SHORT ANSWER PART THREE 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.
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
You have been appointed as the OC exhibits on a serious crime investigation team. You are provided with a scene exhibit room to store all exhibits.
In relation to the safe storage of exhibits what are three matters should be addressed before an exhibit is accepted by the OC exhibit and placed in the exhibit room?
o The exhibit label contains the exhibit number
o The name of the operation
o Other details relating to exhibit description, details of the person finding it, time, date and location are recorded on the scene exhibit schedule
Prosecutions of serious crime normally involve a significant number of exhibits. Prior to the criminal trial, a number of decisions need to be made in relation to the exhibits and their probative effect.
What makes the decision as to what exhibits are to be prepared and produced at the trial?
Before the commencement of the trial the OC investigation (in conjunction with OC Exhibits) must decide which exhibits are considered relevant
When attending a scene where a body has been disturbed, the Police must take a certain action.
Discuss what action would you take?
- Establish what movements have taken place and record the information
- Do not attempt to restore the scene to it’s original unchanged condition
- Make enquiries to enable the original unchanged scene to be subsequently reconstructed and photographed if required.
It is cold winters night and you have been called to a park where there has been a report of a stabbing. The victim has been taken to hospital and there is a knife sitting in the middle of a pool of blood.
The weather report is for severe thunderstorms.
Using the appreciation technique, identify an aim for dealing with the knife?
- Best method and route to remove the knife
- Use clean/sterile material to handle the knife
- Ensure bagged and labelled appropriately
- Photograph in situ before handling the knife
A priority at a serious crime incident is to establish the physical conditions of the victim.
What are the 3 categories of the victims medical status?
- Alive and uninjured
- Alive but injured
- Shows no signs of life
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 post-mortem examination, unless specifically directed to by the OC Investigation and/or the pathologist.
The OC body is responsible for securing all exhibits taken from the body, including the clothing samples and all items of property associated with the body.
Discuss when the OC Body should strip the body of clothing or personal effect?
Stripping of the body will take place immediately before the PM examination commences, but must only be undertaken on the specific direction of the OC investigation, generally after a visual examination and collection of evidence from the clothed body has been completed.
What is the primary role of the OC Body?
Primary role is to observe, document and deal with exhibits associated with the body.
During the initial action at serious crime scene it is recommended that a common approach path is created.
Explain what a Common Approach Path is used for?
o A CAP is an approach path for all movements into and out of the scene.
o Using a path which avoids any route possibly taken to or from the scene by the suspect or victim
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.
The O/C Suspects is responsible for supervising a suspect’s team for five specific purposes during the course of the investigation.
Identify 4 of these purposes (Responsibility of OC Suspects?)
Supervising members of the suspects team for purpose of:
- Obtaining information about suspects and persons of interest, as they are identified by the OC investigation
- Thoroughly profiling and investigating all suspects and persons of interest to enable the OC investigation to establish their involvement in the offence or eliminate them from the inquiry
- Seeing evidence to cover all ingredient of the offence
- Mitigating and dealing with possible defenses that may be raised, where appropriate providing a basis for further investigation
Identify 4 purposes (Responsibility of OC Body?)
- Ensure death is certified by doctor using deceased person cert
- Maintain security of the body’
- Note/record observations of body
- Note details of medical staff/those who have attended
- Record actions have been taken
- Figure out if body has been moved
- Ensure body is photographed (or video)
- obtain medical history of victim for pathologist’
- attend PM with OC investigation
- ensure all cultural responsibilities are addressed
