1 - Initial response to homicide or serious crime

Question 1

What must first responders do at the scene of a serious crime?

Answer 1

1 - Attend the scene at an early stage
2 - Take control of the situation
3 - Co ordinate tasks

Question 2

Incidents that are sometimes not initially identified as homicides

Answer 2

1 - Report of a missing person
2 - Sudden unexplained death of an infant
3 - Unexplained death
4 - Report of an abduction
5 - Crime scene without body present
6 - Suicide

Question 3

VAWSEIPO - Definitions

Answer 3

Victim - Identify and locate
Appreciation - Make an initial appreciation of the incident. Assess personal risk and then preserve the life of others
Witnesses - Locate and contain
Scene - Preserve the scene (eg set boundaries or cordons)
Exhibits - Note evidence and preserve any that would otherwise be lost or destroyed
Ingredients - Consider if ingredients of alleged offence have been established
Powers - Identify powers available and consider whether to execute them
Offenders - Identify and apprehend suspects

Question 4

Freeze…

Answer 4

Control, guard and preserve

Question 5

Benefits of applying appreciation technique

Answer 5

1 - Informs all Police what they are expected to achieve
2 - Increases the chance of success
3 - Establishes a sequence of activities to be carried out
4 - Manages risk
5 - Reduces uncertainty
6 - Eliminates duplication

Question 6

Definition of an appreciation

Answer 6

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 decided upon. It considers all appropriate factors and weighs the benefits and risks of all alternative solutions, allowing sound decisions to be taken. An appreciation is an ongoing process which involves continually thinking through each new piece of information as it is uncovered

Question 7

Appreciation process… AFCOP

Answer 7

Aim - Short one line statement which succinctly demonstrates a single objective

Factors - Any circumstance or fact that could possibly have an effect on the manner in which you will achieve your desired outcome

Courses Open - Courses open are a list of all the possible ways the aim could be achieved, bearing in mind the factors and the 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

Question 8

No matter what the circumstances of a death are…

Answer 8

Polices purpose is always to investigate thoroughly and gather sufficient evidence to satisfactorily explain the circumstances of the death

Question 9

What to obtain from complainants/informants

Answer 9

• Identity 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

Question 10

What to ask informant to do if delay in getting to scene

Answer 10

• guard the scene
• not to enter obvious boundaries
• not to touch or move anything
• await arrival and identify themselves

Question 11

Preservation of life

Answer 11

It is imperative that Police responders ensure their own safety, the safety of other responders and that of others present at the scene

Question 12

Victims medical status - Alive and uninjured

Answer 12

Alive and uninjured - no confirmed injuries or additional issues - proceed to preserving the scene

Question 13

Victims medical status - Alive but injured

What to do at hospital

Answer 13

Alive but injured - Call ambo, consider resuscitation. If victim has to be moved, note the original body position and record any previous movements.

If victim goes to hospital, detective should accompany them, and follow these steps once at the hospital:

• Obtain medical opinion as to the victims current medical condition
• Seize the victims clothing and other possessions as evidence
• Establish the victims identity
• Obtain a pre-transfusion blood sample using Police tox kit containers.
• Seize any discarded bandages used to cover the gunshot wounds, and record the position on the victim where each bandage was applied
• Arrange firearms residue samples in case where firearm use is suspected
• Note and photograph any injuries

Question 14

What to do if it is anticipated the victim may die

Answer 14

Consider recording an immediate statement, whether the victim can sign it or not. May be admissible as hearsay evidence under s 18(1) of the Evidence Act 2006. Circumstances to consider:

• 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
• circumstances relating to the accuracy of the observation of the person

Question 15

Victims medical status - Shows no signs of life

Answer 15

Follow these steps when you discover a body:

• Consider calling ambo and resuscitation. Note movements of victim.
• Remain with body until relieved by CIB or supervisor
• Arrange a doctor to pronounce life extinct, unless death is obvious
• Treat victim as the scene
• Instruct medical staff to leave clothes on body
• Request medical equipment, tubes etc are left in situ
• conduct scoping interviews with medical staff who treated the victim

Question 16

Initial action at scene - Identify

Answer 16

• Gather info and carry out initial assessment of scene
• Consider your warrantless powers to deal with evidential material in respect of serious offences
• Establish the crime scene itself, extend parameters as wide as possible
• Consider approach paths and establish common approach path
• Consider other related crime scenes
• What is happening at the scene and who is there

Question 17

Initial action at scene - Secure

Answer 17

• Where necessary, exercise powers to secure the scene pursuant to section 116
• Remove all persons from scene in a way that causes minimal disturbance
• Establish cordoned parameters using Police tape
• Arrange and brief scene guards
• Arrange crime scene logs
• Prevent unauthorised people from entering or leaving the scene

Question 18

Initial action at scene - Preserve

Answer 18

• Consider best path into scene
• Record any movements or action taken at the scene
• Leave in situ, ensure nothing touched or moved
• If no immediate life at risk, consider using stepping plates
• Be prepared to take immediate action to preserve or record evidence that may change if nothing is done.

Question 19

Initial action at scene - Consider

Answer 19

• Consider if initial photographs of the scene and persons present are necessary

Question 20

Initial action at scene - Record

Answer 20

• The integrity of the scene by establishing and maintaining a crime scene log of movements, names, times, and reasons for entry and exit to the scene.
• Observe and record full notes of precise details of the scene
• Complete a sketch of the scene
• Photograph the scene and consider video recording
• Identify anything moved, noting original and eventual positions

Question 21

Crime scene logs

Answer 21

Only one crime scene log must be kept at each point of access to the scene. The log must identify keeper of the record as well as the name and time when all persons entered or left the scene and their reasons for entry.

Question 22

Scene guard duties

Answer 22

• Secure scene
• Record details
• Control movements
• Record movements
• Brief others
• Avoid disturbance

Question 23

Initial questioning of witness

Answer 23

• What happened
• Where exactly did the incident happen
• When it happened
• Who was involved
• What the witness did
• Where the witness went

Question 24

Obtaining forensic evidence from a witness at a scene

Answer 24

Some witnesses may have been so proximate to the events that it is likely evidence was transferred to the witness from the victim or suspect or from the scene. Before they are interviewed, plan must be prepared to preserve and recover all available physical evidence from the witness, such as fibres, body fluids, glass or other material

Question 25

Steps for obtaining key details from witnesses

Answer 25

• Obtain full details of all persons present
• Assemble people in a clear area, ensuring a police officer remains with them
• Isolate witnesses from one another to reduce likelihood of contamination
• Conduct scoping interview
• Establish if anyone has left
• If witness has made calls, establish number of calls and who to etc

Question 26

Procedure for suspects at the scene

Answer 26

• Seperate suspects from other persons
• Consider condition of suspect, injured, under influence of alcohol or drugs etc
• Ask to remain at scene and to co-operate with Police. Remove from scene ASAP
• If suspect refuses to co-operate, consider whether grounds exist to arrest them
• To prevent cross contamination, consider using officers who have not entered the scene to deal with suspect

Question 27

What to brief OC investigation before leaving the scene

Answer 27

OC investigation will expect a briefing from the officer in initial charge of the incident, as to:

• What has occurred
• What action has been taken
• What has not been done
• What needs to be done