SHORT ANSWER PART FOUR Flashcards
Police attending a serious crime incident must make an appreciation before taking decisions and prioritizing tasks. Good decisions are not a matter of luck or guess work; they are the outcome of a process of logical reasoning and careful consideration.
What is the definition of an appreciation, in relation to initial action at a crime scene?
An appreciation is a proven method of problem solving. The process follows a series of set steps to ensure the optimum course of action is taken.
An appreciation is an ongoing process that involves continually thinking through each new piece of information discovered
What would the appropriate instructions if area canvass identify a witness with information of probative value?
Advise staff that evidence of probative value must be obtained in a formal written statement rather than notebook form. There is also a need for the questionnaire to be endorsed, if statement is taken.
The Disclosure Manager is responsible for preparing disclosure relating to the investigation for both the defence and Crown.
What information should the disclosure manager provide to the Crown solicitor regarding disclosure?
- all information that Crown has should be identical to what defence have
- crown to review unedited copy of material (where appropriate)
- under control of file manager while it is being reviewed
The significance of the information provided by a person who reports crime to the Police cannot be understated.
Explain why it is important that Police, who have first contact with the informant to a serious offence should be debriefed regarding the contact?
- Police should be debriefed and full record made of contact with informant
- Important as the informant may later be a suspect
- Should consider interviewing as investigative important witnesses
An alibi may be put forward by a defendant concerning a matter in respect of criminal proceedings which has already commenced. When alibi evidence is put forward at this point it places a responsibility on the OC Suspects.
What is the responsibility?
It is the responsibility of the OC suspects to make enquiries to determine the veracity of the alibi and to fully report the result of these enquiries to the Crown Solicitor, via 2IC.
The OC Body is appointed by the OC Investigation and is a challenging role.
Describe who should be appointed as OC Body?
Should be an experienced investigator with awareness for forensic issues.
Where this is not possible the OC body may require additional support and or mentoring (additional deputy to assist OC body as scene exhibits officer can be considered, especially during the PM exam.)
At 0300hrs you receive a call from COMMS advising there has been a body located at the local park. AMBO are present and confirm that the person is deceased. You are assigned role of OC Body. You accompany to the Mortuary.
What are your duties as per the OC Body Checklist at the Morturary?
- Ensure mortuary staff do not wash the body.
- Ensure the body is labelled and secured in the secure mortuary fridge.
- Retain any key used to secure the body, until it is required for the post-mortem
- Ensure the body remains in its present condition until the commencement of the post-mortem.
- Arrange formal identification of the body
The initial Police responders at a serious crime scene who undertake a course of action must assess the risk of their actions.
Discuss why a well-considered initial action is important to an investigation?
Every person who undertakes a course of action at a serious crime scene must first consider what risks may exist.
The initial police responders must assess the situation quickly yet carefully and decide what the most important things to do are, and how and in what order they should be done.
Their primary function include:
-Attending the scene at an early stage
-taking control of the situation and
-coordinating tasks
Under the serious crime investigation principles, investigation team conferences, list 2 different types of team conferences.
- Initial conference
- Regular conference
- Debriefing conference
- Phase team conference
Team conferences must be…
- Planned
- Recorded
- Focused and Managed (not so drawn out)
Mutilation or decomposition may render visual identification of a body impossible.
Identify four different effective methods of establishing identification of the body
- Fingerprints
- DNA
- Dental records
- Eye examination records
- Medical records
- personal effects
- facial reconstructions
In relation to preserving a scene, what actions should Police take upon arrival?
- Consider best path into the scene
- Record any movements / actions taken in the scene
- Preserve what is there and leave in-situ.
- If no immediate life is at risk, consider using stepping plates
- Be prepared to take immediate action to preserve and / or record evidence
Some witnesses may have been so proximate to events, that it is likely evidence was transferred to the witness, from the victim, suspect or from the scene itself.
You need to plan to preserve and recover evidence from them that may be forensically important to your investigation.
Outline the issues you would consider as part of your forensic plan?
- Immediate DNA swabs of any areas of the witness that the suspect may have touched.
- Immediate DNA swabs of any blood present on the witness.
- Immediate swabs of any other relevant stains present on the witness.
- Forensic medical examination, i.e. fingernail scrapings, hair combing etc.
- Seizure of clothing and footwear.
- Seizure of any items of property touched by the suspect
WHAT TO FIND…
* Fibres
* Footwear
* Body fluids
* Glass or other material
* Fingerprints
* DNA
* Clothing
The OC Body must prepare the Sudden Death (1S) file and submit it as soon as possible so that a coronial inquest can be opened.
Under part 5 of the homicide and serious crime victims chapter in the Police Manual, list two copies of forms that must be included in the 1S file?
o Statement relating to victims’ formal identification
o Copy of deceased person identification – Pol 265A
In a serious crime surrounding areas are often canvassed from information.
What matters should the OC Area Canvass record?
- Which addresses have been visited,
- Which occupants interviewed,
- The documentation completed,
- And any relevant comments made
