Part 1 Initial Response to Homicide or Serious Crime Flashcards
What primary functions are included for first responders at a serious crime?
- attending the scene at an early stage
- taking control of the situation
- co-coordinating tasks.
What are some incidents involving a homicide that are NOT readily identifiable?
- 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
Whats does the acronym VAWSEEPO stand for.
VICTIM- identify and locate victims
APPRECIATION- Assess person risk and then preserve the lives of others
WITNESSES- Locate and contain witnesses
SCENE- Preserve the scene
EXHIBITS- Note the evidence and preserve any that would otherwise be lost or destroyed.
ELEMENTS- Consider ingredients of the alleged offence and if they have been established.
POWERS- ID powers available and execute them
OFFENDERS - ID and apprehend
Define Appreciation
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.
List the benefits of applying the Appreciation Technique
- Informs all Police what they are expected to achieve
- Increases the chances of success, i.e. the investigative aims/objectives 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.
What are the steps of the appreciation method?
AIM- Stipulate short objective
FACTORS - Factors include risk to life, location of suspects, resources, preservation of evidence etc
COURSES OPEN - List of possible ways the AIM can be achieved
PLAN - Proposed course of action selected to achieve AIM
List details required from the complainant/informant
- 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 of the complainant/informant
- demeanour of the complainant/informant
- relationship of the complainant/informant, to the victim or 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
In some circumstances a delay may occur between the initial report and Police arriving at the scene. During this time, evidence may be lost or contaminated. In order to reduce this risk, the complainant/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.
Summarise a “Risk Assessment”
A reconnaissance should be conducted to establish who present at the scene. This may include injured people or a hidden offender.
First priority is to ensure the safety of Police employees, secondly to avoid unnecessary disturbance to the scene
What are the 3 categories of a victims medical status?
- Alive and uninjured, the victim is confirmed to be alive and have no injuries or complications that could arise
- Alive but injured, the victim is injured but alive, consider ambulance to provide medical attention and if they have to be moved ensure you note down original position location of victim
- Shows no signs of life, never assume the victim is dead and always aim to preserve life. If victim needs to moved, agains note original location of body and take photographs diagram video, and wait with the body until supervisor attends.
If you are required to see the victim at a hospital, list the “Action Steps”
1 - Obtain medical opinion of victims condition
2 - Seize victims clothing and other possessions as evidence
3 - Establish victims ID
4 - Obtain a pre-transfusion blood sample with toxicology Kit.
5 - Seize discarded bandages used to cover gunshot wounds and record location of bandage to body
6 - Arrange firearm residue samples (If applicable)
7 - Note and Photo any injuries
8 - Arrange DNA swabs to be taken from victims skin
9 - obtains details of visitors to victim or persons contacting the victim.
10 - Conduct a scoping interview using TEDS. If victim is anticipated to die consider recording statement and this maybe used has hearsay under S18(1) of the Evidence Act 2006.
11 - Conduct prelim interview with medical staff IE ambos, firies, other emergency staff.
Action step 10 and recording an interview from a dying witness, what must he investigator consider in relation to S16(1) of the Evidence Act 2006?
Firstly record any factors which demonstrate the reliability of the statement or its maker and consider the following;
- 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
List the steps to follow if you discover a body
1 - Consider calling ambo and CPR if appropriate. If the victim has to be moved from original position note and record previous positron and movements
2 - Remain with body until relieved by CIB or supervisor.
3 - Arrange Dr to pronounce death (Unless obvious ie decomposed)
4 - Treat victim as a scene
5 - instruct medical staff to leave clothing on body
6 - If medical attention has been given ensure equipment is left on body
7 - Conduct scoping interviews with medical staff to determine who treated victim, their actions taken and apparent cause of death.
8 - Ascertain if victim spoke to anyone before death
9 - Record body position/lividity/injuries/clothing
10 - Objectively record everything observed using all senses
11 - record all exhibits
12 - Sketch scene including body position and exhibits
13 - Relay all info to OC investigation ASAP.
List initial action steps to preserve a scene
(1) IDENTIFY- Gather info and make assessment, Warrant-less powers, parameters to scene and exhibits within, approach paths, who is at scene, record obs, scene headquarters, provide SITREP SFP to comms
(2) SECURE - Evoke SnS S116, Remove persons from scene, Cordon with Police tape, arrange and brief Scene guards, prevent unauthorised entry, prevent contamination from weather or animals etc
(3) PRESERVE - Consider best pathway, record movement and actions at scene, leave in situ and do best to keep in original state, stepping plates, prepare to take immediate action to preserve evidence ie raining
(4) CONSIDER - Initial photos of the scene and persons present
(5) RECORD - Crime scene log of movements, names, times and reasons for entry/exit, Record all observations of scene (precisely), Diagram, Photo or video scene, note things that have been moved and its original state, report back to OC investigations ASAP
Define “Crime Scene Logs”
A crime scene log records the details, time and purpose of all persons who enter, attempt to enter, or leave the crime scene, as well as any other activity around the crime scene which the scene guard perceives to be relevant to the case.
After emergency services no persons must be allowed to enter without authorisation from the OC investigations.
