# Aims The aims of initial action are to: 1. Protect **Life** and **Property** 2. Identify and apprehend **offenders** 3. Discover and Preserve all **evidence** relevant to the crime. # WIND The objectives of a crime scene investigator are to: - **W**hereabouts of that offender; and - **I**dentify an offender; and - **N**exus the evidence to connect the offender to the crime. - **D**etermine if a crime has been committed; and # Taking Charge When a crime is first reported, someone must take charge and coordinate the response to ensure it is efficient and effective. The first responding unit should take charge until either a Supervisor, I & R Unit or more experiences or qualified unit takes over. # Victim, Scene, Offender Following a basic example of 'VSO principles' will allow you to form a guide of how to manage a scene: |**Victim**|**Scene**|**Offender**| |---|---|---| |Who?|Where?|Description?| |Injuries?|Secure?|Direction of Travel?| |Ambulance?|Witnesses?|Arrest Power?| |Task Unit to Manage Victims|Task Unit to Secure Scene|Request 251 Coordinate Search | ||Records, Isolate and Detain witnesses|Search, separate and secure offenders.| # Establishing the Crime Scene Your primary goal is to preserve evidence and control the area as soon as possible. Utilise the following guiding principles with your cordon: - 360 degrees around the scene. - Waist height (tape) - Tight - No gaps Then establish a **Crime Scene Guard** to record anyone entering and exiting the scene, who will then begin a Crime Scene Log. # Arriving At Scene If you are not the first Unit there, you should establish the following: - Who is in charge? - What units are in attendance? - What has been discovered about the incident so far? - What action has been taken? - Are offenders in custody or at large? - Have any witnesses been identified? - Is the scene adequately protected? - Has the scene been contaminated or altered - if so how? # Police Contamination You may be required to take immediate action at a crime scene in order to protect life, property or to arrest offenders. If this occurs, you need to ensure you make detailed notes, including observations at the time of arrival, any action you took and anything you touched. # Scene and Exhibit Examination Once a scene is under control, along with victims, witnesses and offenders being suitable managed, you can begin to examine the crime scene. Conduct a preliminary visual examination to appreciate the extent of the scene. Make notes during the process, including sketches. Ensure you take photographs of the scene using the following: - Overall scene. - Intermediate photographs of exhibits in situ, also capturing their surrounds. - Close ups of each exhibit in as much details as possible. # Crime Scene and Forensic Services Should a serious crime require forensic examination, you will be required to provide a detailed verbal briefing: - Type of Offence - Status of Offenders - Action taken at the scene - Parts of the scene that been entered, touched or altered - Anything removed from the scene - Any exhibits that have been identified so far - What type of examinations you want done and why # Exhibit Collection If you are collecting exhibits, you must: - Put a mask on first to protect against trace DNA from breathing and talking. - Use gloves from a sealed box, DOUBLE GLOVE. - Change the outer layer of gloves for each exhibit. - Label the bags prior to collecting the exhibits: - Include descriptions, location, date, time and details of the member collecting it. - Place each exhibit in a separate bag, fold and seal the bag with tape. Do not place multiple exhibits in the same bag.