Lesson 9.1 - Sexual Offences - Initial Actions Flashcards
Rape and attempted rape account for what % of Sexual crimes in 2019-20?
18%
How many rapes and attempted rapes were there in 2019-20?
2,213 rapes
130 attempted rapes
Sexual assaults account for what % of sexual offences?
37%
What should the victim be advised not to do?
Advise them not to eat or drink so valuable evidence is not lost
Advised not to smoke or brush teeth or carry out any activity which would contaminate or result in the loss of evidence.
This is pertinent where there has been any oral penetration, licking, kissing of the mouth and or facial area.
What should the actions of the initial attending officer be?
- Attend and speak to the victim as soon as possible.
- Prioritise safety and wellbeing of the victim.
- Medical assistsnce if required.
- Allow victim to specify the gender of the interviewing officer (s.8 Victims and Witness (Scotland) Act 2014) (Officer noting the full statement).
- Support the victim if requested.
- Obtain an initial account from the victim.
INITIAL ACCOUNT
What questions should be asked during the initial account?
Initial account should be gathered from the victim being mindful not to ask leading questions. Questions should be limited to:
- Medical assistance?
- Exact nature of offence
- Identify forensic oppertunities for use of Early Evidence Kit (EEK)
- Time of offence
- Location and description of suspect if known
- Location of crime scene(s)
- Activities since offence took place which may effect forensic opportunities e.g. washing, drinking
- Get contact details for other people informed of the offence by the victim (key as it could add credability to victim)
- Identify any witness to the offence or to events immediately prior to or after the offence
- Ensure victim understands the process and is afforded the opportunity to make informed decisions.
- Victim shoudl not be left unattended during the initial reporting phase.
- Submit VPD
Evidential considerations.
- identify, secure and protect all scenes that include the victim, location and suspect
- This is achieved by rapid deployment of officers to the locus.
- identify the routes taken to and from the locus by the suspect and victim, they are of equal importance.
- Avoid cross contamination of evidence
- if clothing worn at the time of the incident is still being worn at the time of the report it should not be removed prior to any forensic medical examination
- Even if clothing has been washed it will be seized
- Preserve forensic evidence (within 7 days of an incident) using EEK
- Victim should be deterred from eating, drinking, smoking or washing prior to early evidence samples
Depending on the time between police attending the scene and commission of the offence, the following actions should be considered in the early stages
- Circulation of description
- Transportation of eye witnesses to identify exact locus
- Road checks
- Recording details of nearby vehicles
- Using Police dog
IBR (rape and sexual offences initial briefing report)
Should be completed by attending officers in the presence of the victim.
The following should be included.
- Brief details of the initial account section
- Details of any EEK used
- All productions seized and where lodged should be detailed
- Record of the victims demeanour, injuries and appearance
- Details of anyone to whom the victim has disclosed the offence to
- Details of any motor vehicle used to transport the victim
This must be replicated in notebook
Cannot be done for someone under 16 or intoxicated through drugs or alcohol without prior consultation with CID OR DRIU (divisional rape investigation unit)
EEK
Urine sample - 2 samples 1 hour apart. Helps with how much alcohol has been consumed by the victim which can be important in terms of establishing consent.
Mouth rinse - where there is oral penetration
Skin swabs - for non intimate swabs
Discarded items - e.g. tissues wiped after using the bathroom or condoms.
Suspect considerations
- Separate them from victim and avoid cross contamination of evidence
- Record any spontaneous remarks made about the incident verbatim
- Contact PPU/DRIU/CID for instruction prior to suspect being arrested on suspicion in relation to rape and penetrative sexual offences.
- Suspect to be transported in separate vehicle
- Ensure clothing and mobile phone and all other communication devises are seized
- Consider placing the suspect in a dry/ observation call to preserve potential forensic evidence
See pages 9 and 10 for stuff about SOLO
Sexual offences Liaison Officer
FME (forensic medical examination) of victims
Carried out by a FP Forensic Physician
Organise necessary follow up healthcare or support, including checking for and treating sexually transmitted infections and providing emergency contraception.
Check for injuries and other effects of the incident. May include an internal examination
In terms of collecting evidence this may include body fluids
- DNA or hair which may have been transferred to victims cloths
- Internal swabs
- Blood samples
- Urine samples
- Nail scrapings
- Hair cuttings
- Swab from skin which will be forwarded to a lab for examination which may establish identity of accused
FP will ask for consent for each part.
This should be carried out ASAP but in any event within a 7 day forensic window.
Complaints of a non recent nature
Complaint of a sexual offence is considered non recent if it happened one year ago or longer.
Welfare on page 13
