AC1.1 Explain the effectiveness of roles of personnel involved in criminal investigations. (10
marks)
POLICE OFFICERS tend to be the first personnel to arrive to a crime scene and use the ‘golden hour’
to preserve not just life, but vital evidence, where their job is to secure a scene and conserve as
much evidence as possible. Police officers also take witness statements and have authority to
conduct arrests when necessary. To be a police officer, one must acquire specialist training, and
undertake a degree, or a programme of 3 years in professional policing. Their salary starts at around
£33,500 a year. Given this training, an advantage is that they are efficient at dealing with all sorts of
crimes that they come across. Moreover, the 24-hour availability of the police ensures that they are
an effective first call where there is danger, and that they can respond in a timely manner, therefore
keep a scene secure from unauthorised personnel entering and collect evidence within the pivotal
‘golden hour’. Having said this, there are some disadvantages of the police within their effectiveness,
where they have been criticised for police brutality and often accused of discrimination – particularly
racism. This was evident in the well-known case of Stephen Lawrence and the McPherson report; a
boy who was murdered in a hate crime, with the police failing to bring the killers to justice. The
report found the investigation into his killing was “marred by a combination of professional
incompetence, institutional racism and a failure of leadership.” Another limitation to the
effectiveness of police officers are the costs of upkeeping them – at 25.3 billion pounds (2022).
Furthermore, with recent budget cuts, the number of police officers have reduced by 19% since
2013, which means there are fewer units available to a crime scene, decreasing the efficiency of
their response time. This weakness was evident in the Hillsborough Disaster where the lack of
officers had led to overcrowding and had contributed to the loss of lives. Having said this, a public
survey found 51% claim that they trusted police officers to take their case seriously and effectively.
And, in both cases mentioned, police had publicly apologised whilst taking accountability. Overall,
police officers are collectively trusted within society to effectively contribute to criminal
investigations – as they usually fulfil their role and take accountability for the cases where they have
lacked doing so.
CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATORS (CSI/SOCO) are also involved in criminal investigations. They are
employed by the police force and their role is to locate, preserve and categorise evidence from a
crime scene, this could be DNA, fibres, weapons used etc. They may also take photographs and
videos of the scene and update information systems to effectively support a criminal investigation.
To become a CSI, one must have a degree or background within science, and they require years of
training which allow them to effectively carry out their role, with the correct level of expertise. CSI
starting salary is £54,410. An advantage for these personnel is that they can conclusively prove if a
suspect is innocent or guilty, given the evidence that they have collected. CSI are effectively involved
within an investigation where they can rule our suspects and gravitate towards potential suspects.
This can save time and money put into a crime scene investigation. CSI are seen to work 24/7 which
optimises their investment into an investigation, where they are effectively available. Having said
this, CSI also have their weaknesses such as the exposure to physical and psychological harm that
crime scenes may have on them, where decreasing their ability to effectively take out their role. As
this role requires commitment to patience, and attention to detail; a disadvantage could stem from
the inability or lack of doing so. Failure to record and collect admissible or useful evidence may
prevent finding a suspect, or even cause a miscarriage of justice. As seen in the case of Merideth
Kercher, where the CSI had violated standard procedures by not wearing the required protective
gear and contaminating the crime scene. The contaminated murder weapon had led to the wrongful
conviction of Knox. This case doubts the effectiveness of a CSI within an investigation where they
had made glaring errors, as further suggested by the cuts in funding. Since 2008, funding of the CSI
has been cut by £70 million, which could show the CSI may not be the most effective personnel.
However, there is evidence to prove the effectiveness of CSI where they contribute to the criminal
investigation of around 900 cases per year.
