Unit 23 _ Gather forensic evidence
When uniformed officers and emergency services arrived at the site, they should have made
sure that anybody who needed medical attention was taken care of
and that the incident did not constitute a further threat to public
safety.
A scene of crime officer (SOCO) is a police officer who is in charge of
gathering evidence at a crime scene. The job of a (SOCO), also known
as a crime scene investigator (CSI) in some police departments, is to
protect and process a crime scene. They must obey the law to
guarantee that any prospective forensic evidence is genuine and can
be presented as evidence in a fair way. They must safely and accurately identify, document,
gather, package, mark, and transfer evidence while preserving evidence continuity, which is
a full documentation that accounts for the movement of a piece of evidence from the crime
scene to the court.
The formation of scientific support units (SSU) differs by regional force, but in overall, they
are made up of forensic experts who work in laboratories and
examine each situation to determine which forensic process should
be used, whether externally or internally, and conduct analysis in
their area of profession, crime scene coordinators who supervise
complex crime scenes, and CSIS who take part in crime scenes and
recover forensic evidence such as fingerprints, Genetic material, and
footwear impressions. They also take images at crime scenes, and
some police departments have forensic photographers on staff. Crime scene supervisors are
in charge of specific crime scenes and investigations.
When the SOCO/CSI initially arrive at the crime site, a variety of security and safety
problems must be addressed before the scene and evidence can be analysed. Anyone who
enters the crime scene, if they are not cautious, might accidentally destroy or taint
evidence, thus accessibility must be restricted. Only qualified professionals with a valid
common approach path are granted access to the crime scene (CAP). The borders of the
crime scene must be determined in order to isolate the area and preserve the forensic
evidence. Barrier tape, cars, and guards can all be used to construct a police cordon around
, Unit 23 _ Gather forensic evidence
the crime scene. A journal of who has had access to the scene, their role, and the time of
entry and leave must also be recorded.
The SOCO/CSI will conduct a risk assessment to find health and safety risks, ensuring that
they and their team are aware of the dangers and how to avoid injury. After the risk
assessment has been completed, permitted personnel can enter the site and conduct a
broad inspection, looking for obvious pieces of evidence as well as points of access and
departure utilised by the offender. To avoid damage or degradation, the SOCO may now
secure and preserve any prospective forensic evidence. A tent, for example, may be used to
shelter the victim's body from the elements at an outdoor murder scene, or a bin lid could
be used to conceal a mud footprint.
The first attending officer is the first member of the team to arrive on the site (FAO).
Usually, this is a police officer. Their initial responsibility is to examine the situation and
determine whether or not aid is required. If any suspects are still present at the crime scene,
the FAO will hunt for them and arrest them, as well as determine whether there are any
injuries or witnesses. They may even protect any possible forensic evidence from
deterioration, such as a footprint in dirt, by covering it from rain.
Other uniform services that may be present to safeguard the crime scene if they require
access and preservation include:
Paramedic personnel will respond to a medical emergency on the site, such as if a victim is
seriously injured.
Officers from the fire and rescue services might enter the crime scene to put out a fire and
seek for those trapped in burning buildings or cars.
A crime scene manager might also go to a crime scene to supervise a team of SOCO/CSIs
who are collecting evidence and to set up a limited perimeter to secure the site and ensure
that all evidence is segregated and secured.
Some law enforcement agencies deploy crime scene coordinators to oversee
the administration of more complicated offences. When criminal activity occurs
at many locations, a crime scene coordinator may be hired.
Forensic Expert will work to collect and trace evidence from a crime scene and
recording findings and analysing them such as hair, glass, drugs, or body fluid.
Each of these uniform services are different to each other and each one has a
specific role depending on the situation of the crime scene, and they work
together to preserve integrity of evidence to make sure that the most of the
evidence is gathered to make sure that they are doing the correct thing to investigate the
crime. If there is an incorrect procedure or evidence taken from the crime scene this will
results in having false results and outcomes and so it will not be visible who is the theft or
the murder.
