Crime and

Incident
Scene
Preservation
Prof. Junnel D. Espedido, MMSDA, RCrim, CSP

03 June 2023

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 Crime and Incident
Scene Preservation

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 ✓ The country logged a lower index crime rate for the first
quarter of 2023 with 7,865 cases, compared to the 9,375
incidents reported during the same period last year.
✓ Latest data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) showed
the nationwide index crime from Jan. 1 to March 25 dropped
by about 16%.
✓ Index crimes include murder, homicide, physical injury, rape,
theft, robbery, and car and motorcycle theft.
Crime and Incident ✓ PNP said car theft cases declined by 41.46%, while cases of
physical injury dropped by 32.94%.
Scene Preservation ✓ It also noted the declined number of rape cases from 2,254
last year to the recent quarter’s 1,593.
✓ There were also 2,647 motorcycle theft cases, 1,080 rape
cases, 920 murder crimes, and 229 homicide cases recorded
from Jan. 1 to March 25.
✓ Moreover, the PNP reported that 17,418 wanted persons were
arrested from Jan. 1 to March 24, while P1.36 billion worth of
illegal drugs were seized. Of this, 14,481 cases were filed
against the arrested drug suspects.
https://ptvnews.ph/ph-index-crime-rate-drops-
in-first-quarter-2023/
 A crime scene is a place associated
with a committed crime and
contains relevant evidence for a
criminal investigation.
Incident Scene
Preservation incident scene is any place
where an event requiring
investigation has occurred,
whether or not it is a crime.
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 A security guard/officer has to play
important roles when he or she
Incident Scene attends both in the incident and a
Preservation crime scene. Every activity you do is
to protect the scene before police or
investigation officer arrives.

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 There are three important
considerations for a security
guard/officer in attending an
Incident Scene incident scene:
Preservation 1. Maintaining scene security
2. Handling evidence and
3. Dealing with witnesses.

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 1. Maintaining scene security

Maintaining scene security is to control the

location to make sure the protection of the
available information. Without proper control
Incident Scene and collaboration, the evidence may not reach
Preservation to the police or senior investigation officers.

Hence, attending the incident scenes your first

duty is not to allow anyone to mix up the
evidence which is vital for identifying an
individual that was involved.
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Incident Scene
Preservation
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The method of scene security.
Although there are a variety of methods for scene
security the common ways that the security guard,
police officer, and law enforcement officer use to the
protection of the incident scene.
✓ Posting the security guards
✓ Furthermore, rope or tape cordons.
✓ Placing the vehicle to block the area from being
accessed.
✓ Use the warning signs such as markers, flags, and
other signboards.
✓ Lock the door including windows if the scene is in
the building.
✓ Establish a safe walk for the people after
maintaining the proper distance.
secondly, an important consideration at the incident
scene for a security guard/officer is the proper
handling of the evidence.
 2. Handling the evidence

The evidence can be anything either people

Incident Scene who witness the incident or the equipment
Preservation that used to commit a crime. Most evidence is
used to determine facts, reproduce events,
and recognize people or things.

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Incident Scene
Preservation
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Types of evidence
even though evidence can be anything there are
three types of evidence you should understand
all-time in scene security.
✓ the verbal
The verbal evidence is the words of the mouth
that cannot exhibit at the court hearing. The
audio that relates to the incident or what
people saying about the incident is verbal
evidence. However here are some examples of
verbal evidence.
✓ The defendant’s confession or rejection of
the crime.
✓ The testimony offered by witnesses and
experts.
✓ The audio is associated with the incident.
 ✓ Documentary
The documentary evidence is based on the
documents and testimony in the court it is
widely understood to refer to the writing on the
paper. Not only this but also the news on the
media considers the documentary evidence. for
Incident Scene example.
Preservation ✓ Photograph
✓ The printed form of the newspaper.
✓ Digital evidence such as email or
spreadsheets.
✓ invoice, contract paper, and agreement
between the parties.
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 ✓ Physical or real
The piece of evidence neither verbal nor
documentary but the types of equipment used
to commit a crime, or the things that left by the
criminal after doing the crime are real evidence.
Physical or real evidence can exhibit in court
Incident Scene testimony. for example
✓ Weapons or other instruments
Preservation ✓ Illegal or prohibited things like drugs and
drugs money etc.
✓ DNA, blood, or bodily samples
✓ Photographs or video footage
✓ Footprints or other types of tracks
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✓ Scientific and forensic evidence
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Incident Scene
Preservation
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The last one out of three considerations things,
for a police or security officer at preserving the
incident scene, is dealing with the witness.
3. Dealing with witnesses
A witness is a person who provides additional
information about evidence and he or she has
knowledge relevant to the incident
You may require to take an interview with the
person who had involved or witnesses if the
incident happens at the time of your duty.
So, you must use effective or active listening
skills when you take the statement of the
witnesses because people feel comfortable to
talk with a person who does effective
communication.

Incident Scene
Preservation
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What are the important things you should practice on interviewing the
witnesses?
1. Find a quiet place if possible, where people do not bother you. But
don’t forget your duty and responsibility even though you are going off
for taking the statement. Your post should take over a most
experienced security guard who can perform duties similar to what you
had done.
2. Face the person at their level, if the person is sitting you need to sit
because they think you are not threatening them and respect their
level.
3. The focus on the person’s words rather than thinking of another
question. Don’t drift your focus to any other palace, people, or things.
4. Try to find the facts rather than taking unimportant things.
5. Take note of the important points,
6. Request the person talk slowly if he is talking fast. Make sure you
understand everything he saying.
7. Get the contact number if possible because you can contact in the
future. Furthermore, the police officer or investigator may need to talk
with the witnesses that you interviewed.
8. Keep the information confidential only share with whom you need to
do so.
9. Remember the person’s right you can not force them to help you.
10. If the person objects to answer, take note immediately to avoid
forgetting.
 What types of question you should ask on
taking the statements of someone?

Although you may ask several types of question

Incident Scene to determine the fact most importantly you
Preservation should know what types of question ask and
where to ask them. Commonly the two types of
question are asked when interviewing the
witnesses.

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 1. Open-ended question.
Open-ended questions require a long answer. in
other words, the answer to this question is a
story of the incident. At the beginning of the
interview, you ask the story of that incident to
Incident Scene the witnesses. Which areas following…
Preservation
✓ Can you tell me what happened?
✓ What did you see?
✓ How did that make you feel?
✓ What did you do next?

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 2. Closed-ended question

The closed-ended question uses when you

need only the specific information regarding
the incident and the answer ends with “Yes” or
Incident Scene “No”. such as
Preservation
✓ are there any other people?
✓ what time the incident happened?
✓ were you walking at that time?
✓ Did you see the vehicle there?

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Incident Scene
Preservation
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nce.
Conclusion: Working as a security guard/
officer you must know how to protect the
incident scene. The main purpose of the crime
scene protection is to prevent evidence
contamination. When you are interviewing the
witnesses don’t lead them to your personal
opinion.
Don’t ask straightforward questions let them
have time to think and reply. Don’t ask multiple
questions at a time because they can confuse
which question-answer first. So, the most
important thing you should do is to act
professionally.