CRIMINOLOGY: Unit 3 AC1.1 (Evaluate the effectiveness of investigative personnel) questions and answers 2024

Scene of the Crime Officers (SOCOs) STRENGTHS - Correct Answers Benefitted from scientific advances in the field (DNA and AI) Analysis of the crime scene and the evidence can decrease likelihood of wrongful convictions Undergo training to ensure they are capable of correctly dealing with materials Scene of the Crime Officers (SOCOs) WEAKNESSES - Correct Answers Risk of evidence contamination though weather conditions or interference (possible misconduct) Lengthy process which is time consuming and costly without no guarantee of conviction Problematic testimonies, inaccuracies or misleading Malpractice, deliberate or accidental, leading to errors Scene of the Crime Officers (SOCOs) CASES - Correct Answers Amanda Knox Exchange student found dead in her flat in Italy, friend Knox suspected of murder. Contamination of evidence, failures to document evidence, planted evidence to falsely incriminate Stephen Lawrence Young boy murdered in a racially motivated attack in London. Failure to follow up on crucial evidence, loss of evidence and institutional racism Forensic Scientists STRENGTHS - Correct Answers Deal with specialized areas within the investigation (Computing, Toxicology, Psychology and Dentistry) Scientific advances (DNA Profiling) Advanced analysis of evidence (Spectrometry) Highly accurate, decrease chances of injustices Forensic Scientists WEAKNESSES - Correct Answers Mistakes can allow injustices (wrongful or failing convictions) Ethical issues due to the use of DNA as it involved the use of private information Expensive and time-consuming DNA requires records and cannot be compared without a suspect Forensic Scientists CASES - Correct Answers Sarah Payne Young girl was abducted and murdered by a previously convicted pedophile Roy Whiting Used fibers from sweatshirt found in van to link to the presence of Sarah there, found threads of school uniform on Velcro shoes Police Officers STRENGTHS - Correct Answers Quick responders to crime and undergo training to preserve scenes Arrest and detain powers Effective at investigating as access to different crime units (e.g. Narcotics, Anti-terrorism) Education and degree requirement Police Officers WEAKNESSES - Correct Answers Conflicts at scene (preservation or protection) which can cause judgmental errors Withholding evidence that could prove vital Influenced by bias and prejudice within the person or institution (ignore or falsify evidence) Misconduct and inappropriate use of power (and behavior) and may attempt to cover this up decreasing their trustworthiness within the community and their prestige Police Officers CASES - Correct Answers Stephen Lawrence Racially motivated attack resulting in the death of Lawrence whilst walking home. Failed to be recognized as a hate crime due to the institutional bias and racism of the police service and failures to investigate suspects due to force corruption Colin Stagg Accused of murdering a mother with her child. Police conducted a 'honey-pot' to entrap the suspect and coerce a confession, this was unsuccessful as Stagg was innocent Liam Allan Accused of raping a woman. Police failed to check the phone and find messages proving innocence Pathologists STRENGTHS - Correct Answers Autopsies and examinations can reveal key information and evidence Highly educated and trained in biology and pathology making them experts and experienced (specializations) Advanced methods and technology used Pathologists WEAKNESSES - Correct Answers Lack of Pathologists mean that each individual has a large workload which can cause delays and if rushed, errors and mistakes Mistakes and errors are detrimental and can affect the whole case Differences in interpretation by each pathologist and expert can cause conflicts Pathology funding is expensive and of high cost Pathologists CASES - Correct Answers Anthony Hardy Patel decided that the victim had died of cardiac arrest during intercourse and therefore natural causes, despite the condition and context of the body. Inadequate consideration of the possible methods of death and failed to consider key evidence, causing no investigation to occur Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) STRENGTHS - Correct Answers Independent service, free from political and other external pressures Employ legal experts with education and experience 'Due Process' model followed to ensure fairness Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) WEAKNESSES - Correct Answers 'Due Process' conflicts with the 'Crime Control' model used by the police Rely on the police to effectively do their job Difficulty in relationship with the police (Abu Hamza) Crown prosecution service (CPS) CASES - Correct Answers Damilola Taylor 10 yr old schoolboy found dead from a leg wound, case underwent a lengthy trial spanning 6 years and including 3 trials before convicting 2 brothers. Prosecution's case filled with holes and heavily reliant on unreliable witnesses. Petruta-Cristina Bosoanca Held on trafficking and prostitution charges- dropped after evidence revealed. Held in custody for 13 months leading her to giving birth in prison. Repeated failing to disclose the doctors report which proved innocence HM Revenues and Customs (HMRC) STRENGTHS - Correct Answers Impartial and specialized in their area of work Large workforce and access to advanced resources to aid in investigations Similar abilities to the police as powers derived from statutory authority Expertise in their area of crime HM Revenues and Customs (HMRC) WEAKNESSES - Correct Answers Difficulty in managing and maintaining impartiality due to the large workforce Mandatory training can deter any possible applicants and limit the amount of officers HM Revenues and Customs (HMRC) CASES - Correct Answers Arfan and Imran Ali Charity Tax Scam Investigation revealed them to be committing fraud using a fake charity front resulting in the theft of £450,000