Outdoor crime scenes PDF

Preview

Summary

Outdoor crime scenes at UWE...

Description

Outdoor crime scenes Examples of volume, major and serious are on slides Considerations: terrain and size of the scene - Access and cordon - Extra resources (internal - scene guards and CSI’s split by areas, external - specialists, public the public may help with search, quality standards - ISO standards, police must also abide to this) - Loss of evidence - Contamination of evidence - prelim walkthrough essential, make sure cordon is set up properly - Time - Equipment (diving squad, forensic experts, having the right equipment is essential) Field walking - It is a long established technique - Labour intensive - Typically used trained personnel aka PolSA (but can use volunteers) - Looking for changes in vegetation or topography, footwear, tire marks from cars or bikes, any food packaging, bullet casings - Locating evidence - Uses systemic recovery search methods PolSA - Police search advisors - Trained police offers who have undergone and passed additional training in searching scenes - Responsible for planning, organisation, management and control of searches for particular crimes scenes - Plan and undertake searches in most locations (may need specialists for bodies of water etc) - Advise on searches

- Work with other disciplines in search (dogs etc) - PPE Size and processing of scene *Revise search techniques* Considerations: access Access - Large or small space

- Extra resources - Who has access - Who may need access Cordon Inner and outer cordon Managed Can be changed Cordons Outer cordon - Area controlled by the police due to a number of areas - Much larger area than inner cordon - Scene guarded at all times Inner cordon Area identified as the crime scene Entering authorised by the SIO

Common approach path (CAP) - Least disruptive path to scene/evidence/body. - Can use stepping plates to protect evidence - must check area underneath plates thoroughly before using and tape plate position to ensure it isn’t moved. - Take photographs of the area before place stepping plates down and then take another photo showing the stepping plate location Purpose -

Allow controlled entry Reduce disturbance and loss of evidence Protect evidence Health and Safety

Requirements Avoid path of the offender if possible Use resources available to you - natural boundaries Directly to the scene with no deviation Communication - aka let others know about the natural boundaries Clearly identified Wide enough for access Considerations: public and press - Public - access, witnesses, watching and record - Press - watching and recording, drone Considerations: dignity In some cases they may put up a tent etc, dignity and respect for the victims, family and friends, members of public Considerations: conditions - Weather - wind, rain, sunny - some of which may lead to the loss and contamination of evidence - Lighting - weather, time of day, extra of equipment Considerations: other variables

- Time - Gravity - Animals Considerations: evidence types - Dependent on offence and scene - Major crime offences could have other forensic experts at the scene to liaise with - Entomological - Botanical - Geological - Archaeological - Anthropological...