Serious Crime Investigation Flashcards
What are the benefits of an appreciation
Applying an appreciation technique can provide the following key benefits:
- Informs all Police what they are expected to achieve
- Increases chances of success
- Establishes a sequence of activities to be carried out
- Manages risk
- Reduces uncertainty
- Eliminates duplication
- Ensures nothing is overlooked
- Effective use of resources
Responsibilities of the O/C exhibits
Receives exhibits
Ensures labelled correctly and accompanied by an exhibit schedule
Ensure they are uniquely labelled
Record exhibits in register
Record all exhibit movements
Secure all exhibits
Deliver for examination and analysis
Discuss relevance and further action required with 2IC
Prepare exhibits for court
Ensure continuity of the exhibits is maintained
Produce exhibits in court
What topics are covered during forensic strategy meeting?
- What examinations ESR and others could conduct on exhibits
- The priority each examination should receive
- Whether any further work is needed to assist a reconstruction
- A plan for any work to be completed that is required to assist the reconstruction
- An agreed reconstruction of the events relevant to the crime under investigation
Submission of exhibits for examination
- Ensure exhibit examination decisions are confirmed through the Forensic Strategy meeting process.
- Record in the Exhibits Register all decisions taken about the types of examinations to be conducted and the priority allocated to each examination.
- Ensure the OC Investigation has authorised the proposed examination.
- Prepare the necessary papers for the ESR or other expert, for example the Police 143 forms.
- Ensure any exhibits identified for forensic examination are prepared before being delivered, specifically:
- all items are separately wrapped
- all parcels are sealed
- all items or their packages are labelled and numbered
- a list of all items is attached to the Police Form 143
- the Police Form 143 is consistent with the labels on the items
- items are in an appropriate condition, for example, clothing is dry and blood samples are refrigerated.
The OC Exhibits must ensure the Police Form 143 contains sufficient information, including:
- brief circumstances of the case
- purpose(s) of the examination
- location where each item originates from e.g. from a particular scene, victim, witness or suspect
- whether any exhibits are damp or require special attention - authorisation by the appropriate supervisor.
- Deliver exhibits for scientific examination promptly to avoid deterioration and loss of evidence.
- Inform the expert undertaking a scientific examination if it is no longer required
What matters that the family liason plan should consider?
- Selection of the FLO and criteria employed for the selection
- Exit plan for the FLO
- Objectives of the family liaison
- Assessing the most appropriate methods of conducting interviews with family members, including the use of specialist interviewers, where appropriate
- information to be released to and withheld from the family
- complaints made by the family and the O/C investigations actions to progress and resolve issues raised
- any member of family who could be considered a suspect, to enable O/C investigation to determine whether o not this is the case
- liaison with Victim Support and other support services
What does VAWSEIPO stand for in the general investigation model?
Victim - Identify and locate the victim(s)
Appreciation - Make an initial appreciation of the incident. Assess personal risk and then preserve the live of others
Witnesses - Locate and contain witnesses
Scene - Preserve the scene (e.g. Set boundaries)
Exhibits - Note evidence and preserve any that would otherwise be lost or destroyed
Ingredients - Consider whether the ingredients of the alleged offence have been established
Powers - Identify what powers are available and consider whether to execute them
Offenders - Identify and apprehend suspect(s)
What activities should Police arriving at serious crime take to preserve the scene?
- Consider best path into the scene
- Record any movements/action taken in the scene
- Preserve what is there and leave it in situ. Ensure nothing is touched or moved. The scene must be kept in its original state
- If no immediate life is at risk, consider using stepping plates
- Be prepared to take immediate action to preserve and or record evidence that may change if nothing is done. For example rain may damage a footprint or bloodstain
Police responsibilities to witnesses:
- Ensuring Court Attendance – maintain contact with witnesses ensuring they are summonses and available to appear in court as required
- Court Proceedings – ensure witnesses are fully briefed as to their responsibilities, and that they are updated throughout the investigation and court process
- Witness Intimidation – by maintaining contact with witnesses police will be more likely to become aware of any threats, intimidation, or interference, and can arrange for appropriate action to be taken ,including initiating witness protection program
- Witness Order – for the sake of simplicity it is advisable that the oc exhibits give evidence first and produces all of the exhibits including the photographs and exhibits schedule. This enables the witnesses to refer to the appropriate exhibits
- Witness media interest letters - If media interest is anticipated consider discussing possible consequences of witnesses discussing evidence with journalists etc
- Interpreter issues - ensure interpreting service is suitably qualified and meets the required standard
- Welfare issues - ensure witnesses are provided with contact details of 2IC and welfare needs of the witnesses are to be considered throughout
- Witness control - Ensure that witnesses do not:
- have any contact or communication with jurors
- discuss the case in public area while waiting to
give evidence - discuss the case with witnesses waiting after they
have given evidence
- Refreshing memory - At Court request witness to refresh their memory with previously signed statements or interview transcripts
- Arranging name suppression - Advise 2IC of any witnesses seeking name suppression. 2IC will liaise with the Crown. The victims views must be ascertained and conveyed to the Judge
- Expenses - provide guidance and assist witnesses in completing claim forms at the Court. In High Court expenses are at the cost of MOJ. In certain situations Police will meet costs in relation to witnesses
Responsibilities of the O/C Body
1 – Ensure death has been certified by doctor or qualified paramedic using a deceased person certificate
2 – Maintain security and continuity of the body, samples and exhibits from the scene to the commencement of the PM
3 – Secure and guard the body, body samples ad any exhibits relating to the body with dignity and respect
4 – Note and record any observations relating to the body
5 – Note details of medical staff or others who have attended to the victim
6 – Record what actions have been taken by any party in respect of the body
7 – Establish if the body has been moved, disturbed
8 – Ensure the body is photographed in situ and consider using video recording
9 – On authority of the OC investigation, arrange transport of the body to the mortuary
10 – Complete sudden death procedures
11 – On authority of the OC investigation arrange a formal ID of the body
12 – Obtain historic medical records of the victim for information of the pathologist
13 – Attend the post mortem with the OC investigation, or deputy appointed by them
14 – Attend the briefing of the pathologist, contribute as required
15 – Ensure the police photographer takes appropriate and sufficient photographs of the body before clothing is removes, again after the body is disrobed and during the post mortem exam. The pathologist will direct the photographer
16 – Preserve evidence from the body
17 – Record, label and secure all samples and exhibits associated with the body
18 – Arrange fingerprints and palm prints to be taken if required
19 – Attend the debrief of the pathologist and record findings, on direction of OC investigation or pathologist
20 – Ensure all cultural responsibilities have been addressed.
Role of O/C body - exhibits
The OC Body is responsible for recording, labeling, packaging, sealing and securing all physical exhibits relating to the body, including samples taken during the post-mortem. All exhibits must be packaged and sealed before leaving the mortuary, without exception and will be recorded in a Scene exhibit schedule.
Stripping the body at the mortuary
- The body must only be stripped in the presence of the pathologist
- Remove the body from the secure mortuary fridge and assist mortuary staff to take the body into the post-mortem examination room
- Remove the body from the body bag, causing minimal disturbance to the body
- Take possession of the body bag and any sheets or wrappings used to transport the body, as exhibits.
- If necessary direct the police photographer, photographs before clothing removed and again after disrobed, the pathologist will lead direction of the photographer
- Remove items of clothing from the body, mortuary technicians may assist to remove clothing, but only under the supervision and direction of the O/C Body
a. Cutting clothing should be avoided, cut where evidence is least likely to be present
b. Search clothing pockets and make inventory of each pockets contents - Make an inventory of clothing and possessions, as each item is removed
- Label each item in a separate paper bag or container
- Seal each item in a separate paper bag or container.
- Ensure exhibits do not cross contaminate each other by coming into contact with one another
- Maintain security and continuity of the body and exhibits taken from the body, until the post-mortem examination commences
- In cases involving obvious head trauma, before blood and debris is washed from the body, particularly the head hair, consider placing a fine sieve in the mortuary table drain hole to collect trace evidence that may have been transferred from a weapon, for later comparison with exhibits the suspect had access to.
Role and function of the FLO
The primary function of an FLO is that of an investigator and not a support person. However, in performing this role, the FLO must also offer, facilitate and co-ordinate support that addresses the needs of the family. As an investigator, the FLO will normally be responsible for profiling the victim, preparing a family tree and gathering all relevant information from the family. This may include, in conjunction with the OC Body, taking statements to identify the victim.
Responsibilities of the file manager
- Managing the electronic and physical files relating to the investigation
- Ensuring a flow of information throughout the investigation
- Assisting in the preparation of the prosecution file
- Assisting in the management of the trial
Key points for briefing - O/C area canvass
- Summarise the situation and detail the duties and areas of responsibility of each canvass team member.
- Emphasise the need for thoroughness and that every person in every household must be seen personally
- Stress that the questionnaire is only a guide to ensure the questions are asked, but should be regarded as flexible in that information supplied could lead to other questions
- Advise that evidence of possible probative value must be obtained in a formal written statement rather than a notebook form.
- Consider visiting the canvass area to record every address including flats and vacant sections and then reconcile these premises with the map
- Ensure all forms are completed, and actioned as outlined
- Reconcile completed locations with the master copy to avoid duplication
- Advise staff on”
- What action to take if they believe they have identified the suspect
- What action to take if they located items of evidential value
- What action to take if individuals refuse to assist
- How to complete the correspondence flow
- What information can be disclosed during the area canvass
- What information must not be disclosed
Responsibilites of the O/C area canvass - final report
At the conclusion of the area canvass, the phase O/C must submit a report to the O/C 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
• Attention drawn to any action undertaken that was outside the original phase strategy
