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WJEC Criminology Unit 3 AC1.1
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- Crime Scene to Courtroom
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- WJEC
WJEC Criminology Unit 3 - Crime scene to courtroom AC1.1 -Evaluate the effectiveness of the roles of personnel involved in criminal investigations
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Criminology Unit 3 AC1.1Evaluate the effectiveness of the roles of personnel involved
in criminal investigations
, Criminology Unit 3 AC1.1
Evaluate the effectiveness of the roles of personnel involved in criminal investigations
Police Officers
- Often the first personnel on the scene of the crime
- First role is to preserve life/safeguard the public
- Includes looking after casualties, calling an ambulance or ensuring the safety of the scene and those
around.
- Second role is to ensure evidence on the scene is undisturbed and uncontaminated/secure the crime scene.
- The ‘golden hour’ refers to the period immediately after the crime has been found.
- Police must act swiftly to secure the scene and preserve evidence.
- Time is important to take witness or victim statements.
- Evidence is fresh and witnesses have a clearer memory
Evaluation of Police Effectiveness
- Expertise
- No formal educational requirements for entry into force.
- On the job training and mentoring with a knowledge of first aid, ensuring safety and securing crime
scenes.
- Further on the job training is required for specialist fields such as narcotics units, dog handling,
firearms etc.
- Less training due to budget cuts
- Cost
- Average salary is around £30,607 per year which is relatively low or below average in the UK.
- £300 million for 100,000 police officers
- Availability
- Numbered just under 200,000 full-time officers across the 43 forces in England and Wales as of
2018 (Source: Home Office, Workforce Open Data Table)
- Large number of police officers available on request meaning they are readily available to support a
criminal incident.
- Compared to forensic scientists or a SOCO where there are very limited numbers.
- Less police officers means a longer wait as they don't have enough resources
- Strengths
+ Crucial role- Preserving life, keeping people safe
+ Vital role in preserving evidence at the crime scene- Important to bringing the right people to justice
+ Skilled,trained professionals, sometimes has specialist skills
+ Being the first personnel on the scene possibly during that ‘golden hour’ allows them to take initial
statements whilst the events are still fresh in minds.
- Limitations
- Macpherson Report 1999 showed that the metropolitan police were ‘institutionally racist’
- ‘Institutional racism’ means that it is the norm in that particular organisation or culture.
- Stephen Lawrence case
- Racially motivated attack resulting in the death of Stephen whilst walking home.
- Failed to be recognised as a hate crime due to the institutional bias and racism of the police
service and failures to investigate suspects due to force corruption.
- Hillsborough Stadium Disaster
- Crush of football fans resulting in 97 deaths and hundreds of injuries.
- Largely attributed to mistakes made by the police
- Officers at the scene blamed the fans even though it was there own mistakes
- Shows how police can inappropriately act in criminal investigation.
- Stephen Port Case
- Stephen Port was found guilty of murdering four young men by poisoning them with lethal
doses of the date-rape drug GHB.
- Claims made that the police could have investigated the death earlier, possibly saving lives
in the process.
- Nicola Bulley Case
- Police revealed too much information about her such as her addictions and mental health
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