Initial Response Flashcards
What does the primary function of initial Police responders include:
- attending the scene
- taking control of the situation; and
- co-ordinating tasks
Some instances that result in homicide:
- report of a missing person
- sudden unexplained death of an infant
- unexplained death
- report of an abduction
- report of violence where no fatalities are anticipated
- crime scene without a body present
- hit and run vehicular collision
- suicide
- fatal fire
- drug related deaths
The General investigation model, VAWSEEPO:
VICTIM (identify and locate victim)
APPRECIATION (make an appreciation of the incident. Assess personal risk and then preserve the lives of others)
WITNESSES Locate and contain witnesses
SCENE preserve the scene (eg. Set boundaries)
EXHIBITS Note evidence and preserve any that would otherwise be lost or destroyed
ELEMENTS consider whether the ingredients of the alleged offence have been established.
POWERS identify what powers are available and consider whether to execute them.
OFFENDERS identify and apprehend suspect(s).
*** Benefits of applying an appreciation technique:
- Informs all Police what they are expected to achieve
- Increases the chances of success, i.e. the investigative aims/ objectives being met
- Manages risk
- Reduces uncertainty
- Establishes a sequence of activities to be carried out
- Eliminates Duplication
- Ensures nothing is overlooked
- Effective use of resources
To conduct an appreciation, follow these steps:
AIM: A short, one line statement which succinctly demonstrates a single objective (clear and accurate)
FACTORS: A factor is any circumstance or fact that could possibly have an effect on the manner in which you will achieve your desired outcome.
Eg. Further risk to life, the location of possible suspects, resources available, evidence requiring preservation, the environment and weather conditions and history of the relevant parties are all examples of factors that may determine how to prioritise.
COURSES OPEN: Courses open are a list of all the possible ways the aim could be achieved, bearing in mind the factors and deductions made from those factors.
PLAN: A plan is a proposed course of action designed to put the selected course into action in order to achieve the desired aim.
What to obtain from complainants/ informants:
- Identity and location of the suspect
- a first hand account of what the complainant 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
- demeanour of complainant/ informant
- relationship of informant to the victim or suspect
- details of action the informant has taken and where they’ve been
- details of any hazards or safety issues that may affect Police approaching the scene/ victim
To reduce risk of evidence being lost in police delays, the informant may be asked to:
- return to the proximity of the scene and guard it, if it is considered safe for them to do so
- not to enter the obvious boundaries of the scene
- not to touch or move anything
- to prevent others from entering or touching the scene
- to await Police arrival and identify themselves to the first Police at the scene
On arrival at Hospital for a Victim- what steps should be taken?
- Obtain a medical opinion as to the Victim’s current condition
- Seize the Victim’s clothing and other possessions as evidence
- Establish the Victim’s identity
- Obtain a pre-transfusion blood sample using the Police Toxicology Kit containers (hospital containers may contain gems that affect the result of any subsequent analysis)
- Seize any discarded bandages used to cover gunshot wounds, and record the position on the Victim where each bandage has been applied.
- Arrange firearms residue samples in cases where firearm use is suspected, from the victim of any apparent suicide involving a firearm.
- Note and photograph any injuries
- Arrange DNA swabs to be taken from Victim’s skin, where they would be relevant to the particular circumstances
- Obtain details of any and all persons who visit or contact Victim.
- Conduct a scoping interview.
- Conduct a preliminary interview with ambulance and emergency staff who treated the victim, using appropriate open (TEDS) questions.
*** What to do at Hospital if victim is suspected to die:
Consider recording an immediate statement, whether the Victim can sign it or not.
If the victim subsequently dies, their statement may be admissible as hearsay evidence under section 18(1) of the Evidence Act.
Must demonstrate a reliability of the person who made it. Police must record any factors which demonstrate the reliability such as:
- 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 the person.
** What to do if the Victim shows no signs of life:
- Consider Calling an ambulance and resiscitation, if appropriate. If the Victim has to be moved, note the original body position and record any previous movements
- Remain with the body until relieved by CIB or a supervisor
- Arrange a doctor to pronounce life extinct, unless death is obvious i.e. a decapitated or badly decomposed body
- Treat the ‘victim’ as a scene (do not move the body unnecessarily).
- Instruct medical staff to leave clothes on the body
- If medical treatment has been given the request that connecting tubes, needles, bandages and other medical items are left ‘in situ’
- If possible, conduct scoping interviews with medical staff who treated the Victim and establish their actions, apparent cause of death and injury type(s).
- Ascertain if the Victim spoke to anyone before death and record what was said.
- Record body position, validity (gravitational settling of the blood), obvious injuries and clothing.
- Objectively record everything observed using all senses, including sight, sound and smell. Include what is considered unimportant or non- evidential as after further investigation, such information may become relevant.
- Record all exhibits
- Sketch a plan including the position of the body and position of exhibits.
- Provide full information to the OC Investigation, at an early stage.
How to Preserve the Scene:
IDENTIFY:
-Gather information
-Consider your warrantless powers to deal with evidential material in respect of serious offences (S+S 2012)
- Consider approach paths and Common approach path
-Consider ‘other’ related crime scenes
-What is happening at the scene and who is there
-Note and record observations
-Establish a scene HQ and safe arrival/ assembly point
-Provide SITREPS to comms. and get acknowledgement.
SECURE:
- Where necessary, exercise powers to secure the scene pursuant to section 116 S+S 2012
-Effect removal of all persons within the scene in a way that causes minimum of disturbance to the scene.
-Establish cordoned parameters using emergency tape.
-Arrange then brief scene guards with clearly defined duties
-Arrange crime scene logs
- Prevent unauthorised persons from entering or leaving the scene
- Prevent any further loss or damage to evidence caused by adverse weather or other factors such as animals.
PRESERVE:
- Consider the best path into the scene.
- Record any movements/ action takeen in the scene
- preserve what is there and leave it ‘in situ’. Ensure nothing is touched or moved. The scene must be kept in its original state.
- If no immediate life is at risk, consider stepping plates.
-Be prepared to take immediate action to preserve and/ or record evidence that may change.
CONSIDER:
-If initial photographs of the scene and persons present are necessary.
RECORD:
-The integrity of the scene with crime scene logs
-Observe and record full notes of precise details of the scene, particularly the location of the Victim.
-Complete a sketch of the scene.
-Photograph the scene and consider a video recording.
-Identify anything which is moved noting the original positions
-Make an accurate record of these facts and report them to the OC investigation at an early stage.
Purpose of a Crime Scene Log
To ensure:
- There is no unauthorised entry into the scene
- Integrity of evidence is secured.
- Intelligence opportunities are maximised
- Contamination issues are managed.
Duties of a Scene Guard:
Secure the scene- Deny any person access to the scene unless they are expressly authorised to enter by the officer in Charge of the scene.
Record Details: Maintain a crime scene log and note every person authorised to enter the scene- name and designation authority to enter the scene; purpose of the visit; time of entry and time of exit.
Control Movements: Ensure everyone entering is directed to the Common Approach Path
Record Movements: Record all movement and vehicle details to, from and near the scene in the crime scene log
Brief others: Promptly communicate any relevant information received to the OC scene or Crime Scene Co-coordinator
Avoid disturbance: Do not personally enter, contaminate or interfere with the scene, e.g. using toilet faciities, making coffee etc.
Protect the scene: Be vigilant for activity
Brief replacement
Respect security
Demonstrate courtesy
Inform Others
Initial Questioning of a Witness:
-What happened
-Where exactly did the incident happen
-When it happened
-Who was involved
-What the witness did
-Where the witness went
-Who touched the witness
-Who else was present
-Descriptions of those present
-What did those other people present say. do
*** Obtaining Forensic Evidence from a Witness at a scene
- 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 items of property touched by the suspect.
