What are the OC Suspect’s responsibilities?
The OC Suspects is responsible for supervising the members of the Suspect’s Team for the purpose of:
- Obtaining information about suspects and persons of interest, as they are identified by the OC Investigation
- Thoroughly profiling and investigating all suspects and persons of interest to enable the OC Investigation to establish their involvement in the offence or eliminate them from the inquiry
- Seeking evidence to cover all elements of the offence
- Mitigating and dealing with possible defences that may be raised, where appropriate
- Providing a basis for further investigation
What four maters should the OC Suspects cover in their initial briefing to the Suspects Team
- The circumstances of the offence including an analysis of the scene and witness evidence available
- The full details of all persons of interest and any suspect, where the identity of suspects are known
- Details of any descriptions of the suspect provided by witnesses (a schedule of descriptions may be prepared to assist)
- Whether any particular modus operandi/crime signatures have been identified
The OC Suspects must investigate all suspects thoroughly in order of priority as decided in consultation with the OC Investigation. What particular matters may influence the setting of priorities?
- The relative weight of evidence against a person
- The likelihood of a person leaving the area
- A particular urgency in solving the case
- The availability of staff
- Where there is no firm line of suspect enquiry, priority should be given to anonymous information, particularly during the early stages of the investigation. Information concerning the suspect’s identity must be acted on immediately.
During the Suspects phase of an investigation, it is important for the OC Suspects to regularly debrief their team members. What general matters should be covered during the debriefs?
The OC Suspects phase must regularly debrief their team members on the enquiries they have conducted and the results of these enquiries so that they can maintain a constant flow of information at conferences, between the members of the suspects team and other investigation staff.
As OC Suspects, what should you record when you observe injuries on the suspect?
You must record any explanations or comments made by the suspect about the offence or the cause of any injuries. Photographs of the suspect and any relevant marks or injuries must be taken.
During an investigation into multiple suspects for a serious offence, what steps can investigators take to mitigate or eliminate the possibility of forensic cross-contamination between the suspects?
An appreciation must be made regarding which staff are assigned to seize clothing from suspects. It is vitally important officers involved are fully aware of cross contamination issues and where possible, separate officers should be assigned to each suspect.
Suspects must be kept apart including during travel in vehicles and when in cells.
All clothing should be packaged, labelled and sealed in accordance with standard procedures before transfer to OC exhibits.
For a serious offence, a doctor may examine the suspect. The OC Suspects will arrange, in consultation with the OC Investigation, for a Police doctor to examine the suspect. The doctor must:
- Note any injuries, such as scratches or bruises
- Take samples identified as necessary by the OC Investigation using a specialist MEK, including: blood, saliva, head hair, pubic and body hair (if relevant), fingernail scrapings, or swabs of the suspect’s hands or other relevant areas
- Swab the suspect’s hands for firearms residue using a specialist Firearms Detection Kit, as soon as possible where a firearm has been involved in an offence. Such residue may persist on the hands or clothing of a suspect for up to 3 hours
- Provide a professional opinion regarding the condition of the suspect
During any interview of a suspect, the OC Suspect must ensure that:
- The interview is conducted in accordance with the ‘Investigative Interviewing Suspect Guide’
- The interview is monitored by a supervisor or experienced Detective to ensure that all key points and areas are covered
- Ensure an explanation is sought from the suspect in relation to any exhibits found
What responsibilities does the OC Suspects have when an alibi is put forward by an offender concerning a matter in respect of which proceedings have been commenced?
- It is the responsibility of the OC Suspects to make thorough enquiries to determine the veracity of the alibi and to fully report the result of these enquiries to the Crown Solicitor, via the 2IC
In investigating any alibi offered, the OC Suspects must:
- Make enquiries of people other than the persons whose particulars have been supplied to confirm or rebut evidence in support of the alibi
- Complete enquiries to establish where the suspect was at the time of the offence, who they were there with, and what they were doing
- Wherever possible, corroboration of the alibi provided by the suspect should be sought from forensic or other sources that are independent of the suspect
