CRIME / incident

SCENE management

evidence preservation

Presenter: Kenneth Chin

 What is the most
important part of
evidence collection?
 As a security officer there will be occasions
when a crime or an incident which require
police investigations may occur.

 The police may need to visit the scene in

order to collect evidence.

 Security officers must be aware that the most

important part of evidence collection is
protecting the crime scene.
 What
is
evidence?
 EVIDENCE
5

Evidence is the means by which disputed

facts are proved to be true or untrue in
any trial before a court of law or an
agency that functions like a court
 Evidenceis anything that can be used
to connect:

◦ A victim to a suspect

◦ A suspect to a victim

◦ A suspect to a crime scene

What can
be used as
evidence?
 Fingerprints  Tool Marks
 BiteMarks  Tyre tracks

 Broken  Fracture matches

 Recordings
Fingernails
 Documents  Hair

 Blood/Body fluids  Fibers

 Paint
 Blood Splatters
 Glass
 Fabric Mark
 Firearms
 What is
considered a
crime / incident scene?
 Location where any part of criminal act was
committed

 All entry/exit routes from area where crime

was committed
 CRIME SCENE

any physical scene or anywhere which

offers any significant evidence
includes the body, dwelling, place,
ship, aeroplane, vehicle
may be discarded or hidden evidence

11
Why is it important to
restrict access to the
incident scene?
 Youshould restrict access to the
scene because it is impossible to be
on a crime scene without:

◦ Leaving evidence of yourself on the

scene!

◦ Taking evidence of the scene with

you!
 What is
the first
priority
at a
crime / incident
scene?
 Onany crime or incident scene the
health and safety of any injured
person takes precedence over any
physical evidence.

 Patient
care is the FIRST priority of ALL
responding agencies.
 What is
the second consideration
at a
crime / incident
scene?
 Aftermedical assistance is given to
individuals who need it.

 Thesecond concern is to arrest the

perpetrator.
 What is
the next consideration
at a
crime / incident
scene?
 Afterperpetrator is accosted (if
available)

 The next concern is preservation of

the crime scene
If there is a crime and
you have to enter the
scene what should you
consider?
 If you suspect a path that the perpetrator
took avoid using that path.

 Minimum number of people necessary (one)

 Minimum amount of equipment necessary

 Minimum amount of contact required

 One person enters and determines course
of action.

 Other persons stay back.

 Remember a crime scene is no place for a

crowd
 While you are on the
scene consider
preservation of evidence!!
 Don’t disturb scene any more than necessary
during assessment

 Watch where you step

 Pay attention to floor

 Avoid kicking anything lying on floor

 Notedetails of scene as you approach
patient

◦ Lighting (on/off)
◦ Drapes (open/closed)
◦ TVs, radios (on/off)
◦ Furniture position
◦ Evidence of forced entry
 Wear gloves

 If
you must move something to get to
patient or do your assessment or

 If you move the victim,

◦ Tell police
◦ Note it in your report
 What are your actions
before the police arrive?
 Before the police arrive you are to:

◦ Safeguard scene

◦ Seal off entire area

◦ Record names of all people who

came into contact with scene
 Before the police arrive you are to:

◦ Try to hold all witnesses at scene

◦ Limit conversation between

witnesses
 Before the police arrive you are to:

◦ Record “first” statements by victim

◦ Note who victim made statement to

◦ Note statements by witnesses

◦ Report to police, record in report in

quotes
 Before the police arrive you are to:

 Ensure the following is observed on the

scene;
◦ No Smoking
◦ No Eating
◦ No Drinking
◦ Do not leave wrappers
◦ Do not use the bathroom
What to do if you have to
administer first aid?
 Never cut through bullet hole, stab wound

 Do NOT shake or turn clothing inside out

 Bag or otherwise secure clothing so the

police can recover it at the hospital

 Be conscious of debris you leave on the

scene--needles, bandage packages, etc.
 What
is
physical
evidence?
 “Physical evidence encompasses any
and all objects that can establish that a
crime has been committed or can
provide a link between a crime and its
victim or a crime and its perpetrator.”
What are you to do if you
find physical evidence
that you have to secure?
 Leave firearms in exact position found

 Assume ALL weapons loaded

 If firearm must be moved, only one person

should handle it

 Outline weapon before moving it if possible

 Do NOT handle weapon any way except by
grips

 Do NOT attempt to clear or unload weapon

 NEVER place anything in gun’s barrel or

inside trigger guard
 Avoid handling bullets, bullet fragments

 If you move it place in plastic container

 Turn over to police

 If victim reports scratching assailant,

◦ cover victim’s hands with paper

bags,

◦ tape loosely at wrists

 Wet clothing should be placed in paper (not
plastic) bag and turned over to police.

 Wet clothing should not be allowed to stay in

ANY kind of bag for more than two hours.
 Avoid tracking blood on shoes

 Keep bloody clothing from various patients

separated

 Do NOT clean or smudge blood splatters on

scene

 Advise police of blood spilled during

venepuncture
 Victims of alleged sexual assault should not
wash or use the restroom until examined at
hospital
 DoNOT let evidence leave your custody
until it passes directly to a peace officer

 Notein your report that you handled

evidence and to whom you passed it

 Provide your name and unit number to

the officer to include in his/her report
 If chain of custody on piece of evidence is
broken, it becomes inadmissible in court!
What are you to do if the
police asked you to assist
in the processing of the
crime scene?
 Photos/video
 Fingerprints
 Note taking
 Bagger/tagger
 Collector
 Security
 Types of Searches (See Diagram)

 searches at the crime scene must be

systematic and the type of search will
be determined by locale and size of
the area and actions of victim and
suspect at the scene
What physical evidence
may be discovered on a
crime scene?
 The physical evidence that should be
collected include hairs, fibers, blood, glass,
soil, fabric impressions (in a car or on
furniture)

 Particular attention is paid to cross-transfer

of evidence between the perpetrator and the
weapon and/or victim
What can these evidence
prove?
 Likely theory

 Why?

 Alternative theory

 Where is pt of entry/exit?

 What are sources of contamination?

 Record items like:

 Light switch positions

 Window/door positions

 Curtain positions

 Mail/newspaper

 Dress of victim
 Insect activity

 Rigor mortis

 Livor mortis

 Body temp

 Vitreous
 Motives

 Signs of struggle

 Sign of burglary

 Breaking and entry

 Near body

 Point of entry/exit
 Property

 Trace

 Physiological fluids

 Exemplar collection
What physical evidence
may be discovered from
the victim or
perpetrator?
 Victim’s clothing
 Fingernail Scrapings
 Head and pubic hairs
 Blood
 Vaginal, anal, oral swabs ( in sex-
related crimes)
 Bullets recovered from body
 Hand swabs from shooting victims
general stage
static stage
dynamic stage
How does the police
record the scene for
future reference?
 Since the crime scene will not remain in its
original state for very long, a permanent
record of the scene must be made as soon as
possible.

 These records are also required at trial.

 The three methods of recording the scene are
done in the following manner:

 photography,

 sketching the scene, and

 note taking
End of presentation

any questions?
 CRIME / incident
SCENE management

evidence preservation

Presenter: Kenneth Chin