Part 16 Exhibit Management

Question 1

What is the OC Exhibits responsible for?

Answer 1

• For establishing and maintaining a exhibit management system and maintaining the physical security and continuity of exhibits
• establishing required standards for the recovery, handling, labelling, storage, submission to experts, presentation at Court and disposal of exhibits
• The OC Exhibits must communicate required standards to all investigation team members, usually at investigation conferences.

Question 2

When conducting an appreciation of exhibits, what factors would you consider?

Answer 2

• evidential value of each exhibit
• investigative opportunities presented by each exhibit
• further enquiries that are needed.

Question 3

The OC Exhibits must, where appropriate, update the OC Investigation and 2IC with relevant information relating to, What?

Answer 3

• what exhibits have been found, and their movements
• the results of any exhibit examinations
• whether any further enquiries are required.

Question 4

The OC Exhibits will attend briefings and liaise with other OC’s of at case. What is this meeting called?

Answer 4

Forensic strategy meeting

Question 5

What topics are covered at a forensic Strategy meeting?

Answer 5

• What examinations ESR and others could conduct on exhibits.
• The priority each examination should receive.
• Whether any further work is needed to assist a reconstruction.
• A plan for any work to be completed that is required to assist the reconstruction.
• An agreed reconstruction of the events relevant to the crime under investigation.

Question 6

In relation to the results of exhibit examinations, what must OC exhibits do?

Answer 6

• Update exhibit register with the results of examination
• Bring information to the attention of the OC investigations and do not assume they are aware by other means

Question 7

Under S19 of the CDA 2008, does the OC Exhibits facilitate the inspection of exhibits to defence council?

Answer 7

Yes

Question 8

When producing exhibits at court, what is OC exhibits responsible for?

Answer 8

• clearly demonstrates the evidential value of the exhibits, e.g. by mounting clothes on a mannequin or board
• avoids any risk of physical injury, disease, accident, contamination or damage
• Organise a schedule for exhibits when there are a large number of them

Question 9

What must investigator be able to demonstrate in relation to chain of custody and exhibits?

Answer 9

• when they received custody of the exhibit and from whom
• where and how the exhibit was securely stored
• when, why and how the exhibit was moved from one place to another
• how the exhibit has been treated, safeguarded and preserved
• when and why they transferred custody of an exhibit to another person, and to whom.

Question 10

Outline how exhibits should be packaged in terms of numbering

Answer 10

• Each exhibit is given a separate 5 digit number
• Using the terms of found inside exhibit number
• Use of IMT function came from

Question 11

What is best practice if an exhibit has to be unsealed earlier than expected

Answer 11

The decision to unseal an exhibit should be taken and recorded through the Forensic Strategy meeting process and be carefully managed.

The officer opening the item must reseal it together with the original packaging and seal, before returning the exhibit to the store. They must also ensure a record is made of the actions taken and by whom

If this exhibit is then sent to ESR you must inform them that it was unselaed and the reason why