Unit 4 - Forensic Investigation Procedures in Practice
Essay
Unit 4: Crime Scene Procedures Report
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Unit 4 - Forensic Investigation Procedures in Practice
Instelling
PEARSON (PEARSON)
Boek
Crime Scene to Court
A report that details the following procedures; speak to the first attending officer; securing the scene; crime scene entry log; common approach path; initial scene assessment; plan of the premises; personal protective equipment; and exhibits log/chain of custody. Includes images, examples from my ...
Unit 4 - Forensic Investigation Procedures in Practice
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Voorbeeld van de inhoud
Mock Crime Scene: Evidence Collection
Introduction
There are many different forms of evidence that can link a suspect to a scene or a victim.
Due to the variety of evidence possibly present there are procedures in place to ensure the
safety of the investigators and to limit the contamination of evidence. Additionally, different
equipment is required for different forms of evidence to preserve its integrity and reliability.
Restriction of Access
Restricting the access to any scene is one of the first protocols carried out before any
collection of evidence can occur. By restricting the access to the scene, the scenes of crime
officers are limiting the contact with the scene and thus limiting the potential for
contamination of evidence or destruction of evidence. This is done by securing the area
surrounding the scene and form that point continuously conducting a crime scene entry log
that allows for only authorised personnel with a valid reason to enter the scene. Again,
limiting the amount of people within the scene and accounting for them being present if any
discrepancies in evidence arise.
Securing the perimeter around a crime scene is crucial for a multitude of reasons. Securing
the scene itself can be done with “crime scene tape,
police officers standing guard, barricades or
vehicles” (The Forensics Library, 2021). This creates
a barricade between the public and the scene, but it
also helps control who can and cannot enter the
scene. Securing the scene helps preserve evidence
and prevents any contamination by restricting
access to the scene and the number of people able
to access the scene. In our mock crime scene, we
used yellow police tape, as seen in the bottom right-
Figure 1.1 – Crime Scene Photo (left bottom corner showing
hand corner of figure 1.1, to provide a visible barrier the yellow police tape)
between where we believe the scene began and the
potential for contamination of evidence and the entry points. However, there were two
entry and exit points to the property that, in hindsight, we should have cordoned off to
further reduce the potential of unauthorised personnel getting too close, disrupting or
relaying information about the scene to the public or media. This is a significant procedure
as skipping over or incorrectly securing a scene can lead to the destruction or contamination
of evidence and evidence tampering. As seen in the case of Nicole Simpson and Ron
Goldman, in trying to preserve the dignity of Nicole Simpson after death from paparazzi,
there was a significant breach of procedures and preservation of evidence. To prevent
photographs of the deceased from being captured and released into the media, before a
thorough forensic investigation had been conducted, a blanket was placed over the body of
Nicole Simpson. This led to a multitude of forensic evidence being contaminated and left
worthless in the court of law. Had the scene had been secured and the public’s access and
visibility to the scene been blocked there would have been no requirement for the blanket
, to withhold Nicole Simpson’s dignity and crucial evidence collected from the scene could
have been present in a court of law.
In addition to securing the scene, a crime scene entry log allows for only appropriate and
authorised personnel to enter and exit the areas secured as the scene. The entry log should
include identification through name or badge (this they are law enforcement), the time in
which they entered the scene, their reasons for being at the scene, and the time they left
the scene. Every individual who enters the scene should be accounted for through the entry
log and if asked in court can provide evidence that a specific person was present and at
which time they arrived and left; this includes individuals in the scenes of crime officers
(SOCO) team, emergency service personnel such as paramedics or firefighters. Importantly,
the log prevents any persons not relevant to the scene from entering and potentially
contaminating, destroying, or damaging evidence. The crime scene entry log is completed
throughout the course of the investigation until the scene has been examined and no longer
under investigation; the last person to leave the scene should be the officer conducting the
crime scene entry log.
Observation and Recording, Identifying and Targeting Evidence
Making observations and recording information about the scene should be carried out
before collecting any evidence. This is done through an initial Scene assessment where the
majority of notes, photographs, and video footage are taken. All of the details of the scene
need to be captured before the scene is disturbed and evidence removed. This a key
procedure for when being presented in a court of law. Bringing the jury directly to the
location of the crime through images and video footage gives them a clearer understanding
of the scene rather than just being verbally told. Additionally, any notes made could prove
helpful for later analysis such as how open a window was or the placement of an item
before it was recovered. If no images, notes, or footage were captured the integrity of the
scene is lessened, and information would be lost. Once the scene has been processed and
released there is no chance to go back and take more notes.
In order to target and identify relevant evidence, the scenes of crime officers need to be
aware of the offence in question and any necessary surrounding details; this is gain by
speaking to the first attending officer at the scene. A
first attending officer is the first member of the
police force to arrive at a scene. It is not a
specialised job role, so every scene will most likely
have different personnel as the first attending
officer. When an incident has been reported and the
first attending officer has arrived there are a number
of duties they need to carry out whilst waiting for
other personnel to arrive. Firstly, they need to
assess the scene to better understand what has
occurred in order to call for relevant assistance e.g.,
paramedics or the fire service. Importantly,
detaining any suspects present will aid with the
investigation later on. Informally talking to
witnesses will also help obtain a clearer
Figure 1.2 – Plan of the Premise
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