Short Answer Questions (PART 3)

Question 1

BULLY S 10(4) Disclosure act obligation?

Answer 1

• Disclosure may be supplied in whatever form, including electronically, that the person disclosing the information holds it in at the time of the request provided this will be readily accessible to the defendant.
• Consideration must be given to whether a defendant has ‘ready’ access to a computer with which to access electronic disclosure documents, particularly if remanded in prison.

Question 2

4 benefits of applying appreciation technique?

Answer 2

• Informs all police what they are expected to achieve
• Increases the chance of success. i.e. the investigative aims/objective being met
• Establishes a sequence of activities to be carried out
• Manages risk
• Reduces uncertainty
• Eliminates duplication
• Ensures nothing is overlooked
• Effective use of resources

Question 3

Why is it important to develop a forensic strategy for exam of exhibits?

Answer 3

It allows the O/C exhibit to prioritize tasks in line with the direction of the investigation.
The strategy must be approved by the O/C investigation and continually reviewed throughout the investigation to keep abreast of any developments.

Question 4

2 main purposes for police attending scene of any death?

Answer 4

Police’s purpose is always to investigate thoroughly and gather sufficient evidence to satisfactorily explain the circumstances of the death.

Question 5

BULLY *Action police take when body disturbed at scene? *

Answer 5

• 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.

Question 6

What should be recorded by the O/C Canvass record? (detailed master record)

Answer 6

A detailed master record of progress should be continually maintained and updated by the O/C canvas. An excel spreadsheet template of area canvass results is provided in the area canvas folder within serious crime template

A detailed master record of ongoing progress should be continually maintained and updated by the O/C Canvass showing:
- Which addresses have been visited
- Which occupants interviewed
- The documentation completed
- Any and relevant comments made

Question 7

In case of homicide who takes VIS and then no older than…….(28days)

Answer 7

Homicide trained victim support volunteers are trained to assist police by taking victim impact statements from surviving family members.

Question 8

Initial police arrive at stabling victim serious anticipated to die- verbal statement obtained.

Under S18(1)(a) E.A 2006 how can police satisfy statement is admissible.

Answer 8

The courts must be satisfied that both the content of the statement and the person who made it are reliable. Police taking the statement must therefore record any factors which demonstrate the reliability of the statement or it’s maker.

The circumstances to consider under section 16(1) of EA 2006 include:
- The nature of the statement
- The contents of the statement
- The circumstances relating to the making of the statement
- Circumstances relating to the veracity of the person AND
- Circumstances relating to the accuracy of the observation of person

Question 9

How can O/C Area Canvass keep morale up of staff?

Answer 9

Can be achieved by providing 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.

Question 10

BULLY Describe 4 methods of identifying body when body decomposed?

Answer 10

• Fingerprints
• DNA profiling
• Dental records
• Eye examination records
• Medical records, including scars, birthmarks, implants or prosthetics, xrays, surgical wounds, amputations and tattoos
• Personal effects
• Facial reconstruction

Question 11

Scene witnesses proximate to events evidence transferred etc.

What action interviewing police take prior to interview and then state types of physical evidence that may be present?

Answer 11

-Some witnesses 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.

• Before a witness is interviewed, a plan must be prepared to preserve and recover all available physical evidence from the witness including DNA, Fingerprints, clothes, footwear, fibers, body fluids, glass or other material.

Question 12

What are the Initial actions of a Disclosure manager?

Answer 12

• Read the disclosure managers desk file
• Access the current serious crime template downloaded to the local district shared drive, for use during the investigation
• Report to the 2IC to receive a briefing, tasking, establishing what information is and is not discoverable, and ongoing supervision

Question 13

What are the actions of the O/C exhibits when there are further enquiries?

Answer 13

Where the O/C exhibits becomes aware that further enquiries area required in relation to a particular exhibit this must be highlighted to the 2IC so that follow up enquiries can be initiated.

Question 14

BULLY - Explain common approach path?

Answer 14

Using a path which avoids any routes possibly taken to and out of the scene by the suspect or victim.

Question 15

At conclusion of PM, O/C body must hand exhibits to O/C Exhibit – list three things that must do?

Answer 15

The O/C body should provide the O/C exhibit with:

• The postmortem scene exhibit schedule
• Copy of the OC body’s notebook entries
• Formal statement

Question 16

When Crown solicitor directs police to interview alibi witness – actions police take?

Answer 16

• Alibi witnesses notified under section 22 of the criminal disclosure act 2008 must only be interviewed under the direction of the crown solicitor.
• When particulars of alibi witnesses are notified concerning a matter in respect of which proceedings have been commenced, the investigator must:
• Make enquiries to determine the veracity of the alibi
• Conduct inquiries as directed by the O/C investigation and crown solicitor including NIA checks on the alibi witness
• Forward the results of these enquiries to the crown solicitor including any statements obtained

Question 17

BULLY * In serious crime, Doctor may examine suspect.

Apart from noting injuries and taking samples, what else can the Doctor report?

Answer 17

• Swab the suspects hands for firearms residue using a specialist firearms detection kit ASAP where a firearm has been used
• Provide a professional opinion regarding the condition of the suspect.
• Record any explanations or comments made by the suspect about the offence or the cause of any injuries. Photograph of the suspect and any relevant marks or injuries must be taken

Question 18

Describe chain of custody and state the purpose?

Answer 18

• Document used to record the chain of custody for an exhibit.
• A chain of custody form must be completed when an exhibit is transferred from the custody of the O/C exhibits to any other person, for example, when forwarded for expert analysis or to another staff member for interrogation.
• When combined with scene exhibit schedules they provide the date, time, name and witnessing signature for every change of custody for every exhibit.
• To preserve the integrity of exhibits.