Serious crime investigation Flashcards
What are two teams in a serious crime investigation
Investigation and support
Two key tasks of any investigation are
Gathering and preserving evidence
And
Documentation
What is the purpose of holding team conferences when investigating a major crime
Keep all team members up to date with the Enquiry
Give team members an opportunity exchange views and pass on important information
Give the 2ic the opportunity to pass on instructions to staff on file management and other admin matters
Give the officer in charge the chance to brief the team on important investigative topics, priorities and which lines of inquiry to follow
What are the different types of confrences
Initial
Regular
Debriefing
Phase team
What are other incidents that homicides could be reported as
Missing person Unexplained sudden death of infant unexplained death Suicide Fatal fire Crime scene where no body is found drug related death abduction Hit and run vehicle collision Violence where no fatality is anticipated
Describe who should be appointed OC Body at a serious crime
An experienced investigator with forensic awareness, where this is not available they may require monitoring or additional support
Responsibilities of OC body
- Maintain security and continuity of the body, samples and exhibits from scene to the start of the PM
- Record all actions undertaken with body and by whom
- Secure and guard the body, samples and exhibits associated to the body with dignity and respect.
- Ensure all cultural responsibilities are addressed
- Note and record all observations of the body
- Photograph the body in situ and consider other imaging techniques
- Details of all medical staff and others who tended to the body
- establish whether body has been moved or disturbed
- Ensure deceased person certificate is signed
- On authority from OCI make arrangements for undertaker to transport the body to mortuary
- Complete sudden death procedures
- Obtain all historic medical records for the pathologist
- On authority from OCI arrange for formal ID
- Attend the PM with OCI or deputy appointed by OCI
- attend briefing with pathologist and contribute where required
- Preserve all evidence
- ensure sufficient and appropriate photos taken of the body, clothed, unclothed and during the PM as required (Pathologist to direct)
- Record label and secure all exhibits
- arrange finger prints/palm prints if required
- Attend debriefing and take notes where directed
Who provides authority to move body
Only OCI can give authority to move body
What evidence may be lost or contaminated by moving the body
Larvae or insects DNA fingerprints firearm residue Loose hairs, fibres, pain, glass or other fragments
What actions should Police take when the body has been moved or disturbed
Initial attending officers should make enquiries as soon as possible to ascertain whether body has been moved or disturbed.
Do not attempt to move the body back to its original condition
enquiries made to establish what the original position of body was for later reconstruction and photographs
Before removing body from scene
- Record position of body in sketch plan and direct photographer to photograph body in situ
- In consultation with OC Scene consider recording position of body by measuring from two fixed points
- Record PAWDLE
- Important, consider health risks in moving the body
- Cover hands, feet, head in paper bags and secure with tape, if needed cover paper bags with plastic bags. Where evidence may be lost i.e. blood trails, consult with experts
- wrap the body in a clean plastic sheet and place in body bag
- be careful not to contaminate clothing with foreign objects
- retain all wraps, bag etc used to transport the body as exhibits
- carefully search under where body laid
- Obtain authority from OCI to move the body
- Arrange undertaker to remove body to mortuary
What is PAWDLE
Position of limbs Appearance of body Wounds and clothing Direction of blood trails present Lividity - colouration of skin due to gravitation pooling of blood Extent of rigormortis
Appreciation prior to the PM
- ID of body
- Authority from Coroner to conduct PM
Consultation with pathologist - safe custody of exhibits
- ID who should attend PM
requirements for any specific need for exam or sampling based on known facts - Appropriate resources
- Family cultural considerations
Any likely requirement for second PM
Purpose of a PM
To establish cause of death and may also help with
- Provide areas of interest for subsequent interviews
- Establish how injuries and events contributed to death
- Negate possible defences
- Determine approx height and stature of offender
- Determine nature and size of weapon
- Determine mode and time of death
- identify the body if not already done
What is the primary role of the OC body at PM
To observe, document and deal with all exhibits associated with the body in a structured methodical manner
Before stripping the body
- The body must only be stripped in the presence of the pathologist
- Remove body from secure mortuary fridge and assist staff to take it to the PM exam room
- Carefully remove the body from the bag causing minimal disturbance
- Retain all wraps, bags and sheets used to transport the body as exhibits
- Ensure sufficent and appropriate photographs taken of the body, clothed, unclothed and during the PM (the pathologist to direct)
- Carefully remove the clothing from the body, mortuary technicians may assist but only under the direction and supervision of OC body.
- Do not cut the clothing from the body, if unavoidable, cut where forensic evidence least likely to be present.
- Carefully search each pocket and make an inventory of each possession
- Make and inventory of all clothing and possession as you remove it from the body
- Record, label and secure each item and possession in separate container or bag
- Avoid cross contamination by ensuring items dont come in contact with one another
- Maintain Security and continuity of body, samples and exhibits until the start of the PM
- In cases of obvious head trauma, consider putting sieve in table drain hole before blood and debris washed from head and hair to later compare with weapon
At the conclusion of PM OC body must hand all exhibits over to OC exhibits, what else should they provide
FWS
Notebook entries
PM Exhibit schedule
Name 2 experts who can be present at PM/crime scene
Anthropologist
Biologist
Ballistics expert
Toxicologist
What can a pathologist tell you about skeletal remains
Whether the remains are bones
Whether the bones are human
The age, height, gender and race of the person
Describe 4 methods of ID decomposing body
Fingerprints DNA profiling Facial reconstruction eye or dental records other medical records personal effects
What main documents are required in a sudden death
Pol 47/47A
Copy of deceased persons certificate
Copy of deceased persons ID
statement in relation to the identification of the deceased
Instructions to persons identifying the body
Explain to them the process and what is required of them. Also describe what they are about to see when they view the deceased
Under what circumstances can the OC body make notes of discussions concerning the PM
Only when specifically directed by the pathologist or OCI
What specialist can attend a PM
SOCO
Photography
ESR
On arrival at the mortuary the OC body must ensure
Mortuary staff do not wash the body
body is labelled and secure in a secure mortuary fridge
The key is retained until the start of the PM
The body is kept in its present condition
Arrange formal ID of the body
What must the pathologist be supplied with
Pol 47/47A
toxicology kit
MEK
photographs of scene, exhibits and body in SITU
Who does OC exhibits report to
to 2IC and in conjunction with OCI they ensure OC Ehibits have all relevant resources to do the job
Responsibilities of OC Exhibits
responsible for establishing and maintaining exhibit management systems and maintaining the physical security and continuity of all exhibits
responsible for establishing the required standards of recovery, labelling, handling storage, submission to experts, presentation at court and disposal
must communicate these required standards to all investigative team members
Four responsibilities in serious crime investigation
OC Exhibits
Establish SOP set by OCI for managing exhibits
Establish a 5 digit number range to cater for all scenes
Breif each officer in charge of investigation phase on scene and provide them with
- Number range to use for the scenes
- SOP that have been established
- blank exhibit schedule
Establish a secure area for exhibit storage and if possible a exhibit processing area
Commence an exhibit register
In smaller investigations the role of OC exhibits may include
an appreciation of
Evidential value of each exhibit
What further enquiries may be needed
Investigative opportunities presented by each exhibit.
Actions of OC exhibits when there are further enquiries
OC exhibits must update the register of results of examination and bring to the attention of OCI
When OC exhibits becomes aware that further enquiries are need they must bring this to the attention of the OCI
Before taking an exhibit ensure the founder has
CALLC
Correctly preserved the exhibit
Assign exhibit a unique number from the allocated range
Label the exhibit with unique number and OP name
Labelled, packaged and sealed exhibit in accordance with SOP
Correctly recorded exhibit on exhibit schedule
Describe the chain of custody and state the purpose
The chain of custody includes every individual who has had custody of the exhibit from the time it was first discovered until it is proceeded in court. It is used to demonstrate the integrity and therefore admissibility of evidence
Maintaining chain of custody
Each person must be able to demonstrate
-when they received the exhibit and from who
Where and how the exhibit was securely stored
Why when and how the exhibit was moved from one place to another
How the exhibit has been treated, safe guarded and preserved
When and why they transferred custody to another person and to whom
What do you update OCI on as OC exhibits
What exhibits have been found and their movements
The results of any exhibit examinations
whether further enquiries are required
OC exhibits to attend all team investigation conferences and
FSM and investigation briefings to facilitate information sharing,
take responsibility for liaison between OCI/2IC/CSC/OCScene/ESR and other specialists
What action can be undertaken to preserve the integrity of the exhibits register
Only OC Exhibits and Typist should have passwords to make alterations to it.
Who is in charge of what exhibits to take to trial
Before commencement of trial OCI and OC exhibits along with other relevant investigation team members must decide which exhibits are considered relevant, determine the relevance of any forensic examinations and establish the most appropriate manner in which exhibits and examinations are to be presented at trial.
why is it important to develop a forensic strategy for the examination of exhibits
Allows the OC Exhibits to prioritise tasks in line with the direction of the investigation
What is the purpose of a forensic strategy meeting?
Are required to determine which exhibit or forensic examinations are required and the priority of those examinations
What do you do following a forensic strategy meeting
OC Exhibits must record on the exhibit register all decision taken about the exhibit examination and the priority allocated to the examination of each exhibit
Describe two topics to be covered at a strategic planning meeting
- Examinations ESR and others could do with exhibits
- Priority each exhibit should receive
- whether further work is needed to assist with a reconstruction
- Plan for any work required to assist with a reconstruction
An agreed reconstruction of events relevant to the crime under investigation
What is the purpose of a crime scene log
TIIC There is no unauthorised entry to scene Integrity of evidence or potential evidence secured Intelligence opportunities are maximised Contamination issues are maximised
What to record in crime scene log
PANT Purpose of visit Authority to enter the scene Name and designation Time of entry and exit
What are the primary functions for those first attending a scene
Must first consider the risks
- Attend the scene at an early stage
- Take control of the situation
- Coordinating tasks
Checklist for initial action
Freeze, control, guard and preserve
- assess own safety and then preserve lives of others
- ID and apprehend suspects
- Contain and control witnesses
- Preserve scene
What is the purpose of a common approach path?
It sets a route in and out of scene that all staff and civilians are to use, The path will avoid path used by offender, suspect or victim. Establish early to prevent loss of evidence and cross contamination
If victim going to die how can police take a statement and satisfy requirements that it will be admissible
The court must be satisfied that both the contents of the statement and the person who made it are reliable. Must record factors which demonstrate the reliability of the statement and it’s maker
- Nature of the statement
- Content of the statement
- Circumstances that relate to the making of the statement
- Circumstances that relate to the veracity of the person
- Circumstances relating to the accuracy of the observation of that person
What is the first thing to consider when undertaking a course of action at a serious crime scene
Initial action at the crime scene is crucial but may present physical risks as well as contamination of scene
An appreciation should be undertaken using known information to decide what form of initial action should take place, A reconnaissance should be conducted to establish those present at scene.
The first priority will always be to ensure safety of attending police members
What are initial actions to preserve a scene
Freeze control, guard and preserve IDENTIFY -carry out initial assessment of the scene - Consider Warrantless powers - Establish the crime scene - establish a common approach path - consider other related scenes - what is happening at the scene and who is there - note and record observations - establish scene HQ and SFP - Provide SITREP
SECURE - Exercise power to secure scene - Effect removal of all persons - establish cordons - arrange and brief scene guards Arrange crime scene logs prevent unauthorised persons entering/leaving Prevent further loss or damage to evidence by adverse weather/animals
Police who arrive at a serious scene should identify, preserve and record the scene. What actions should police take to preserve the scene
Consider the best path into the scene
Record any movements/actions taken in the scene
Preserve what is there and keep in situ
If no immediate threat to life consider stepping plates
Be prepared to take immediate action to preserve and/or record evidence that may change if nothing is done.
What actions must attending staff take at serious crime if media is present
Keep them away from immediate scene condoms and make no comment about the incident. Consult with OCI on arrival and explain what has happened.
Actions of first responders have a critical effect on an investigation. List the points in the general investigation model that should be applied in all cases.
vawseipo
Victim - identify and locate
Appreciation - Make an initial appreciation of incident safety first
Witnesses - locate and contain
Scene - identify and preserve scene and set boundaries
Exhibits - identify and note exhibits and take action if evidence may be lost
Ingredients - consider whether ingredients have been established.
Power - identify what powers are available and whether to use them
Offender - locate and apprehend
