Bella Severino
Unit 4 Learning Aim A assignment
Describe the procedures that SOCO’s use to preserve, collect, record and suitably
package forensic evidence, when processing a crime scene to ensure contamination
is limited
The process in which a crime scene is examined, is a long and precise process. The first
stage of examination is when a crime is reported, the first responding officer will travel to the
reported crime scene and determine which area should be cordoned off. The first attending
officer should cordon off a larger surrounding area of the crime scene. They do this to protect
the evidence potentially located on the outskirts of the prime crime scene location. Once
they have cordoned an area, evidence found outside the cordon tape can no longer be used
as evidence in court. This is due to the risk of contamination from outside personnel and the
environment. In order to cordon off a location, the first attending officer must approach the
scene with care, approaching methodically and strategically to ensure the scene has limited
disturbances.
The officer may be required to arrest a suspect at the scene, this should be carried out with
care and avoid tampering with any evidence. In addition, they should take notes about the
scene's condition as it was upon their arrival, and after the scene had been cordoned off.
This complies with evidence continuity as the officer may have moved a piece of evidence,
the officer should avoid making as little disturbances as possible, if there is a need to alter
the scene it should be noted. Without noting this disturbance down, it can greatly affect the
evidence, as it has been contaminated, which can lead to injustice when the case is
presented at court.
Once the scene’s perimeter has been covered (to identify any possible evidence outside the
main area of the crime) they can cordon the area. They must ensure there is one entrance
and exit for authorised persons, additionally, this minimises access to unauthorised people.
(The cordoning ensures no unauthorised personnel can enter the scene and contaminate
any evidence.) The officer should contact the necessary teams and should call for their
dispatch. Whilst the necessary persons are dispatched, the officer should record notes of the
witnesses names, who may have entered at the scene. Lastly, suspects and witnesses must
be separated and the officer must listen to the suspects and witnesses attentively, recording
key details.
Once the SOCO teams have arrived at the scene, ensure they are fully equipped with PPE.
Their PPE must include a bunny suit, shoe covers, gloves and a mask. It is essential as it
protects the investigators from harmful substances, such as: bodily fluids. In addition, it
protects evidence continuity, as there is no contamination from the investigators such as
their hair. With each crime scene, a complete new set of PPE must be provided to each
investigator, to prevent evidence from being cross-contaminated from one scene to another.
Once investigators are fully PPE equipped, the SOCO will form an entrance and exit
document. This should be recorded when each person enters and exits the scene; giving
their names and the exact times. In the event that SOCO’s need to collect data from
unauthorised persons, who entered the scene, they have a document supporting, if any of
their unique biological evidence is discovered. Additionally, this will prevent any
, contamination of unauthorised personnel once SOCO’s have arrived. Throughout the whole
of the investigation, supervision of the entrance and exit must be carried out.
Prior to entering the scene and beginning the investigation, SOCO must complete a
thorough risk assessment. To complete a risk assessment, they should identify any obvious
hazards present at the crime scene, this includes potential weapons, bodily fluids, and the
location. Detailing these risk factors ensure the investigators are cautious when carrying out
the investigation, as there are potential risks. To carry out the risk assessment, they should
complete the risk assessment document which is unique to each individual crime scene. The
document identifies the scene under investigation, each investigator present at the scene,
the identified risks at the scene and control measures. Along with the SOCO being
dispatched, the paramedics should be called to site in the event of a conscious /
unconscious person being found or if an investigator is harmed when examining the scene.
A risk assessment is used to protect the investigators from harm, making them aware of
objects which can compromise their health. Risk assessment and PPE are a form of
personnel protection to the investigators to prevent harm and additionally to prevent any
contamination of evidence.
Once they have carried out a risk assessment, they begin to take overall images of the crime
scene. They should use high resolution cameras and draw sketches of the entire scene
before any evidence has been individually photographed. The purpose of this is to ensure
there is evidence of the original crime scene, before any collection of evidence. This allows
the court to have an original copy of the crime scene in its original nature, prior to any
disturbances. It shows if the crime scene is a violent or tidy and clean crime scene which can
connect the suspect to the crime scene. Once they have entered the crime scene they would
use a common approach path, to ensure no evidence has been disturbed. Once they have
used stepping plates along the crime scene, up to the prime location of evidence, they can
begin to assign investigators roles. Some investigators will put the events of the crime
together, others will collect evidence, and others will photograph evidence.
They should identify the perpetrators entrance and exits of the scene, some evidence to look
out for would be the direction of footprints, any disturbed ground/soil, open doors and broken
windows. Upon the discovery of evidence, use an evidence marker alongside the evidence
and is photographed with high resolution cameras (this ensures fine details can be seen).
Evidence markers are used to target and identify evidence for sketches and photos to be
made. They will also correspond with the evidence number when the items are packaged
and are placed inside the packaging. Each piece of evidence should have a corresponding
evidence marker, following the order of discovery, this allows evidence to be targeted and
identified. Furthermore, evidence is photographed with scales to show the object's size when
presented in court. The lack of a scale may not justify the suspects need to be in court for
example, a footprint without a scale.
Identifying and targeting evidence can be challenging, often evidence can’t be seen with the
naked eye. Evidence includes a range of substances from soil to hair, and can be described
as a substance/object which is out of place. Evidence such as weapons and bodily fluids
would be priority, they can be identified easily and can support the idea of the events that
occurred. Blood patterns can identify the intensity a weapon was used and even the location
of the perpetrator when they attacked the victim. Once obvious evidence is targeted and
