12 Key process points in the ASA investigation.
- Initial Actions on Contact
- Case Referral
- Providing specialist support
- Preliminary interview
- Information Feedback
- Medical Examination
- Formal interview
- Investigation and evidence assessment
- Resolution options
- Prosecution
- Final actions and record keeping
- Preventative opportunities and responsibilities.
- Initial Actions on Contact
- Privacy must be insured
- Safety of Victim paramount
- Obtain brief details of the complaint circumstances, location and offender description if available.
- advise of specialist support
- refer to CIB ASA investigator
- Initial action of securing scene etc
- Case Referral
CIB is responsible for ASA investigations and all cases should be referred to them with all paperwork and exhibits handed over.
- Providing specialist support
Advise victim ASAP their right to support during investigation and they can have input into decisions who provides support.
- Preliminary interview
- Ensure Victim is safe and all initial contact actions have been undertaken.
- Arrange for specialist sexual assault support
- Use TEDS to establish what happened
- Preliminary interview - After interview
Re-assess the investigation and consider:
- Public safety and likelihood of further offending
- The need to secure and preserve fragile or demising evidence (eg use of toxicology kit).
- Securing and containing the crime scene.
- Identifying and locating witnesses
- Identification and/pr apprehension of suspect
- Consider photos of Victim to compare against CCTV
- If required, sensitively seize the Victims clothing
- Information Feedback
Provide information about investigation, process and realistic expectations about likely timings including:
- Initial Acton
- Medical / Forensic examination
- Formal interview process
- Exhibits that may have been taken and return process.
- Medical Examination
Attending officer should ensure MEK and toxicology kit are not expired and medical practitioner has not been in contact with Victim before.
Provide examiner with all relevant information and remember a lot of Victims don’t disclose the full extend to the sexual assault during the PI.
7 . Formal Interview
Specialist interviewer to conduct interview, if not available a CIB supervisor can authorise a level 2 ASA trained person.
