SHORT ANSWER PART ONE Flashcards
There are instances when Police locate skeletal remains due to long term decomposition. Whilst a visual identification cannot occur the pathologist can still provide you with information.
Outline what information the pathologist provides you in this situation?
Whether the remains are bones
Whether the bones are human
The age, height, race and gender of the person
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
When a witness is at Court, a witness may refresh their memory prior to giving evidence? What material may a witness use to refresh their memory prior to giving evidence?
Their statement
- VVS
- EVI
- Level 3
- Formal Written Statement
- Transcript
You have been appointed OC Area Canvass and as part of your role, you should continually review completed canvas forms as they are submitted.
Outline 4 reasons why these reviews are conducted?
- Evaluate the quality of completed work and provide quality assurance (QA)
- Identify lines of enquiry to be highlighted to the 2IC
- Monitor the ongoing progress of the canvass
- Facilitate the detailed recording of progress
Alibi witnesses who are identified under section 22 of the Disclosure Act 2008 can only be interviewed under the direction of the Crown Solicitor.
When Crown Solicitor directs Police to interview an alibi witness, what actions must the Police take?
- OC suspect to make enquiries re: alibi, results to Crown/Solicitor via 2IC
- OC suspect to follow up with persons to confirm/deny alibi
- Confirm where suspect was/what they were doing
- where possible, corroboration of alibi via forensic/other sources independent from suspect
During an investigation, the OC Exhibits may become aware that further enquiries are required to a particular exhibit.
When this occurs what action must the OC Exhibit take?
Bring it to the attention of the 2IC so that they can arrange for further enquiries to be carried out/completed.
An area canvass is often conducted after a serious crime. It is best to try and conduct an area canvass at the same time as the original offence occurred?
Explain why this is important?
An area canvass conducted at the same time of the offence to capture people who regularly pass through that area at the time of day.
It is imperative you conduct a risk assessment on your arrival at a serious crime scene.
What is the first priority of this risk assessment?
The first priority when conducting a risk assessment at the scene of a serious crime incident will always be to ensure the safety of the attending police members.
The primary reason for conducting a postmortem examination is to establish the cause of death. The pathologists’ findings will provide information to drive the investigation.
Under what circumstances may the OC Body make any notes of discussions concerning the postmortem examination.
The OC Body must not make any notes of discussions concerning the postmortem examination unless specifically directed by the OC investigation and/or the Pathologist.
The pathologist must be supplied with what relevant information?
- MEK kit
- Toxicology kit
- Medical records
- Pol 47
Police use a unique numbering system for dealing with exhibits. Describe the six categories and their subsequent numbering allocations?
Admin - 10000
Victim - 15000
Witnesses - 20000
Area Canvass - 25000
Scenes - 30000
Suspects - 70000
Police who arrive at a serious crime scene should identify, preserve and record the scene.
In relation to preserving the scene, what actions should Police take upon arrival?
- freeze, control, guard and preserve scene
- carry out initial assessment of scene
- use a common approach path
- clear the scene
- protect exhibits any any exposed to elements
- arrange and brief scene guards
- establish cordon parameters
- consider stepping plates
- call for assistance/resources if necessary
- record - who, what, when, where, why and how
- sketch plan/initial photographs of scene
All decisions relating to the selection of exhibits for forensic examination and their prioritization are made at the forensic strategy meeting.
What matters must the OC Exhibits determine regarding each exhibits after the forensic strategy meeting?
OC exhibits - must determine:
- all exhibits, fully examined in accordance with forensic strategy meeting decisions
- OC exhibits awareness of significant of each exhibit and what examination may be available
- plan/record examination of exhibits and relevant to investigation
Area Canvass enquiries are often prolonged and involve a large number of staff. Many hours can be spent walking streets and knocking on doors.
How can the OC Area Canvass ensure that staff morale remains high?
- Provide regular feedback on the way canvass enquiries are contributing to the progress of the investigation.
- Together with updates on the progress being made with other phases of the enquiry.
List four of the five things that a person who has had custody of an exhibit, must be able to point to in IMT/PROP records, in order to ensure that the chain of evidence for that exhibit can be proven in court?
- When and whom they received custody of exhibit
- Where and how the exhibit was secured
- When, why and how the exhibit was moved from one place to another
- How the exhibit has been treated, safeguarded and preserved
- When, why and to whom they transferred custody of any exhibit
