WJEC Unit 3 - AC 1,2,3 ALL MODEL ANSWERS
WJEC Unit 3 - AC 1,2,3 ALL MODEL ANSWERS
,WJEC Unit 3 - AC 1,2,3 ALL MODEL ANSWERS
AC 1.1 - Evaluate the effectiveness of the roles of personnel involved in
criminal investigations.
Crime Scene Investigators (CSI) or Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO’s)
One type of personnel involved in criminal investigations is crime scene investigators
(CSI) or scene of crime officers (SOCO’s). They are employed by police service to
preserve and protect a crime scene while recovering evidence that is required to be
kept uncontaminated to ensure it is reliable.
Becoming a SOCO often requires a degree in forensic science or in a specific
scientific subject and it is also expected of them to have had experience in police
work intelligence gathering and analysis. On average, they work around 42 hours per
week with a salary of £16,000 to £35,000 per year.
One strength is that due to the high expertise and experience of crime officers, they
can be trustworthy individuals and this also makes them effective because the risk of
evidence contamination is low and their accuracy of evidence can secure a
prosecution. Another strength is that there is very high availability due to how every
police force in England and Wales employ them and they also work on an on-call
system. This makes them effective as they are always available to assist in criminal
investigations. One case example where SOCO’s have shown effectiveness is the
Sally Bowman case where Bowman was murdered and there were no suspects
however SOCO’s managed to collect DNA from the crime scene and then the
offender was found. Also the cost of them makes them effective where they are only
paid £16,000 to £35,000 which is affordable to police departments and the
government more so than other personnel. This means we can employ more
SOCO's which shows they are effective.
One weakness is that the job of a SOCO may not be socially desirable due to the
hours and having to be on call all the time. So even though there is high availability
of them, this may be reduced in the future where people could potentially stop
applying for the job. Also SOCO’s can be exposed to hazardous material and this
could affect availability as people may not want to commit to a dangerous job.
Another weakness is that there are many cases where protocols for collecting
evidence have not been followed and therefore cases collapsed due to the lack of
evidence. For example in the case of Amanda Knox they had failed to wear
protective clothing and when wearing show coverings, they failed to take them out
when they went outside and therefore evidence was unreliable. This shows how
SOCO’s can be ineffective.
SOCO’s have high expertise and have the ability to collect forensic samples in the
right manner and they are also educated as they will have degrees and which
suggests they have the right knowledge which means they will be effective in their
role.
,WJEC Unit 3 - AC 1,2,3 ALL MODEL ANSWERS
Forensic Scientists
Another type of personnel involved in criminal investigations is forensic scientists
who examine and analyse the evidence that is collected by SOCO’s and then
provide information and data for trials and police.
One strength of forensic scientists is that they have high expertise as it is necessary
to have a degree in either forensic science or other science subjects. This means
forensic scientists are very knowledgeable and this makes them effective.
Another strength is that there are different areas in forensics so forensic scientists
will have their department. For example toxicology departments or drug
departments. This shows they are effective as they are specialised to that specific
department and again shows huge expertise.
Also forensic evidence is highly accurate and this therefore reduces risk of injustices
and allows high rates of accurate prosecution which shows the effectiveness of a
forensic scientist's role.
A weakness of forensic scientists is the cost. As they are employed by private firms,
police don’t have their own employees and therefore it can be expensive for police to
hire and employ.
Also in 2005, it was recorded that there were only 3000 forensic scientists which
shows how there isn’t a large amount meaning low availability which can limit the
effectiveness.
Another weakness is that mistakes can always happen. For example in the case of
Adam Scott, he was wrongly accused of rape due to a mistake made in the testing
centre where his DNA was found in the swab taken from rape victim which was due
to contaminated that was later discovered.
Forensic scientists have vital jobs and are experts as they have qualifications which
means they are effective in their role.
, WJEC Unit 3 - AC 1,2,3 ALL MODEL ANSWERS
Police
Another type of personnel is police who are the first to arrive at a crime scene and
sim to preserve life, secure the crime scene and conserve evidence. Police will also
have a role of investigating and reducing crime.
One strength of police is that it is necessary to have education and qualifications in
order to become a police officer which shows they will be effective due to their high
level of expertise. Another strength is that police officers are extremely important as
they safeguard the public and attend to those needed. For example they would call
an emergency ambulance if someone was seriously injured. They also protect the
public by detecting and preventing crime.
One weakness of police is that the availability is not great. As there is only 211 police
per 100,000 population which shows there is not enough police.
Similarly, another weakness which is due to cost is that there are also budget cuts
which impact the amount of police and this means there are more crimes left
uninvestigated. Also there are cases where police have proven themselves to be
influenced by bias and prejudice which suggests there is institutional racism. For
example in the case of Steven Lawrence where they chose not to see that it was a
hate crime.
CPS
The crown prosecution service is given the power to decide whether or not to
prosecute an offender. This was previously done by police but changed since 1986.
CPS are trained lawyers who look at the cases police send them and they decide
whether it passes their tests. Such as whether there’s another evidence or if there is
public interest to process with the case.
One strength of CPS is that they are trained lawyers and have a fixed process to
ensure the right and fair decision which means they have expertise.
Another strength is that they are also independent and are not related to police
therefore they are able to make their own decisions
Also they are open 24/7 so are available to police all the time through CPS Direct
which means police can contact them anytime for any support or advice.
A weakness is that there is proven to be mistakes in every 1/15 cases which
suggests that CPS are not always correct which suggests they are not so effective.
Also a lot of the time they lack evidence which causes such a high number of cases
to collapse.
Another weakened is that the relationship they have with police is quite difficult which
again affects the effectiveness and the whole process.
WJEC Unit 3 - AC 1,2,3 ALL MODEL ANSWERS
,WJEC Unit 3 - AC 1,2,3 ALL MODEL ANSWERS
AC 1.1 - Evaluate the effectiveness of the roles of personnel involved in
criminal investigations.
Crime Scene Investigators (CSI) or Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO’s)
One type of personnel involved in criminal investigations is crime scene investigators
(CSI) or scene of crime officers (SOCO’s). They are employed by police service to
preserve and protect a crime scene while recovering evidence that is required to be
kept uncontaminated to ensure it is reliable.
Becoming a SOCO often requires a degree in forensic science or in a specific
scientific subject and it is also expected of them to have had experience in police
work intelligence gathering and analysis. On average, they work around 42 hours per
week with a salary of £16,000 to £35,000 per year.
One strength is that due to the high expertise and experience of crime officers, they
can be trustworthy individuals and this also makes them effective because the risk of
evidence contamination is low and their accuracy of evidence can secure a
prosecution. Another strength is that there is very high availability due to how every
police force in England and Wales employ them and they also work on an on-call
system. This makes them effective as they are always available to assist in criminal
investigations. One case example where SOCO’s have shown effectiveness is the
Sally Bowman case where Bowman was murdered and there were no suspects
however SOCO’s managed to collect DNA from the crime scene and then the
offender was found. Also the cost of them makes them effective where they are only
paid £16,000 to £35,000 which is affordable to police departments and the
government more so than other personnel. This means we can employ more
SOCO's which shows they are effective.
One weakness is that the job of a SOCO may not be socially desirable due to the
hours and having to be on call all the time. So even though there is high availability
of them, this may be reduced in the future where people could potentially stop
applying for the job. Also SOCO’s can be exposed to hazardous material and this
could affect availability as people may not want to commit to a dangerous job.
Another weakness is that there are many cases where protocols for collecting
evidence have not been followed and therefore cases collapsed due to the lack of
evidence. For example in the case of Amanda Knox they had failed to wear
protective clothing and when wearing show coverings, they failed to take them out
when they went outside and therefore evidence was unreliable. This shows how
SOCO’s can be ineffective.
SOCO’s have high expertise and have the ability to collect forensic samples in the
right manner and they are also educated as they will have degrees and which
suggests they have the right knowledge which means they will be effective in their
role.
,WJEC Unit 3 - AC 1,2,3 ALL MODEL ANSWERS
Forensic Scientists
Another type of personnel involved in criminal investigations is forensic scientists
who examine and analyse the evidence that is collected by SOCO’s and then
provide information and data for trials and police.
One strength of forensic scientists is that they have high expertise as it is necessary
to have a degree in either forensic science or other science subjects. This means
forensic scientists are very knowledgeable and this makes them effective.
Another strength is that there are different areas in forensics so forensic scientists
will have their department. For example toxicology departments or drug
departments. This shows they are effective as they are specialised to that specific
department and again shows huge expertise.
Also forensic evidence is highly accurate and this therefore reduces risk of injustices
and allows high rates of accurate prosecution which shows the effectiveness of a
forensic scientist's role.
A weakness of forensic scientists is the cost. As they are employed by private firms,
police don’t have their own employees and therefore it can be expensive for police to
hire and employ.
Also in 2005, it was recorded that there were only 3000 forensic scientists which
shows how there isn’t a large amount meaning low availability which can limit the
effectiveness.
Another weakness is that mistakes can always happen. For example in the case of
Adam Scott, he was wrongly accused of rape due to a mistake made in the testing
centre where his DNA was found in the swab taken from rape victim which was due
to contaminated that was later discovered.
Forensic scientists have vital jobs and are experts as they have qualifications which
means they are effective in their role.
, WJEC Unit 3 - AC 1,2,3 ALL MODEL ANSWERS
Police
Another type of personnel is police who are the first to arrive at a crime scene and
sim to preserve life, secure the crime scene and conserve evidence. Police will also
have a role of investigating and reducing crime.
One strength of police is that it is necessary to have education and qualifications in
order to become a police officer which shows they will be effective due to their high
level of expertise. Another strength is that police officers are extremely important as
they safeguard the public and attend to those needed. For example they would call
an emergency ambulance if someone was seriously injured. They also protect the
public by detecting and preventing crime.
One weakness of police is that the availability is not great. As there is only 211 police
per 100,000 population which shows there is not enough police.
Similarly, another weakness which is due to cost is that there are also budget cuts
which impact the amount of police and this means there are more crimes left
uninvestigated. Also there are cases where police have proven themselves to be
influenced by bias and prejudice which suggests there is institutional racism. For
example in the case of Steven Lawrence where they chose not to see that it was a
hate crime.
CPS
The crown prosecution service is given the power to decide whether or not to
prosecute an offender. This was previously done by police but changed since 1986.
CPS are trained lawyers who look at the cases police send them and they decide
whether it passes their tests. Such as whether there’s another evidence or if there is
public interest to process with the case.
One strength of CPS is that they are trained lawyers and have a fixed process to
ensure the right and fair decision which means they have expertise.
Another strength is that they are also independent and are not related to police
therefore they are able to make their own decisions
Also they are open 24/7 so are available to police all the time through CPS Direct
which means police can contact them anytime for any support or advice.
A weakness is that there is proven to be mistakes in every 1/15 cases which
suggests that CPS are not always correct which suggests they are not so effective.
Also a lot of the time they lack evidence which causes such a high number of cases
to collapse.
Another weakened is that the relationship they have with police is quite difficult which
again affects the effectiveness and the whole process.
