Serious Crime 'B' Files Flashcards
When should OC Body strip the body of clothing
- Immediately before the post-mortem examination commences,
- Under specific direction of the OC Investigation,
- Generally after a visual examination and collection of evidence from the clothed body has been completed.
- Comment- Before entering the post-mortem examination room or handling the body, the OC Body and any other persons p_resent must dress in protective clothing_ i.e. foot-coverings, latex gloves, overalls and face mask. It may be convenient to wear more than one pair of gloves so that as a pair becomes soiled or worn, the outer pair can be removed to reveal a fresh pair beneath.
Appointment of O/C Body - Who,
The OC Body should be:
- an experienced investigator with awareness of forensic issues.
- Where this is not possible, the OC Body may require additional support and/or mentoring.
- The appointment of an additional deputy to assist the OC Body as ‘Scene Exhibits Officer’ specifically during the post-mortem examination, should also be considered.
OC area canvass submit report – what matters should it contain
At the conclusion of the area canvass the phase OC must submit a report to the OC Investigation outlining:
- the circumstances of this particular aspect of the investigation.
The report should include;
- a summary of all action taken,
- any significant findings highlighted and
- attention drawn to any action that has been undertaken which was outside of the original phase strategy.
What matters should the OC Canvass record in a detailed master record?
A detailed master record of ongoing progress should be continually maintained and updated by the OC Area Canvass, showing:
- which addresses have been visited,
- which occupants interviewed
- any relevant comments made and
- documentation completed
4 benefits of applying appreciation technique
Informs all Police what they are expected to achieve Increases the chances of success, i.e.
- Reduces uncertantiyEstablishes a sequence of activities to be carried out
- Eliminates duplication
- Ensures nothing is overlooked
- Effective use of resources
- Manages risk
- Investigative aims/objectives being met
What is the role of a FLO?
Primarily an investigator.
However the FLO should
- The FLO should identify the cultural origins of the victim’s family
- Ensure they are familiar with relevant cultural beliefs and protocols,
In order to:
- enhance relations with the family and
- to contribute to the victim profile. Page 6 Part 5
Regarding scene witnesses proximate to event & evidence transferred etc.
1- What action should interviewing police take prior to interview and,
2- state types of physical evidence that may be present
- Before a witness is interviewed, a plan must be prepared to preserve and recover all available physical evidence from the witness including
- the plan should include the following:
- DNA swabs of any areas of the witness that the suspect may have touched
- DNA swabs of blood
- Swabs of any other relevant stains present on the victim
- Foresnic medical exmaination
- Seizure of clothing and footwear
- Seizure of any items of property touched by the suspect
Why is it important to develop a forensic strategy for examination of exhibits
Developing a strategy for examination of exhibits:
- allows the OC Exhibits to prioritise tasks in line with the direction of the investigation.
- The strategy must be approved by the OC Investigation and continually reviewed throughout the investigation to keep abreast of any developments. Page 5, Part 16
Other options available for Canvassing public in a serious crime scenario?
- Media Poster campaign
- Mail drop
- High profile police presence, using a caravan
Identification of Homicide cases:
Such instances may include:
- Report of a missing person
- Sudden unexplained death of an infant
- Unexplianed death
- Report of an abduction
- Report of violence where no fatalities are anticipated
- Crime scene without body present
- Hit and run vehicular collision
- Suicide
- Fatal fire
- Drug related deaths Page 3, Part 1
Information from Skeletal remains
When skeletal remains are found, a pathologist, with the assistance of a forensic anthropologist, can usually provide information such as:
- Whether the remains are actually bones.
- Whether the bones are human.
- The age, gender, height and race of the person. Page 15 Part 5
Alibi Witness- steps to do:
Alibi witnesses notified under section 22 of the Criminal Disclosure Act 2008 must only be interviewed under the direction of the Crown Solicitor.
When particulars of alibi witnesses are notified concerning a matter in respect of which proceedings have been commenced, the investigator must:
- make enquiries to determine the veracity of the alibi
- conduct inquiries as directed by the OC Investigation and the Crown Solicitor including NIA checks on the alibi witness
- forward the results of these enquiries to the Crown Solicitor, including any statements Obtained Page 14-15, Part 10
Ailibi-Offender
It is the responsibility of the OC Suspects to make thorough enquiries to:
- determine the veracity of the alibi and
- to fully report the result of these enquiries to the Crown Solicitor, via the 2IC.
State 4 methods of identifying body when a body is decomposed or mutilated.
Mutilation or decomposition may render visual identification of a body impossible. Where the identity of victim cannot be established, consider the following methods of identification, in consultation with the Coroner:
- fingerprints
- DNA profiling (identification results take 3-4 weeks or 48 hours for urgent analysis)
- dental records, available through the Region Forensic Dentistry Advisor
- eye examination records
- medical examination records, including scars, birth marks, implants or prosthetics, xrays, surgical wounds, amputations and tattoos
- personal effects
- facial reconstruction. Page 14,15 Part 5
What are the initial actions of the Disclosure Manager
On appointment to the role, the Disclosure Manager must:
- Read the Disclosure Managers desk file
- Access the current Serious Crime Template 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 discoverable, and ongoing supervision.
Key Responsibilities of a disclosure manager
The Disclosure Manager must:
Disclosure:
- Retain and file all correspondence with defence counsel, both incoming and outgoing, in the 50000 series document category
- Manage disclosure timeframes within the provisions of the Act, or as otherwise directed by the Courts
- that robust auditable systems are employed to record disclosure decisions and actions (this includes compiling and maintaining the Disclosure Index)
- Create a record in NIA of the fact of disclosure against the charge(s), and record of delivery of disclosure in NIA.
Discoverable material:
Ensure all relevant discoverable material is provided to defence counsel
Non discoverable material
- Is identified, listed and defence advised
- Continually assess the risk to ensure that non-discoverable material is identified and not disclosed
- review to ensure that ongoing lawful justification to withhold exists for each document that is withheld
At the conclusion of a PM, OC body must hand exhibits to OC – list three things he that must do?
The OC Body must hand all exhibits to the OC Exhibits, in order to maintain an unbroken chain of exhibit continuity and security. They should also provide the OC Exhibits with:
- the post-mortem Scene Exhibit Schedule
- copy of the OC Body’s notebook entries
- Formal statement.
When Crown solicitor directs police to interview alibi witness – what actions should police take?
Whenever an alibi is put forward by an offender concerning a matter in respect of which proceedings have been commenced,
- it is the responsibility of the OC Suspects
- to make thorough enquiries to determine the veracity of the alibi and
- to fully report the result of these enquiries to the Crown Solicitor, via the 2IC. Page 12, Part 12
How is communication with counsel to be conducted?
All communication with defence counsel should be conducted through the 2IC, or Crown solicitor, where engaged.
Describe chain of custody and state the purpose
- The chronological document recording the custody or transfer of custody of an exhibit.
- It includes every individual who has had custody or control 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 therefore admissibility, of exhibits.
Following a Forensic Strategy meeting -what must O/C Exhibits do in relation to the exhibits register?
Following any Forensic Strategy meeting, the OC Exhibits must record on the Exhibits Register,
- all decisions taken about the types of examinations to be conducted and
- the priority allocated to the examination of each exhibit.
What are the benefits of an Apprecation?
- Reduces uncertainty
- Establishes a sequence of activties to be carried out
- Eliminates duplication
- Ensures nothing is overlooked
- Effective use of resource
- Minimises Risk
- Informs all police what they are expected to achieve
Three categories of a victim
- Alive & uninjured
- Alive & injured
- No signs of life
Hearsay Evidence
Under 16(1) of the Evidence Act 2006 what things should be considered?
- The nature of the statement
- The contents of the statement
The circumstances:
- of the statement
- relating to the veracity of the statement
- relating to the accuracy of the statement
