The first police arriving at a scene are the temporary OC investigation. They must consider risk(s) and their 3 primary functions are:
- Attending at an early stage
- Taking control of situation
- Co-ordinating tasks
The actions of first responding police have a critical effect on the investigation. What does the general investigation model VAWSEEPO stand for!
V - victim (ID and locate)
A - appreciation (assess personal risk then preserve others lives)
W - witnesses (locate and contain)
S - preserve scene
E - note evidence & preserve
E - consider elements of offence
P - identify powers available
O - offender (ID and apprehend)
Why is an appreciation important?
It’s a proven method of problem solving: it follows steps and weighs up benefits and risks of all alternative solutions, allowing sound decision making.
Why is an appreciation important?
It’s a proven method of problem solving: it follows steps and weighs up benefits and risks of all alternative solutions, allowing sound decision making.
List some of the benefits of completing an appreciation.
- informs Police of what they are expected to achieve
- increase chance of inv success
- est sequence of activities
- manages risk
- reduces uncertainty
- eliminates duplication
- effective use of resources
What format could you follow to complete an appreciation?
AFCO
- aim (one line statement)
- factors (so what therefore)
- courses open
- outline plan
What format could you follow to complete an appreciation?
AFCO
- aim (one line statement)
- factors (so what therefore)
- courses open
- outline plan
Risk assessments at the scene… the first priority will always be…?
The safety of attending police members
Risk assessments at the scene… the first priority will always be…?
The safety of attending police members
The status of the victim will fall into one of 3 categories. These categories are:
- Alive an uninjured
- Alive but injured
- Shows no signs of life
If a victim is alive but injured you should:
- call an ambulance, consider resus
(Not location/position of body prior to moving) - if transporting to hospital remember I get details of ambulance crew, a detective to accompany if possible
What are some things a detective would need to consider doing at hospital with an injured victim?
- get medical opinion on condition
- seize clothing/possessions
- est ID
- obtain blood sample using police tox kit
- seize discarded bandages
- consider firearm residue samples
- note/photograph injuries
- arrange DNA swabs
- get details of anyone visiting
- scoping interview with victim (consider recording a statement from them if they’re about to die)
- prelim interview with ambo staff
What are some things a detective needs to consider if a victim shows no signs of life?
- never assume dead unless badly decomposed or mutiliated for ex
- request ambo/start first aid!
- don’t move any more than necessary
- remain with body until relieved
- arrange doc to pronounce life extinct
- treat as scene
- leave clothes on body
- leave medical tubes etc on body
- scoping interviews with any medical staff
- ascertain last person spoken to?
- record body position
- record scene (including smells, etc)
- record exhibits
- sketch
List the 5 steps of preserving a scene
- IDENTIFY - initial assessment of scene, consider powers, parameters as wide as possible, CAP, record all obs, scene headquarters/arrival point, SITREPS
- SECURE - exercise powers where necessary, remove people in scene, cordon, scene guard, crime scene logs, consider animals, weather etc
- PRESERVE - what is best CAP, record all movements in scene, leave in situ, stepping plates
- CONSIDER - initial photographs of scene or persons present?
- RECORD - crime scene log, full notes of precise details of scene, location of victim, sketch, photos and consider video, identify things moved
What is the purpose of a crime Sven log?
Ensures
- no unauthorised entry into scene
- integrity of evidence
- intelligence opportunities are maximised
- contamination managed
*only one crime scene log to be used at each access point.
- should be initiated as early as possible
When you brief a scene guard you should instruct them to do the following:
- secure scene (deny access unless authorised by OC scene/Csc)
- record details in crime scene log (name, designation, purpose, authority, time of entry and exit)
- control movements on CAP
- brief others ie tell CSC about any relevant info and brief replacement
- avoid disturbance personally
- protect from animals
- do not discuss events with media/onlookers
- use courtesy and tact
Witnesses at a scene should be isolated from one another and instructed not to discuss the incident.
What might initial questioning involve?
- what
- where exactly
- when
- who was involved
- what they did
- where they went
- what they touched
- who touched them
- who else present
- descriptions
- what others did/said
What are some things you might consider to capture any forensic evidence from a witness at a scene?
- immediate DNA swabs of any areas on the witness that the suspect may have touched
- immediate DNA swabs of blood present
- immediate swabs of any other stains
- fingernail scrapings, hair combing?
- seizure or clothing, footwear?
*avoid cross contamination by using separate vehicles, rooms etc
*photographing at the scene may help with CCTV enquires
List some of the procedures for suspects at a scene?
- separate from other persons
- consider drugs/alc/injuries/mental impairment etc
- remove from scene either with consent or lawful justification
- consider grounds to arrest
- use officers who have not entered the scene to deal with suspect
- if arrested/detained? Caution
- if not arrested but GCTS they committed an offence? Caution
- consider searching suspect to prevent disposal of evidence/officer safety
- consider searching vicinity of area
- note suspect appearance and behaviour
- record ANYTHING they say
- where possible interview should be on DVD
- brief OC investigation on arrival
When the OC investigation arrives at the scene they’ll expect a briefing which covers???
- what has occurred
- what action has been taken
- what has not been done
- what needs to be done
