Crime Scene Management
1
CRIME SCENE MANAGEMENT
1
LEARNERS GUIDE – AUGUST 2002
ORGANISATION CRIME SCENE MANAGER
ã Efficient Consumer Response Association of South Africa
Tel: 011-789-6225
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION 1
THE CRIME SCENE PROCESS 2
1. INTRODUCTION 2
2. CRIME SCENE MANAGEMENT PHASES 3
3. FIGURE 1: THE CRIME SCENE MANAGEMENT PROCESS 5
ROLE-PLAYERS AT THE CRIME SCENE 6
1. INTRODUCTION 6
2. ROLE-PLAYERS 6
3. SUMMARY 6
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PERSONNEL 7
THE INSTITUTION CRIME SCENE MANAGER 7
1. INTRODUCTION 7
2. DUTIES OF THE ICSM AT THE SCENE 7
3. SUMMARY 9
DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS 10
Crime Scene Team 10
Crime Scene Support Structure 11
Other Crime Scene terms 11
A. CRIME REPORT Error! Bookmark not defined.
B. CRIME SCENE REPORT Error! Bookmark not defined.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES Error! Bookmark not defined.
tambanChapter
1
INTRODUCTION
In order to secure the conviction of a perpetrator of crime in the courts of law in South Africa, it is becoming increasingly important to focus on the recovery of physical evidence during the Crime Scene Investigation process.
The ability to provide scientific interpretations is greatly dependant on this process
With the expanding capabilities of modern forensic science, even more attention has to be devoted to locating, recovering and documenting evidence at crime scenes and during arrests. This evidence will be examined by experts in the Crime Laboratory and used in the furtherance of justice.
To harness the full value of the evidence recovered, each aspect of the process needs to be carefully planned and managed. In order to achieve this, all role-players in the whole process need to function together as a team and co-ordinate their efforts towards a common goal.
The process can only be executed professionally if the crime scene is attended to, with due consideration to the Integrity of Evidence and Continuity of Possession, in accordance with the regulations set out in the Criminal Procedure1997 (Act 51 of 1977).
Therefore it is necessary to take control of the scene as soon as possible after the incident has occurred, and to secure and protect the scene against any form of contamination.
The correct evaluation of the situation and thorough planning of the process will result in the early activation of the Crime Scene Processing team. This can only be achieved if a sense of co-operation exists right from the outset. It is foreseen that the guidelines as outlined in this document will apply to every crime scene, irrespective of its complexity or scope. At smaller scenes, one person may perform numerous activities, but at more complex scenes, a different individual may be required to perform each respective activity.
All Crime Scene role-players who are committed to excellence as a way of life, and who take pride in the quality of work which he or she delivers, should embrace the concept of Crime Scene Management as documented in these guidelines, and in so doing, further the goals and objectives of Crime Scene Management.
The ECR Crime Programme would like to express their gratitude to the Banking Council for their consent to utilise their instruction manuals as the basis for this document.
Chapter
2
THE CRIME SCENE PROCESS
1. INTRODUCTION
The Crime Scene Management Process can be described in the following phases:
The Event
Report
Activate
Respond
Control
Secure and Protect
First Walk-through
Planning
Investigate
Processing for physical evidence
Final Walk-through
Debrief
Restore
Release
Evaluation
The process of managing the Crime Scene is broadly outlined in Figure 1 (page 6). This schematic presentation will provide a broader view of the complete Crime Scene Management Process.
2. CRIME SCENE MANAGEMENT PHASES
2.1. THE EVENT
When an incident occurs, staff and often the public become involved. In our case of private institutions, a formally nominated Organisation Crime Scene Manager, OCSM will be in the best position to stabilise the situation and take control of the scene. The relevant duties and responsibilities of the OCSM are outlined in Chapter 4.
2.2. REPORT
2.2.1. The OCSM, or a member of his/her support structure, reports the incident to the SAPS Call Taker.
2.2.2. The Call Taker can either function as the Dispatcher, or hand the information on the incident over to an official Dispatcher.
2.3. ACTIVATE
The Dispatcher activates SAPS role-players to the Crime Scene as required.
2.4. RESPOND
The different SAPS role-players respond to the crime scene, with due consideration to personal safety, while at the same time, keeping a lookout for potential evidence and possible suspects.
2.5. CONTROL
2.5.1. The first SAPS role-player who has been appointed and tasked to respond to the Crime Scene by the dispatcher becomes the 1st Member, on arrival. The 1st Member has the responsibility to take over control of the scene from the OCSM, performing the duties and responsibilities which have been specifically assigned to him/her.
2.5.2. The 1st Member takes care of the injured as a first priority.
2.5.3. The 1st Member takes over the scene from the OCSM. (First Handover).
2.5.4. The 1st Member has the responsibility to identify and establish a Command Centre and will act as the Command Centre Commander until an official commander is appointed.
2.5.5. The Command Centre Commander administrates all the resources as required by the Crime Scene role-players. Examples of such resources are: VISPOL Specialist Units, Emergency Services, Defence Force Units, etc.
2.5.6. If the scope of the Crime Scene expands. (i.e. an incident requiring the Public Order Policing Unit or the Special Task Force is required, a major aircraft crash, or any other major operation), the Command Centre is supported by the establishment of a field Joint Operational Centre (JOC).
2.5.6.1. The operation of a Field JOC can be further supported by the establishment of a formal JOC according to the relevant SAPS standing operating procedures.
2.6. SECURE AND PROTECT
2.6.1. The 1st Member provides a complete Situation Report (SITREP) to the Dispatcher. With this information at his/her disposal, the Dispatcher determines who the appropriate investigating unit will be, according to the relevant contingency plan.
2.6.2. The 1st Member cordons off the Crime Scene (if not already done), to protect potential evidence. Access routes into the Crime Scene are established and access control is exercised through the Command Centre.
2.6.3. The appropriate investigating unit provides a Crime Scene Manager according to the relevant SAPS contingency plan.
2.6.3.1. The Crime Scene Manager has the responsibility of the managing the Crime Scene Team who will Process and Investigate the Crime Scene.
2.6.4. The 1st Member hands control of the scene to the Crime Scene Manager on the latter’s arrival (Second Handover).
2.7. 1st WALK-THROUGH
2.7.1. The Crime Scene Manager appoints the Investigating Official who is the principal investigator and has the responsibility of maintaining the case docket.
2.7.2. The Crime Scene Manager appoints the Crime Scene Technician who becomes the principal processing expert on the Crime Scene.
2.7.3. The Crime Scene Manager, accompanied by the Investigating Official and the Crime Scene Technician, conduct a detailed inspection to determine certain key aspects of the Crime Scene.
2.8. PLANNING
Using the information which was gained on the 1st Walk-Through, the Crime Scene Manager and his Crime Scene team agree on the Crime Scene Investigation and Processing strategy and methodology which will be followed.
2.9. INVESTIGATE (Investigating Officer)
2.9.1. The Investigating Official co-ordinates the Investigating team on the Crime Scene.
2.9.2. The Investigating Official is responsible for maintaining the investigation diary and managing the Investigation process.
2.9.3. The Investigating Official utilises information gatherers, to establish sources of information as required.
2.9.4. The Investigating team is responsible for gathering information, and proceeds with interviewing witnesses and taking down statements.
2.10. PROCESSING FOR PHYSICAL EVIDENCE (Crime Scene Technician)
2.10.1. The Crime Scene Technician evaluates the evidence and assembles the Processing team with the correct skills to effectively process the Crime Scene.
2.10.2. The Crime Scene Technician has supporting specialists available, to assist the Processing team on the Crime Scene. Such specialists are provided by the Forensics Science Laboratory, Pathology, etc.
2.10.3. The Processing team has the responsibility of preparing a realistic visual presentation of the scene to a court of law, reconstructing the incident.
2.10.4. The Processing team also Processes the Crime Scene to locate, recover and document physical evidence.
2.11. FINAL WALK-THROUGH
After the Crime Scene team has completed their activities on the Crime Scene, the Crime Scene Manager conducts a Final Walk-Through of the scene, accompanied by the Investigating Officer and the Crime Scene Technician, to review the completed Crime Scene activities, ensuring that the original Crime Scene plan has been executed.
2.12. DEBRIEF
2.12.1. As activity on the scene draws to a close, the Crime Scene Manager conducts a debriefing with the Crime Scene Team, including the OCSM, and any other relevant Crime Scene role-players. The objective of this debriefing is to review the completed Crime Scene activities, to collect all notes and other Crime Scene Reports for inclusion into the Investigating Officer’s case docket, and to ensure that no aspect of the Crime Scene Process has been overlooked.
2.12.2. This is the last opportunity to correct any decisions made in the course of the Crime Scene Process and to ensure that all required actions have been taken.
2.13. RESTORE
The Crime Scene Manager has the responsibility to restore the Crime Scene, ensuring that all equipment has been removed.
2.14. RELEASE
The Crime Scene is now released to the OCSM on the authorisation of the Crime Scene Manager.
2.15. EVALUATION
Some time after the incident, the Crime Scene Manager may call a meeting with all the relevant Crime Scene role-players, to evaluate the process in terms of lessons learnt, to plan the ongoing investigation, to commend successes and to identify mistakes.
3. FIGURE 1: THE CRIME SCENE MANAGEMENT PROCESS
Chapter
3
ROLE-PLAYERS AT THE CRIME SCENE
1. INTRODUCTION
The Crime Scene Process, as described in Chapter 2, identifies different role-players who assume responsibility for the management of different aspects during investigation and processing of the Crime Scene. These role-players are listed and defined as follows:
2. ROLE-PLAYERS
Organisation Crime Scene Manager; OCSM
A senior member of staff (typically the Store, Factory or Warehouse Manager) who assumes control of the Crime Scene. The Organisation Crime Scene Manager (OCSM) will be in charge of the Crime Scene until the arrival of the 1st Member. The OCSM is identified by wearing a Red armband.
Call Taker
SAPS person who handles the first interaction with the public/ICSM and records the complaint in the Crime Report.
Dispatcher
The SAPS member who dispatches SAPS personnel to a Crime Scene.
1st Member
The first SAPS Member to arrive on the Crime Scene becomes the 1st Member.
Command Centre Commander (CCC)
The Command Centre Commander is in charge of the Command Centre, situated outside the inner cordon of the Crime Scene.
Crime Scene Manager (CSM)
A specially trained member of the relevant investigation unit who manages the Crime Scene team on the Crime Scene. The Crime Scene Manager is identified by wearing a RED Crime Scene jacket.
Investigating Official (IO)
The responsible detective who carries the docket for the crime case. The Investigating Official is identified by wearing a BLUE Crime Scene jacket, and a Green armband marked IO. The Investigating Official may be assisted by an Investigating Team, who will be identified by wearing Blue Jackets.
Crime Scene Technician (CST)
A specially trained member of the Local Criminal Record Centre who assumes control over the Crime Scene Processing team on the Crime Scene. The Crime Scene Technician is identified by wearing a GREEN Crime Scene jacket, and a green armband marked CST. The CST may be assisted by a Processing Team, who will be identified by wearing green Jackets.
3. SUMMARY
These role players need to function together as a team and co-ordinate their efforts towards a common goal. This team can only be successful if each member displays a POSITIVE ATTITUDE and a STRONG COMMITMENT towards other Crime Scene team members and their respective roles on the Crime Scene.
Chapter
4
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PERSONNEL
THE ORGANISATION CRIME SCENE MANAGER
1. INTRODUCTION
Private individuals and/or organisations become involved in crime either by being victims or witnesses to a crime, or owners of property where a crime is committed.
They will usually be on the Crime Scene before the SAPS members arrive, and they need to be made aware of the importance of maintaining the integrity of the scene, i.e. keeping the Crime Scene intact.
NB: THE PERSONAL SAFETY OF THE INDIVIDUAL HAS PRECEDENCE OVER ALL ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED IN THIS CHAPTER.
2. DUTIES OF THE ICSM AT THE SCENE
2.1 Observation during the incident
2.1.1. By observing the actions of the perpetrator during the incident, the witnesses will be able to provide the Crime Scene team with valuable information needed for a successful prosecution.
2.1.2. ECR has [provided each location with an Incident reporting Form, for use by the OCSM. The information recorded on this form should be provided to the 1st Member (a photocopy will suffice) for inclusion in the case docket.
2.2. Reporting the incident
2.2.1. A standardised Report Form is in use at all control rooms in SAPS, which will assist the ICSM in providing important information about the incident to the SAPS. The ECR Incident form contains the information required by the SAPS when they receive a report of an incident.
2.2.2. Some organisations have elected to centralise reporting through their own control rooms in order to coordinate the reporting of crimes to the SAPS. These procedures will be contained in all contingency plans at the SAPS.
2.3. Taking care of the injured
2.3.1. Taking care for the injured takes precedence over all other activities, with due consideration of the integrity of physical evidence.