Operating procedures for the conduct of preserving/investigating sites/scenes

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.025212

I note you seek access to the following information:

Are there any guidance or standard operating procedures for the conduct of preserving/investigating sites/scenes where suspected drug-related deaths or incidents leading to death from drug use occur?

If so, can you provide a link to a published copy, or alternatively provide an electronic copy?

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Your request comes under crime scene management generally as there is no specific policy from your request.

Homicide investigation policy

Initial Investigation – 5 Building Blocks

When attending a fatality (or potential) your priorities are:

1. Preserve life.
2. Preserve scene(s).
3. Secure evidence.
4. Identify the victim.
5. Identify the suspect(s).

Preserve life
Your overriding priority is to save life, which includes your own, that of the victim and members of the public. The wearing of PPE is an important consideration, including over suits, face masks, gloves and overshoes as deemed appropriate.

Preserve scene(s)
It is vital that you identify and secure all scenes at the first opportunity. Make sure that you think beyond what is immediately presented to you, including access/egress routes for victim/suspects, secondary scenes and deposition sites.

You should consider:

• Upon attendance at any scene use barrier clothing especially gloves to avoid contamination, do not await confirmation of a crime prior to preserving the scene.
• Be aware of risks including from persons at the scene, chemicals, biological material, explosives, firearms, environmental factors and unsafe structures.
• Start a crime scene log as soon as you can. Use your notebook or evidence book if you cannot get a crime scene log.
• Use BWV to record the scene. This often provides the investigating team and forensic officers an opportunity to review the scene as it was prior to any interference.
• Use BWV to record positioning of the body. This often provides vital evidence of the scene prior to any Police and LAS involvement, although remember that preservation of life is the first priority.
• Draw a sketch or series of sketches of the scene, or use an MPS camera or your tablet, but do not use your own personal equipment.
• Make a note of the exact detail of the scene, particularly the location of the victim.
• Try to make sure that if the body has to be moved any disturbance at the scene is kept to a minimum. Note the original and final position of the body.
• Set up a single route in and out of the scene for essential access.
• Stop people entering, apart from authorised people such as the crime scene examiners, SIO, and other investigators. Limit those entering to people with a genuine need to enter. The lower the footfall, the better the scene.
• Make sure that anyone who enters wears barrier clothing. This not only protects the scene from contamination but also protects officers from health hazards such as air borne blood.
• Prevent further human or animal disturbance of the scene, but remain mindful of cross contamination, especially if you are looking to preserve exhibits against bad weather etc. Always use a new pair of latex gloves to handle each item of note under these circumstances as DNA transfer from one exhibit to another could render the exhibit useless later.
• Once you have preserved the scene, request a crime scene examiner and a photographer.
• There may be occasions when scene interference is necessary, for example the opening of a window, turning on of lights. Any such activity should be recorded and highlighted to the investigation team at handover and debrief.

Secure Evidence
Ensure that you identify and secure any vital evidence and make the investigation team aware. Consider the following:

• Wherever possible, record the first account of the person reporting the death (or any other person present at the scene on arrival) using BWV. Ensure that while they give their account, the BWV is focussed on them to include their clothing (top to toe). This will assist investigators in verifying their accounts through witnesses and CCTV, while also providing a true recorded first account to Police.
• Identify witnesses - both those who have seen the offence or have knowledge of the victim (eg friends and family). Where possible ask them to wait pending the arrival of the investigation team, but if not ensure that you have verified their name, contact details and what information they know. It may be helpful to speak with a member of the investigating team about key witnesses asap to discuss the best way to treat each witness, identifying any communication issues. Whatever happens, obtain full details of all persons present before they leave the area. If necessary consider using language line.
• Often there may be footage of the incident or aftermath on witness’s mobile telephones and this can be very useful, however it is often hard to track down after the incident. If it is not possible to download it immediately, ensure suitable retention advice is provided. Full contact details should be recorded of all witnesses with footage. It would be valuable to record a summary of what the footage shows, and consideration could be made to making a recording of the footage on an MPS device such as your tablet. Do not use your personal devices to make recordings.
• Consider fast time viewing of key CCTV in order to identify further evidence that may need to be secured, and identify suspects.
• Consideration should be given to PNC checks of every vehicle found within the cordon. If the Homicide Assessment Team (HAT) are on route, do not allow any vehicle to leave the scene as these may be the subject of further enquiries eg left by the offender or associates.

Identify the victim
It is essential that we identify the victim and seek to notify their next of kin as soon as possible. This should not necessarily await the allocation of a FLO. When identifying the deceased due care must be taken to preserve the scene and a balance must be struck. All actions should be recorded as this will assist investigators in understanding aspects of the scene. Where the victim’s identity is not immediately apparent, you may wish to consider the following:

• Speak to the person who reported the crime/called emergency services and any witnesses you find at the scene. They might be able to tell you who the victim is.
• Speak with any witnesses who may hold information.
• Search missing person records. You can also use visible tattoos or other physical features to search local records and the PNC.
• The CSM may authorise the use of a mobile fingerprint device.

Identify suspects
Should you identify anyone who is believed to be a suspect for homicide or any other offence it is vital that you consider securing them using powers of arrest.
Their identity may become apparent through several investigative avenues including witnesses, CCTV and local intelligence. Remember that any suspect could also represent a crime scene. The investigative team and the CSM will provide a forensic strategy for suspects on a case by case basis but consider:

• Avoiding cross contamination between the scene and suspects.
• Preservation of hands for swabs and clippings.
• Photographs of clothing, this will assist with account verification and CCTV.
• Seizure of clothing.
• Body mapping for documentation of injuries