Task 3 – Understand the necessity for scene preservation at
emergency incidents
Scene preservation for scene investigation
Need for accident investigation e.g. serious and fatal road traffic
collisions
When an accident has occurred regardless of whether it was intentional or not, there must
be a full investigation carried out by the local police force. (Stark, 2009)
The aims of an investigation would be to identify the root cause of an accident which can
then help to prevent the same thing happening again or anything similar. Along with this
they would look to see if there is any ways of gathering evidence to see if anyone needs to
be brought in for questioning and anyone who is responsible for a crime would then have to
go through the justice system and face the consequences. Evidence can be carried and
obtained in a number of ways. This can be in the form of footage obtained from someone
who witnesses it whether that is a photograph or a video, forensics or it could be CCTV
evidence. Anything presented to the police could be the difference between justice being
served or not. Every bit of evidence regardless of whether it is a lot or not can help lead to
there being a breakthrough in the investigation and make everything so much easier for
those investigating and every bit of evidence is crucial to prosecution as the more reliable
evidence you have, the more you have to prove and back up your case. When one is the
victim of a crime, evidence is the key to bringing about justice and getting the message out
that if you are a suspect then you will be hunted down and face the consequences.
Need for fire investigations e.g. malicious and suspicious ignitions
When investigating a fire, the primary purposes of an investigation being conducted is to
establish the origin of the fire, determine what likely caused it to happen in the first place
and conclude whether the incident was accidental or maybe a deliberate act which could be
breaking the law and could be arson. (Kobilinsky, 2012)
If this was the case then the police would be brought into the investigation. Just like a
police investigation, they would need to see and obtain evidence to support their
, investigation and to find out all the information they need to. This would be carried out by a
Fire Investigation Officer whose job is to conduct these investigations.
A Fire Investigation Officer would have to complete a fire data report on all fires they attend
and this would have to be reported to the officer for the most likely cause of the fire.
Despite this level of report not being conclusive and not intended to produce evidence that
could be used as a prosecution, an experienced Fire Investigation Officer may be able to say
with potentially some degree of certainty what the cause of the fire was. Along with this the
Home Office can also recommend the use of forensic scientists and also crime officers who
can be drafted in to examine the cause of some fires.
Role of health and safety executive e.g. accidents in the workplace
The Health and Safety Executive is a public body that is sponsored by the governmental
department for Works and Pensions Department. It is also a UK government agency.
(Managing public money, n.d.)
It is an enforcing authority that ensures health and safety standards within the workplace
are being upheld and done all properly. This is done so there can be prosecutions if
employers or employees or contractors break the health and safety regulations while in the
work place. In addition to the Health and Safety Executive, it is also responsible for the
following:
Conducting and sponsoring research
Promoting training
Providing an information and an advisory service
Submitting proposals for new or revised regulations and the approved codes of
practice
The Health and Safety Executive also has a duty to look after many aspects of within health
and safety, they include:
Nuclear installations
Mines and factories
Farms
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