Unit 23A: Gathering and preserving Forensic Evidence
Introduction
I have just recently started working for a company named Forsci Ltd as a Level 3 Apprentice
Forensic Technician. Forsci work together with the UK and countries internationally, both with
the government and private organisations. As part of my induction, the head of the department
has devised a number of tasks for me to complete. Using the evidence, I attain from these tasks,
the Supervisor will want to see that I have enough knowledge and understanding of how a scene
of crime is processed to become an active member of a Scientific Support Unit.
Key terms
Personnel Role + when required Importance Examples in industry
Accomplice This is someone who has helped These are important as If someone was robbing a
the suspect/perpetrator of a crime. they can be key for house, the accomplice could
They are also liable for any actions prosecution of the main be the getaway driver. If the
that the main suspect. suspect, these are usually main suspect shot and killed
just as bad as the main someone, the accomplice
suspect. would be equally as liable as
the main suspect.
Alibi This is when someone can give This is important as it is If a person has picture proof
sufficient evidence that they were proving that the person is and confirmation that they
not in the vicinity where the crime not guilty and charged were at a football match whilst
had taken place. wrongfully. the crime was taking place,
then they cannot be held
accountable for the crime.
Authorised personnel This is someone who is allowed to These people are A CSI is an example of a
be in a specific place, so forensic important as they will be person who will usually be
wise a detective assigned to a case working to bring the authorised personnel at a
would be authorised at the crime perpetrator to justice. crime scene.
scene
Common approach This is created to help the This is important as it will The CSI will plan a route to go
path investigators plan the best route to help to reduce disruption around the houses rather than
help them limit the disturbance of caused in the area were through the house street to
people living in the vicinity of the the crime has taken place. prevent disturbances.
crime.
Complainant This is somebody who goes to the This is important as it will If someone sees somebody
police and files a report of a person help to allow the police break into their car and steal
who may have committed a crime. force to start an it, the following day they may
investigation to try and go to the police station and file
get the perpetrator. a report.
Contamination This is just when a piece of This is important because If one of the authorised
evidence has been damaged or if the evidence gets personnel accidentally left
altered in some way. contaminated then it will some of their DNA or
result in the evidence fingerprints at the crime scene,
either no being analysed then this would be an example
or at a poor quality of of them contaminating the
analysis. crime scene.
Continuity of Once evidence has been found and This is important as it will If a knife was found with
evidence packaged every person who then help to sort out the blood on it, the knife would
has it, whether that's to examine it evidence and for the CSI then be bagged up and
or just to move it, must write on the to know exactly what preserved until the court date
, packaging who they are and a short each piece of evidence is. where it will be shown as
reasoning on why they had it, so evidence.
that it can always be accounted for.
Crime scene This is a person who will look at They are important as The CSO thinks a specific CSI
coordinator the skills of a crime scene they will decide which is specialised in body fluids
investigator and decide which is CSI is best suited for a job evidence gathering, they will
the best crime scene to send them and this could affect if tell that person to go and
to depending on their area of that person can analyse analyse the crime scene.
expertise. the evidence the best.
Crime scene These are the people who collect They are important as A CSI may find a knife with
investigator (CSI) the evidence from a scene and the they will collect the blood on it and fingerprints,
people who examine them in labs evidence that is used in they can check the blood to
court to help identify the see if it matches with the
perpetrator. suspect that was killed and the
fingerprints to see whose
fingerprints were on the knife.
Crime scene manager They will manage the crime scene They are important as If a group of 5 CSIs were at a
investigators at investigation scene. they will sort the CSI into crime scene the CSM will give
specific areas to help them roles each and tell them
collect as much useful what parts to analyse.
evidence as possible
which will be used to help
identify the perpetrator.
Cross contamination This is when material is transferred This is important because A phone with fingerprints
between 2 sources of physical if the evidence gets could fall into a puddle of
evidence unwantedly. contaminated then it will water on the floor and break it,
result in the evidence this could remove the
either no being analysed contacts.
or at a poor quality of
analysis.
Exhibit This is essentially evidence that has They are important as A blood sample may
been logged by the police and will this is the evidence that accidentally get mixed in with
be brought to the trial. will be shown at court to plant, this could affect the
help identify and being blood analyse as the CSI will
the perpetrator to justice. not be able to find out who’s
blood it is.
First attending officer This is the first officer on scene. Not really that important. An officer may have been
(FAO) called out to a crime scene and
is the first person to reach it
since the crime was
committed.
Forensic evidence This is something found at a scene This is important as this The CSI could find a knife
of crime that needs examination is the evidence that will with fingerprints whilst
be analysed and searching the crime scene.
potentially used at court.
Gel lifter These have been made to get things This is important as it can The floor may have
such as: fingerprints, footprints and help to get fingerprints fingerprints the CSI want so
dust marks from an investigation that could be used to they will use a gel lifter to get
scene. identify any person linked it so they can analyse it.
to the crime.
In situ This is a Latin phrase which This is important as this If a crime happened at three
translates to “on site” and is the will be the first place locations (e.g. Bradford, Leeds
original area of the crime scene. where the crime was and Harrogate) but Bradford
committed and most was the original area of the
probably have the most crime scene, this would then
Introduction
I have just recently started working for a company named Forsci Ltd as a Level 3 Apprentice
Forensic Technician. Forsci work together with the UK and countries internationally, both with
the government and private organisations. As part of my induction, the head of the department
has devised a number of tasks for me to complete. Using the evidence, I attain from these tasks,
the Supervisor will want to see that I have enough knowledge and understanding of how a scene
of crime is processed to become an active member of a Scientific Support Unit.
Key terms
Personnel Role + when required Importance Examples in industry
Accomplice This is someone who has helped These are important as If someone was robbing a
the suspect/perpetrator of a crime. they can be key for house, the accomplice could
They are also liable for any actions prosecution of the main be the getaway driver. If the
that the main suspect. suspect, these are usually main suspect shot and killed
just as bad as the main someone, the accomplice
suspect. would be equally as liable as
the main suspect.
Alibi This is when someone can give This is important as it is If a person has picture proof
sufficient evidence that they were proving that the person is and confirmation that they
not in the vicinity where the crime not guilty and charged were at a football match whilst
had taken place. wrongfully. the crime was taking place,
then they cannot be held
accountable for the crime.
Authorised personnel This is someone who is allowed to These people are A CSI is an example of a
be in a specific place, so forensic important as they will be person who will usually be
wise a detective assigned to a case working to bring the authorised personnel at a
would be authorised at the crime perpetrator to justice. crime scene.
scene
Common approach This is created to help the This is important as it will The CSI will plan a route to go
path investigators plan the best route to help to reduce disruption around the houses rather than
help them limit the disturbance of caused in the area were through the house street to
people living in the vicinity of the the crime has taken place. prevent disturbances.
crime.
Complainant This is somebody who goes to the This is important as it will If someone sees somebody
police and files a report of a person help to allow the police break into their car and steal
who may have committed a crime. force to start an it, the following day they may
investigation to try and go to the police station and file
get the perpetrator. a report.
Contamination This is just when a piece of This is important because If one of the authorised
evidence has been damaged or if the evidence gets personnel accidentally left
altered in some way. contaminated then it will some of their DNA or
result in the evidence fingerprints at the crime scene,
either no being analysed then this would be an example
or at a poor quality of of them contaminating the
analysis. crime scene.
Continuity of Once evidence has been found and This is important as it will If a knife was found with
evidence packaged every person who then help to sort out the blood on it, the knife would
has it, whether that's to examine it evidence and for the CSI then be bagged up and
or just to move it, must write on the to know exactly what preserved until the court date
, packaging who they are and a short each piece of evidence is. where it will be shown as
reasoning on why they had it, so evidence.
that it can always be accounted for.
Crime scene This is a person who will look at They are important as The CSO thinks a specific CSI
coordinator the skills of a crime scene they will decide which is specialised in body fluids
investigator and decide which is CSI is best suited for a job evidence gathering, they will
the best crime scene to send them and this could affect if tell that person to go and
to depending on their area of that person can analyse analyse the crime scene.
expertise. the evidence the best.
Crime scene These are the people who collect They are important as A CSI may find a knife with
investigator (CSI) the evidence from a scene and the they will collect the blood on it and fingerprints,
people who examine them in labs evidence that is used in they can check the blood to
court to help identify the see if it matches with the
perpetrator. suspect that was killed and the
fingerprints to see whose
fingerprints were on the knife.
Crime scene manager They will manage the crime scene They are important as If a group of 5 CSIs were at a
investigators at investigation scene. they will sort the CSI into crime scene the CSM will give
specific areas to help them roles each and tell them
collect as much useful what parts to analyse.
evidence as possible
which will be used to help
identify the perpetrator.
Cross contamination This is when material is transferred This is important because A phone with fingerprints
between 2 sources of physical if the evidence gets could fall into a puddle of
evidence unwantedly. contaminated then it will water on the floor and break it,
result in the evidence this could remove the
either no being analysed contacts.
or at a poor quality of
analysis.
Exhibit This is essentially evidence that has They are important as A blood sample may
been logged by the police and will this is the evidence that accidentally get mixed in with
be brought to the trial. will be shown at court to plant, this could affect the
help identify and being blood analyse as the CSI will
the perpetrator to justice. not be able to find out who’s
blood it is.
First attending officer This is the first officer on scene. Not really that important. An officer may have been
(FAO) called out to a crime scene and
is the first person to reach it
since the crime was
committed.
Forensic evidence This is something found at a scene This is important as this The CSI could find a knife
of crime that needs examination is the evidence that will with fingerprints whilst
be analysed and searching the crime scene.
potentially used at court.
Gel lifter These have been made to get things This is important as it can The floor may have
such as: fingerprints, footprints and help to get fingerprints fingerprints the CSI want so
dust marks from an investigation that could be used to they will use a gel lifter to get
scene. identify any person linked it so they can analyse it.
to the crime.
In situ This is a Latin phrase which This is important as this If a crime happened at three
translates to “on site” and is the will be the first place locations (e.g. Bradford, Leeds
original area of the crime scene. where the crime was and Harrogate) but Bradford
committed and most was the original area of the
probably have the most crime scene, this would then
