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Unit 23 assignment 1 Gathering and preserving forensic evidence
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Understand how to gather forensic evidence, the integrity to forensic investigation and the importance of health and safety
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Unit 23: Forensic evidence, collection, analysisLearning aim: Understand how to gather forensic evidence, the integrity to forensic
investigation and the importance of health and safety.
Gathering and preserving forensic evidence
Forensic evidence collection has to be completed using specific procedures and
the correct safety precautions have to be used. For example, authorised
personnel only, risk assessments and documentation need to be completed,
the preservation of evidence that was collected.
Forensic evidence found in the crime scene needs to be documented securely,
when the investigating police officer writes the crime scene notes. The notes
need to be as thorough and detailed as possible they also must be in
chronological order and write exactly what is happening at the crime scene as
it occurs. The type of crime will also need to be stated in these notes, as-well
as accurate measurements of the evidence found. In these notes will include
sketches and photographs of important aspects in the crime scene, these can
be of the body, or a room layout where the crime was committed. The
photographs need to be taken before anything is moved or collected from the
crime scene. There are different kinds of cameras used at crimes scenes but
the most commonly used is the 35mm single lens reflex camera. This is
because they have a great clarity in the photos taken and is a low-cost option.
Another type of camera that could be used was called polaroid cameras. These
would be used to identify images at crime scenes. The quality of these photos
was not as clear as the other camera but were only needed to take photos of
victims and any vehicles that might have been found at the scene. These would
be placed in files or on a board for the investigators to quickly remind them of
who or what they are referring to when discussing the crime scene. These
would unlikely be used in court and only used as a reminder to the
investigators of these items of evidence which may not have been ruled out as
evidence completely but are not important or relevant to the crime itself
immediately.
Without these photographs it would be difficult for the investigators to recall
certain information found at the crime scene which could only be identified
this way. These photos would be used in the Crown court to quickly and more
easily inform the jury of important evidence found at the crime scene. This
evidence is important to be able convict the correct perpetrators in court.
, They also need to date to be able to say that this is an accurate representation
of the scene of the crime when it was taken at the time of the photograph. This
is important for the investigation team to look at before the collection of
evidence as this is used to identify what can be classed as evidence and where
in the room or building the crime and evidence is exactly. This is to avoid any
contamination or anyone disturbing the evidence. The note taking continues
all throughout the investigation and may include lighting conditions, open
doors and windows, odours, date, and time any newspapers or emails, general
descriptions of the scene and the surrounding area.
A first attending officer to the crime scene has multiple responsibilities which
includes starting a Cordon log which is used to write exactly what time and
date with who came into and out of the inner Cordon which is important if this
evidence needs to be brought into court. Without it they would not be able to
use this evidence as it may have been tampered with if a police officer came
back to the crime scene and it is not stated in the crime log. The Cordon is split
as an inner and outer where crime scene investigators and people important to
the investigation will enter and exit as they collect and identify evidence. The
outer Cordon stretches farther away from the crime scene itself and is used to
keep the public and any paparazzi from getting near where they could disrupt
the investigation. Between the inner and outer Cordon is where there would
be a meeting point for the investigators to have their discussions away from
the crime scene, this may be in a tent set up. A Cordon is important for the
investigators as there might be evidence of the perpetrator running away from
the crime scene and it must not be destroyed if the public were allowed too
near.
When evidence is collected there is a certain way of how each item is labelled.
Usually placed into an evidence bag with a seal, which can either be made
from paper of plastic, on the front will be and evidence label where
information is required of what item (an item is a piece of evidence collected
from a crime scene, if it is used in court however it will then be called an
exhibit) it is and when it was placed into the bag, along with the name of the
forensics team members who handled it with the exact time. Any information
incorrectly documented can result in detainment of an innocent person or
evidence not valid to be used in court which can compromise the investigation
in a court case.
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