Serious Crime C Flashcards
- Describe two of the topics to be covered during a forensic strategy meeting?
Examinations: Discuss what ESR and others can do with the exhibits.
Examination Priorities: Set priorities for each examination.
Future Work: Determine if future work is needed for reconstruction.
Work Plan: Plan any work required to assist the reconstruction.
Agreed Reconstruction: Agree on the reconstruction of the events relevant to the crime.
- When implementing the family liaison plan, the family liaison officer should identify which family member(s) to liaise with at an early stage. Describe who the term ‘family ‘relates to?
Family Involvement: Includes partners, parents, siblings, children, guardians, whānau, and others with a close relationship to the victim.
Chosen Family: Also includes ‘chosen’ family.
Cultural Reflection: Should reflect the victim’s culture and lifestyle.
- When appointing an officer to interview a witness to a serious offence, what four main issues should be considered regarding the potential interviewing officer?
Training Level: Interviewers should be at least level 2 or 3 for important adult witnesses.
Experience: Consider the officer’s experience in major investigations and any additional skills.
Suitability: Assess the officer’s suitability, including welfare issues and prior experience with the witness, to avoid challenges like coaching or prompting.
Preparation: Interviewing officers should be informed early of their role and have time to plan the interview.
- During an investigation into multiple suspects for a serious offence, what steps can investigators take to mitigate or eliminate the possibility of forensic cross contamination between the suspects?
Officers must have an appreciation mindset to plan ahead to negate cross contamination.
If staff levels allow’s, assign different staff to deal with only one Suspect / Victim. Otherwise
Staff Assignment: Decide which staff will seize clothing from suspects, ensuring awareness of cross-contamination issues.
Separate Officers: Assign separate officers to each suspect when possible.
Suspect Separation: Keep suspects apart, including during transport and in cells.
Follow SOP’s for handling exhibits ,Clothing Handling: Package, label, and seal clothing according to standard procedures before transferring to OC exhibits.
- Describe four of the responsibilities of the OC exhibits in a serious crime investigation?
Exhibit Management: Set up and update the exhibit register.
Physical Security: Ensure exhibits are stored securely and record all movements (chain of custody).
Exhibit Appreciation: Assess the evidential value of each exhibit, identify investigative opportunities, and determine further enquiries.
OC Exhibit Responsibilities: Establish standards for recovery, handling, labeling, storage, submission to experts, court presentation, and disposal, following OC Investigation and Serious Crime Template requirements.
Destruction or return of property when it is no longer required.
- Describe who should be appointed as OC body at a serious crime scene?
Experienced Investigator: The OC body should be an experienced investigator with awareness of forensic issues.
Additional Support: If not possible, the OC body may need extra support or mentoring, such as an additional deputy, especially during the post-mortem examination.
- Under what circumstances may the OC body make any notes of discussions concerning the post mortem examination?
The OC body must not make any notes of discussions concerning the PM unless specifically directed to by the OC Investigation and/or the pathologist.
- Under the completion of the area canvass phase, the OC area canvass must submit a report to the OC investigation outlining the circumstances of this particular aspect of the investigation. What matters must the report contain?
Summary of Actions: Outline all actions taken and significant findings.
Highlight Deviations: Note any actions that deviated from the original phase strategy.
- What is the first priority when conducting a risk assessment at the scene of a serious incident?
The first priority will always be to ensure the safety of the attending police members.
Next is establishing the physical condition of the victim. Falls into 3 categories:
1 Alive and uninjured
2 Alive but injured
3 Shows no signs of life
- Police who arrive at a serious crime scene should identify, preserve and record the scene. What actions should Police take to preserve the scene upon initial arrival?
Scene Preservation: Freeze, control, guard, and preserve the scene.
Initial Assessment: Quickly assess the scene.
Approach Path: Use a common approach path.
Clear the Scene: Ensure the area is clear.
Scene Guards: Brief scene guards and use crime scene logs.
Cordon Parameters: Set adequate cordon boundaries.
Stepping Plates: Consider using stepping plates if no life is at risk.
Protect Exhibits: Safeguard fragile exhibits and those exposed to the elements.
Call for Assistance: Request additional resources as needed.
Records: Make records of who, what, where, when, why, and how.
Sketch/Photographs: Create a sketch and take initial photos of the scene.
Report to OC: Make accurate records and report to OC investigation promptly.
