Whilst most offences of homicide are identified as a result of a body being found or by a person responsible for the offence making admissions, some incidents notified to the police are not initially identifiable as a homicide. Such instances may include?
- 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.
The actions of first responding Police have a critical effect on an investigation and on the potential for capturing evidence. Enquiries will vary depending on specific circumstances. What is the general investigation model that should be applied in all cases.
Victim Appreciation Witnesses Scene Exhibits Ingredients Powers Offenders
What is an 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.
Applying an appreciation technique can provide the following key benefits?
- 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.
A full written appreciation may be used for protracted situations. However in most urgent or pressing situations where immediate initial action is required, what would you do?
Do a shortened form of appreciation is usually conducted mentally i.e. not in writing, for speed.
An aim is a short (one line) statement which succinctly demonstrates a single objective. What are the techniques?
- The aim must be clear, accurate and concise. It must be chosen carefully as the wrong aim will produce the wrong result.
- The aim of the appreciation process should be borne in mind at all times, particularly when making decisions.
A factor is any circumstance or fact that could possibly have an effect on the manner in which you will achieve your desired outcome. What are the techniques?
- Ask the question: “So what?
- The answer to this question leads to a logical conclusion or conclusions;
- Any deductions made, must in turn be examined themselves, to see whether they in turn will yield further deductions, and so on.
Courses open are a list of all the possible ways the aim could be achieved, bearing in mind the factors and the deductions made from those factors. What are the techniques?
Advantages, disadvantages and risks of each alternative must be carefully examined and evaluated.
• What are the possible results or consequences of each alternative?
• Which alternative is the most appropriate way to reach the objective?
• From these considerations, decide on the most appropriate course to achieve your aim.
A plan is a proposed course of action designed to put the selected course into action in order to achieve the desired aim. What are the techniques?
• the logical outcome of the Appreciation
• clear, concise and leaves no room for
misinterpretation
• designed to avoid introducing matters
not previously considered by the appreciation
• consistently considerate of safety issues
• recorded
• delivered to staff using the ‘SMEAC’
format, ie. Situation, Mission,
Execution, Administration & Logistics
and Command & Signals.
No matter what the circumstances of a death are (e.g. an accident, suicide, apparent natural causes, work place accident or unexplained death) Police’s purpose is always to?
Investigate thoroughly and gather sufficient evidence to satisfactorily explain the circumstances of the death.
The person reporting an incident is a critical witness in an investigation and it is a priority to obtain all available information from them. Until Police are able to attend the scene, the complainant/informant may be the only source of information available and accurate information can lead to sound decisions. Every effort should be made to obtain?
• 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.
Officers who have initial contact with the complainant/informant should take great care in recording?
What the complainant/informant says, their demeanour and clothing etc. These notes could become critical, particularly if the complainant/informant is later identified as a suspect.
The first priority will always be to ensure the?
Safety of the attending Police members.
If a victim is injured but alive?
Call an ambulance and consider resuscitation if appropriate. If the victim has to be moved for this purpose, note the original body position and record any previous movements.
If it is necessary for the victim to be transferred to hospital by ambulance?
Details of the ambulance crew and their destination must be recorded. If practicable, a detective should accompany the victim to hospital. Otherwise, a detective should attend hospital without delay.
If it is anticipated the victim may die, consider recording an immediate statement, whether the victim can sign it or not. The circumstances to consider under section 16(1) of the Evidence Act 2006, include?
- 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
A fundamental responsibility of all Police employees is to preserve life. Police must never assume a person is dead unless no other conclusion is possible, i.e. a badly decomposed or mutilated corpse. Where there is the slightest possibility a person is still alive?
First aid must be commenced and an ambulance requested.
The victim should not be moved any more than is necessary to establish whether the victim is alive. If the victim needs to be moved?
The original position should be recorded, ideally by photograph and/or video but a sketch and description should also be completed.
Prompt, decisive action to preserve a crime scene will increase the likelihood of recovering?
Physical evidence
What steps would you take to secure a scene?
- Where necessary, exercise powers to secure the scene.
- Remove all persons within the scene
- Establish cordoned parameters using Police emergency tape.
- Arrange and brief scene guards with clearly defined duties using Police employees or civilian security guards, as per local policy.
- Arrange Crime Scene Logs.
- Prevent unauthorised persons from entering or leaving the scene.
- Prevent any further loss or damage to evidence caused by adverse weather or other factors, such as animals.
What steps would you take to preserve a scene?
- Consider the best path into the scene.
- Record any movements/action taken in the scene
- Preserve what is there and leave it ‘in situ’. Ensure nothing is touched or moved.
- If no immediate life is at risk, consider using stepping plates.
- Be prepared to take immediate action to preserve and/or record evidence that may change if nothing is done.
What steps would you take to record the scene?
- The integrity of the scene by establishing and maintaining a crime scene log of movements, names, times and reasons for entry and exit to the scene.
- Observe and record full notes of precise details of the scene, particularly the location of the victim.
- Complete a sketch of the scene.
- Photograph the scene and consider using video recording.
- Identify anything which is moved, noting the original and eventual positions.
- Make an accurate record of these facts and report them to the OC Investigation at an early stage.
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.
