Serious Crime Investigation Flashcards
(155 cards)
Primary function of initially attending officers
- To attend the scene at the early stage
- To take control of the situation
- To coordinate the tasks
The incidents that are not initially identified as homicide may include…
- Missing person
- Sudden unexplained death of an infant
- Unexplained death
- Abduction
- Violent incidents where the fatalities are not anticipated
- Crime where a body is not present
- Hit and Run incidents
- Suicides
- Fatal fires
- Drug related deaths
Two key tasks of any investigation are
- To gather and preserve evidence
2. Documentation
Four types of conference
- Initial conference
- Regular conference
- Debriefing conference
- Phase team conference
Benefits of making an appreciation
Appreciation:
- Informs police what they are expected to achieve
- Increases chances of success
- Manages risks
- Reduces uncertainty
- Eliminates duplication
- Establishes sequences of activities required
- Ensures nothing is overlooked
- Ensures effective use of resources
Four basic steps of an appreciation
- Aim
A short statement identifying a single objective.
Must be clear and accurate. - Factors
Circumstances that may affect a manner in which you will achieve the desired outcome.
Ask ‘So what?’ followed by ‘Therefore…’ - Courses Open
Possible ways to achieve the aim.
Consider advantages / disadvantages / risks. - Plan
Proposed course of action to achieve the aim.
Must be clear, logical, recorded and delivered in GSMEAC format.
Purpose of the Police attending sudden death incident
Regardless of the circumstances of a death, the Police is to investigate and gather evidence thoroughly to satisfactorily explained the circumstances of that death.
Physical conditions of a victim
- Alive and uninjured
- Alive but injured
- Shows no signs of life
For the statement of dying victim to be admissible as hearsay evidence (s.18(1)(a) Evidence Act 2006), the court must be satisfied that…
Five factors demonstrating reliability…
The content of the statement and the person who made it are reliable.
Police must record any factors demonstrating reliability.
The factors may include:
1. The nature of the statement
2. The content of the statement
3. The circumstances relating to the making of the statement
4. The circumstances relating to the veracity of the person
5. The circumstances relating to the accuracy of observation of the person
General investigation model
The general investigation model VAWSEIPO should be applied in all cases.
V. Victim
Identification and location of the victim
A. Appreciation
Make an initial appreciating and risk assessment to self / others
W. Witness
Locating and containing of the witnesses
S. Scene
Preserve the scene / Establish boundaries
E. Evidence
Note and preserve exhibits
I. Ingredients
Consider whether the ingredients of an alleged offence have been established
P. Powers
Establish what powers are available and consider its execution
O. Offender
Identification and apprehension of the offender
Initial Action - Victim shows no signs of life
- If there is the slightest possibility that the victim is still alive, commence first aid and call ambulance
- Do not move the victim any more than necessary to establish if they are still alive
- If the victim needs to be moved, record the original position by photo/video/sketch and description
Follow those steps:
- Consider First Aid and resuscitation / Record original position and movements
- Remain with the body until relieved by CIB or NCO
- Obtain life extinct certificate
- Treat the body as a scene - do not move
- Instruct medical staff to leave the clothes on
- Instruct medical staff to leave tubes/needles/bandages/etc in situ
- Scope interview of medical staff about their actions/injuries/cause of death
- Record all exhibits
- Sketch/Plan positions of the body and exhibits
- Record description of the body/lividity/clothes/injuries
- Record everything observed objectively (smell/sound/sight)
- Establish if the victim has spoken to anyone be over the death and what was said
- Early SITREP to OC investigation
Common Approach Path (CAP)
Control all movements to and from the scene using a path which avoids the use any routes to and from the scene possibly taken by the victim or offender
Scene Guard - Purpose of the scene guard and crime scene log
- Prevent unauthorised entry into the scene
- Integrity of evidence or possible evidence is secured
- Intelligence opportunity is maximised
- Contamination issues are managed
Scene Guard - is to record the following details
- Time of entry to / exit from the scene
- Name and designation
- Authority to enter the scene
- Purpose of the visit the scene
Scene Guard - Duties
- Secure the scene
Deny entry to anyone unless they are expressly authorised to enter by OC / CSC / OC scene - Record details
Maintain the Crime Scene Log / Record details of those who authorised to enter - Control movements
Direct those who authorised to enter to CAP and supervise its use - Record movements
Record in the Log any movements and details of any vehicles to/from/near the scene - Brief others
Communicate relevant information to OC / CSC / OC Scene - Avoid disturbance
Do not enter / contaminate / interfere with the scene - Protect the scene
Be vigilant to such activities as animals at the scene - Remain on duty
Remain on duty until relieved - Brief replacement
Brief the oncoming scene guard and hand on the Crime Scene Log - Respect security
Do not discuss the matter with witnesses / bystanders / media - Demonstrate courtesy
Use courtesy with civilians / crowd - Inform others
Report the actions taken to OC / CSC / OC Scene
Media at the scene
- Keep the media away from the immediate scene
- Do not make any comments about the incident
- Inform OC Investigation
IA officer is to brief the OC Investigation and to report the following
- What has occurred
- What actions have been taken
- What has not been done
- What needs to be done
Who should be appointed OC Body
An experienced officer with awareness of forensic issues
OC Body - Responsibilities
- Ensure the death is certified by a doctor/paramedic using POL265
- Maintain security/continuity of the body/samples/exhibits from the scene to PM
- Secure/guard the body/samples/exhibits with dignity and respect
- Note/Record observation
- Note/Record details of medical staff who attended the victim
- Note/Record any actions taken by anyone in respect of the body
- Establish if the body has been moved/disturbed
- Photo/Video the body in situ
- Arrange for the body to be transported from the scene to a mortary (with authority of OC)
- Compete 1S procedures
- Arrange for the formal identification of the body using POL265A (with authority of OC)
- Obtain medical records of the victim
- Attend PM with OC
- Attend briefing of pathologist with OC
- Ensures a photographer takes sufficient number of photographs of the body before the clothes is removed/disrupted/during PM
- Preserve exhibits from the body
- Record/Label/Secure the samples/exhibits from the body
- Ensure F/P and palm prints are taken
- Attend debriefing with pathologist and record findings
- Ensure the cultural responsibilities are addressed
Four basic IA principles in relation to a scene
- Freeze
- Control
- Guard
- Preserve
Primary purpose of PM..
Pathologist findings may include…
The primary purpose of PM is to establish a cause of death.
The pathologist findings may include:
- Time/Mode of a death
- How injuries contributed towards the death
- Nature/Size of the weapon used
- Approximate height/stature of the suspect
- Areas of interest for witness/suspect interviews
- Negating possible defence
- Identification of the victim (if hasn’t been established)
Body - Unless there is an emergency, the body is not to be moved without…
Authority from OC investigation
Body - Establishing if the body has been moved
Do’s and Don’t’s
Establish if the body has been moved/disturbed, and if so:
- Do not attempt to restore the scene
- Establish the original/unchanged scene for further photo/reconstruction
Body - Preparing body for removal
- Photo/Video/Sketch/Plan position of the body
- Marking/Recording position of the body (measuring distance)
- Record detailed position of the body:
- position of the limbs
- appearance of the body
- wounds / clothing
- trails of blood
- lividity
- rigor mortis presence - Safety first (consider safety issues)
- Cover hands/feet/head in the paper bags secured with a tape to prevent loss of trace evidence (if wet use plastic bags)
- Ensure the clothing on the body is not contaminated
- Wrap the body in a plastic sheet and place it in a bag
- Search underneath of the body
- Exhibit sheets/bags used for transport the body
- Obtain approval from OC to remove the body
- Arrange for undertaker to take the body to a mortary (ensure the body bag is sterile)