Short Answer Questions (PART 2) Flashcards
Describe two of the topics to be covered during a forensic strategy meeting?
Topics covered during a Forensic Strategy meeting may include:
- What examinations ESR and others could conduct on exhibits
- The priority each examination should receive
- Whether any future 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
When implementing the family liaison plan, the family liaison officer should identify which family member(s) to liaise with at an early stage.
Describe who the term ‘family ‘relates to?
Includes partners, parents, siblings, children, guardians, whanau and any others who have had a direct and close relationship with the victim
Includes ‘chosen’ family
Should reflect the victim’s culture and lifestyle
When appointing an officer to interview a witness to a serious offence, what four main issues should be considered regarding the potential interviewing officer?
-The level of training of the interviewer (investigatively important adult witnesses should be done by a level 3 adult witness interviewer or level 2)
-The experience the officer has in interviewing witnesses in major investigations and any additional skills the interviewer has which may be advantageous in the circumstances
-The suitability of the officer to undertake the interview. This should include a consideration of any welfare issues and whether any previous experience that the officer has with the witness is likely to either inhibit or encourage a rapport with the interviewee, or give rise to later challenges of coaching, prompting or offering inducements.
-Interviewing officers should be informed of their role at an early stage and given the opportunity to plan the interview.
During an investigation into multiple suspects for a serious offence, what steps can investigators take to mitigate or eliminate the possibility of forensic cross contamination between the suspects?
- An appreciation must be made regarding which staff are assigned to seize clothing from suspects.
- It is vitally important officers involved are fully aware of cross contamination issues and where possible, separate officers should be assigned to each suspect.
- Suspects must be kept apart including travel in vehicles and when in cells.
- All clothing should be packaged, labelled and sealed in accordance with standard procedures before transfer to OC exhibits.
Describe four of the responsibilities of the OC exhibits in a serious crime investigation?
Establishing and maintaining exhibit management systems
i.e. setting up the exhibit register and making updates accordingly
Maintaining the physical security and continuity of all exhibits
i.e. ensuring that the exhibits are kept in a secured location and all movements (chain of custody) of the exhibit is appropriately recorded.
Other responsibilities include: conducting an appreciation into every exhibit to establish the evidential value of each exhibit, investigative opportunities presented by each exhibits and further enquiries that are needed.
The OC exhibit is responsible for establishing require standards for recovery, handling, labelling, storage, submission to experts presentation at court and disposal of exhibits and ensuring these processes are completed in accordance with the requirements set out out by OC Investigation and the Serious Crime Template
Describe who should be appointed as OC body at a serious crime scene?
Should be an experienced investigator with awareness for forensic issues.
Where this is not possible the OC body may require adddional support and or mentoring (additional deputy to assist OC body as scene exhibits officer can be considered, especially during the PM exam.)
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 PM unless specifically directed to by the OC Investigation and/or the pathologist.
Under the completion of the area canvass phase, the OC area canvass must submit a report to the OC investigation outlining the circumstances of this particular aspect of the investigation.
What matters must the report contain?
Summary of all action taken, any significant findings highlighted, and attention drawn to any action that has been undertaken which was outside of the original phase strategy.
What is the first priority when conducting a risk assessment at the scene of a serious incident?
The first priority will always be to ensure the safety of the attending police members.
- Next is establishing the physical condition of the victim. Falls into 3 categories:
- Alive and uninjured
- Alive but injured
- Shows no signs of life
BULLY - Police who arrive at a serious crime scene should identify, preserve and record the scene.
What actions should Police take to preserve the scene upon initial arrival?
- Identify and preserve the scene (freeze, control, guard and preserve):
- Carry out an initial assessment of the scene
- Use a common approach path
- Clear the scene
- Arrange and brief scene guards. Ensure crime scene logs are used
- Establish adequate cordon parameters
- If no immediate life is at risk, consider using stepping plates
- Protect fragile exhibits and any exhibit exposed to the element
- Call for assistance/resources as necessary
- Make appropriate records, i.e. who, what, where, when, why, how
- Sketch plan/initial photographs of the scene
- Make accurate records and report them to OC investigation as soon as possible
What information to gain from the informant/complainant which will assist the investigation?
- Identify and location of the suspect
- A first hand account of what the complainant/informant knows
- Precise details of the location of the scene
- Circumstances leading to the discovery
- Identity of the victim
- Details of anyone else at the scene
- Full contact details of the complainant/informant
- Demeanour of the complainant/informant
- Relationship of the complainant/informant to the victim/suspect
- Details of action the complainant/informant has taken and where they have been
- Details of any hazards or safety issues that may affect police approaching the scene/victim
BULLY *What is the primary role of the O/C body during a postmortem examination? *
Observe, document and deal with exhibits associated with the body in a structured, methodical manner.
The main objectives of an area canvass?
- Identifying the offender
- Identifying and locating evidence, such as vehicles, discarding clothing, weapons and other articles
- Identifying witnesses
- Gathering information
Interviewing a suspect the OC suspect must ensure the interviewer?
- The interview is conducted in accordance with the investigative interviewing suspect guide
- The interview is monitored by a supervisor or experienced detective to ensure that all key points are covered
- Ensure an explanation is sought from the suspect in relation to any exhibits found
BULLY * What to update the O/C investigation on as O/C Exhibits?*
- What exhibits have been found and their movements
- Any examination results
- Whether any further enquiries are required
- As O/C exhibits attend all investigation team conferences and?
- Make the exhibits register available
- Update others regarding exhibits which have been found and the results of expert examinations
conducted
