie mental, injured, intoxicated, drug impaired or special condition
- As soon as possible remove the suspect from the scene by consent or with lawful justification
- If suspect refused consider arrest and what the most appropriate offence will be.
- To prevent cross contamination use officers who have not been into the scene.
- advise the suspect of bill of rights
- consider what powers are available re search and surveillance search for a search of suspect, vehicle, or place.
- consider searching the area of they have traveled or were found in for evidence discarded.
- Note the suspects behaviour and appearance.
- record everything the suspect says and consider a prelim interview.
- Where possible interview to be conducted by way of video
- brief the OC of the investigation and highlight anything significant.
What are the responsibilities of OC Body?
RECEE
MOAN
ASA
ACE
- Record what actions have been taken in respect of the body
- ensure death has been certified by doctor
- completed sudden death procedures
- establish if body has been moved
- ensure body is photographed in situ consider video
- maintain security and continuity of the body, samples and exhibits from the scene to the PM examination
- obtain medical records for pathologist
- authority to transport the body to mortuary only comes from OC investigation
- note and record observations relating to the body
- authority to ID body comes from OC investigation
- consult the pathologist re the benefits of conducting X-ray, CT scans etc
- ensure all cultural responsibilities have been addressed
- attend the debrief of the pathologist and record findings
- secure and guard the body, samples, exhibits with dignity and respect.
- attend the PM with OC investigation > ensure police photographer attends > preserve evidence from the body > record, label and secure all samples and exhibits > arrange for finger prints to be taken
It is not uncommon for movement of the body to have occurred. Where the body has been disturbed?
- do not attempt to restore the scene to its original unchanged condition
- make inquiries to enable the original unchanged scene to be subsequently reconstructed and photographed if required.
What are some circumstances where it is advisable to take samples from a body at the scene?
Where evidence would be lost or contaminated such as:
- larvae and insects
- potential fingerprint evidence from the skin
- DNA swabs
- Extraneous items such as hair, fibres, glass etc
- firearm residue
What are the 11 steps to follow for removing a body from the scene?
- record position of body by way of sketch or photographs
- Consult with OC Scene re marking the position of the body before moving it
- Record all details of the position of the body >limbs >wounds and clothing > direction of any trails of blood > lividity > extent of rigor mortis
- consider health risks that may be present by handling the body
- Cover hands, feet and head with paper bag, secured with tape. consideration to be given re the use of a plastic bag if there are any open wounds that may shed blood.
- ensure clothing on body is not contaminated
- wrap the body in a plastic sheet and place into body bag
- carefully search underneath where the body lay
- retain exhibits, sheets, bags, and other materials used to transport the body.
- Obtain approval from the OC investigation to removed the body from the scene.
- When directed by OC investigation arrange undertaker to removed body to mortuary. Ensure the security and continuity of the body is maintained.
What are some factors to consider - Appreciation prior to post mortem
- ID of the body at the mortuary
- authority from coroner to conduct PM
- Consultation with pathologist
- safe custody of exhibits
- any specific examination methods or samples to be take based on circumstances known
- appropriate resources for PM
- Cultural considerations
What is the primary role of the OC body at a post mortem examination?
Is to observe, document, and deal with exhibits associated with the body, in a structured and methodical manner.
What is the purpose of a post mortem?
DEED PIN
- determine the mode and time of death
- establish how injuries or events may have contributed to the victim’s death
- establish approximate height and stature of the suspect
- determine the nature and size of weapons used
- provide areas of interest for subsequent interviews of witnesses and suspect
- ID victim if identity not yet known
- negate possible defenses
Who may attend a post mortem?
- Police
- pathologist
- coroner
- doctor who treated the deceased
- doctor representing the interest of the suspect
Authority from coroner is required if ESR or a Crown solicitor are to attend a PM
Name 6 pieces of equipment required for a PM
- MEK kit
- Toxicology kit
- Body labels
- POL 47
- Firearms residue kit
- exhibit series numbers and appropriate exhibit kit
What are 5 steps to take on arrival at the mortuary?
- Ensure staff don’ wash the body
- Ensure body is labelled and secured in the mortuary fridge
- retain key used to secure body
- ensure body remains in its present condition until PM
- arrange formal ID of the body
what are some methods used for the identification of bodies?
METHODS
- Medical examination records
- Effects that are found on them (personal effects)
- Their fingerprints
- H - X
- Obtain dental records
- DNA profiling
- Skeletal facial reconstruction
What information can a pathologist and anthropologist identify through skeletal remains?
- Whether remains are actually bones
- Whether bones are human
- Age, gender, height, and race of that person
What is the general rule of thumb re police taking notes during a PM
OC body must not make any notes of discussions concerning the PM examination unless directed to do so by OC investigation.
What are some considerations around stripping the body?
Stripping of the body will only take place immediately before the PM, but most only be undertaken on the specific direction of the OC Investigation.
What are the 12 steps to follow re stripping a body?
- body must be stripped in presence of pathologist.
- remove body from the mortuary fridge and take to PM examination room
- remove body from body bag causing minimal disturbance
- take possession of the sheets, paper and body bags used to transport the body as exhibits
- direct police photographer to take photos of body before clothing is removed
- removed items of clothing from body. Avoid cutting clothing off. Search clothing pockets
- make an inventory of items found
- label each item of clothing and possession
- Seal in separate exhibit bag or container
- ensure cross contamination does not occurr between exhibits seized
- maintain continuity of body and exhibits seized
- consider placing a fine sieve in the mortuary table drain hole to collect trace evidence.
Id addition to photographs taken at the scene, the OC Body must ensure the photographer takes sufficient photographs of:
- the body before it is stripped
- the body after it is stripped
- close up of any wounds, marks, internal injuries and unusual features
What are the responsibilities of OC Body when it comes to exhibits found on the body?
The OC Body is responsible for recording, labelling, packaging, and sealing all exhibits relating to the body, including samples taken during the PM.
The OC Body must hand all exhibits to OC Exhibts in order to maintain the chain of custody. they should also provide the OC Exhibits with
> PM scene exhibit schedule
> copy of OC Body notebook entries
> formal statment
