Unit 3:
AC1.1 Evaluate the effectiveness of the roles of personnel involved in criminal
investigations
Scene of crimes officers
The main role of scenes of crime officers (SOCOs) is collecting and processing
evidence from crime scenes, attending postmortems for suspicious deaths. They
must make sure evidence remains uncontaminated throughout the collection,
packaging and storing process to avoid it being inadmissible in court. SOCOs can
collect a range of evidence, from photographing tyre marks and shoe prints, to
recovering bodily fluids, fingerprints, and clothing fibres. SOCOs usually have a
degree in forensic science or a science-based subject. They can earn between
£16,000 and upwards of £50,000 a year depending on experience.
Scenes of crime officers work an on-call service, meaning they are available to assist
in investigations of serious crimes 24hrs a day. Despite this, there is a limited
number of SOCOs in the UK, with only 1,300 employed by the government, and 500
employed through the largest private employer. This means that SOCOs are often
only available to aid in the investigation of more serious crime, due to a limited
number of them in the UK. The job can have a negative impact on wellbeing, as it
can be stressful and can mean going to distressing crime scenes. This can lead to
further staff shortages, thus further limiting the availability of scenes of crime officers.
However, a strength of scenes of crime officers is their level of expertise. Many
SOCOs have a degree in a science related subject. They also undergo extensive
training through a residential course and on the job training. This means they can
effectively collect evidence from scene, making sure it remains uncontaminated, so it
can be used in an investigation. Despite their level of expertise, evidence could still
be contaminated due to a range of factors, including a heavy workload, having a
limited time frame, or not wearing the correct protective clothing. Whilst examining
and collecting evidence at the crime scene of Meredith Kerchers murder, SOCOs
investigating the case did not wear the correct protective equipment, like shoe
covers. This led to evidence becoming contaminated, as it was mishandled by
officers at the scene. For example, two officers were handling a bra clasp with dirt on
their gloves, and they repeatedly dropped it on the floor. This meant that several
,pieces of forensic evidence were deemed inadmissible in court, and Amanda Knox
was wrongfully convicted of Meredith’s murder but was later acquitted of the murder
after spending 4 years in prison.
Scenes of crime officers play a vital role in criminal investigations, because without
them there would be no one to collect evidence from a scene. This makes them
effective in criminal investigations, as they help to gather the evidence that could be
the difference between a conviction, or a guilty person being let go.
Forensic Scientists
Forensic scientists utilise their scientific knowledge and an array of different
techniques to review, analyse and interpret evidence collected from a crime scene,
aiding the investigation by ruling out or identifying suspects. For example, analysing
and comparing blood or semen samples from a crime scene to a control taken from
suspects. They then inform those investigating the crime and produce a report of
their findings and interpretations for court and may be asked to give evidence as an
expert witness, helping to secure a successful conviction. Forensic scientists often
specialise in different areas such as toxicology, anthropology, and ballistics.
A strength of forensic scientists is that they have a high level of expertise, with a
minimum of a degree in a science subject like forensic science or biochemistry, and
many having higher level qualifications in their specialist area. This level of expertise
is vital when investigating more complex cases. Combining their knowledge with
advanced technology allows them to identify and rule out suspects, helping to secure
convictions in serious and complex crimes. However, as seen in the Adam Scott
case it is possible for forensic scientists to make mistakes and misinterpret evidence
due to a heavy workload and overall stressful nature of the role. A sample of Adam
Scott’s DNA was collected from a ‘spitting incident’ in Exeter but was mixed up with
DNA samples taken from a rape victim in Manchester. Following this, Adam was
arrested and spent 5 months remanded in custody over the rape case, despite
phone data showing he was nowhere near Manchester at the time of the attack.
Most forensic scientists have typical office hours, but some may be on call. There are
currently 3,400 forensic scientists in the UK, which could limit the number of cases
,they are able to take on. This is a weakness of forensic scientists as it limits their
availability. Many police forces say there is low availability for forensic facilities, and
they often have to wait a long time before getting results from any forensic tests.
Forensic science is also expensive to fund, receiving £25.6million in 2022/23. Some
tests being extremely expensive to carry out due to the specialist equipment or
technology required. This means police must be selective when choosing which
forensic tests they ask for. In some cases, a suspect may not be on the police
database, or police may not have a suspect, meaning any forensic evidence has
limited value.
Overall forensic scientists can be extremely effective in criminal investigations, as
they are able to analyse evidence that other roles aren’t able to do, and they help to
secure successful convictions with their expertise.
Police officers
Police officers are often the first people to be called to a crime scene and play a key
role in the investigation. Their main priority is preserving life, and making sure the
scene is secure to prevent any contamination. They also investigate crime, interview
and detain suspects. Police officers are important during the ‘golden hour’ which is
the first hour after a crime has been discovered. This is where evidence is most likely
to be uncontaminated and where any witnesses and victims will be able to give the
most detailed account.
A strength of police officers is that they are availiable 24hrs a day, due to the
structure of their shift pattern. As of September 2023, there were 149,164 full time
police officers in England and Wales. This means that they are often the first people
to arrive at a scene, and there are more of them than other resources like SOCO so
they can attend more calls. This availabilty also allows them to utilise the golden
hour, by carrying out different lines of enquiry. Police also have specialist
departments, like firearms and criminal investigation department. Officers in these
departments receive specialist training and are often more experienced. Utilising
their expertise allows them to effectivley deal with incidents, and investigate crime.
The polices specialist training and experience was effective in the Alice Ruggles
case. Alice was murdered by her ex-boyfriend Trimaan Dhillon on the 12 th October
, 2016. During the ‘golden hour’, CID made many important decisions, like effectivley
securing the scene to prevent the contamination of evidence and talking to
witnesses, friends and family. This revealed that Alice had been having issues with
Dhillon, and he was arrested just a few hours after her death. This is a strength as it
highlights how they utilised the golden hour, and found the suspect quickly.
A limitation of the police is how they are percieved by the public. In certain areas,
some people will refuse to talk to police. This could be due to police officers failing to
thoroughly investigate crime, ‘no criming’ serious offences like sexual assault,
innapropriate behaviour, and crimes commited by police officers. This can be caused
by officers personal discriminatory attitudes and failures in the system. The
macpherson report (1999) was carried out following the failings of the metropolitan
police in the murder of stephen lawrence, and found the Met to be instutionally racist.
In 2023 the Casey review found that the force was still instutionally racist, as well as
failing women and children. Another limitation is that police officers earn between
between £28,551 and £46,044. The pay is relativley low considering the nature of
the job, the workload, overtime and the risks involved. A recent survey conducted by
the police federation found that 78% of police officers were disattisfied with their pay
due to factors like the stress and strains of the job and the risks they face. This
survey also found that 22% of officers were planning to leave the police in the next 2
years due to factors like low morale, impact on mental health and pay. This means
there are often not enough officers to respond to all calls or investigate all crime, as
their availability is affected, which can decrease the publics confidence in the police.
In most criminal investigations police are effective. However their effectiveness can
limited by a range of reasons, like public confidence and limited availibilty. This could
mean crimes arent properly investigated, people may get away with crime, and
victims could be left feeling vulnerable and at risk.
Pathologists
Pathologists are qualified medical doctors that specialise in the causes of death and
disease. They carry out autopsies to help establish the cause of death and the time
of death by examining the body and internal organs. They can take tissue samples to
be sent to forensic scientists for analysis, help establish lines of enquiry in an
AC1.1 Evaluate the effectiveness of the roles of personnel involved in criminal
investigations
Scene of crimes officers
The main role of scenes of crime officers (SOCOs) is collecting and processing
evidence from crime scenes, attending postmortems for suspicious deaths. They
must make sure evidence remains uncontaminated throughout the collection,
packaging and storing process to avoid it being inadmissible in court. SOCOs can
collect a range of evidence, from photographing tyre marks and shoe prints, to
recovering bodily fluids, fingerprints, and clothing fibres. SOCOs usually have a
degree in forensic science or a science-based subject. They can earn between
£16,000 and upwards of £50,000 a year depending on experience.
Scenes of crime officers work an on-call service, meaning they are available to assist
in investigations of serious crimes 24hrs a day. Despite this, there is a limited
number of SOCOs in the UK, with only 1,300 employed by the government, and 500
employed through the largest private employer. This means that SOCOs are often
only available to aid in the investigation of more serious crime, due to a limited
number of them in the UK. The job can have a negative impact on wellbeing, as it
can be stressful and can mean going to distressing crime scenes. This can lead to
further staff shortages, thus further limiting the availability of scenes of crime officers.
However, a strength of scenes of crime officers is their level of expertise. Many
SOCOs have a degree in a science related subject. They also undergo extensive
training through a residential course and on the job training. This means they can
effectively collect evidence from scene, making sure it remains uncontaminated, so it
can be used in an investigation. Despite their level of expertise, evidence could still
be contaminated due to a range of factors, including a heavy workload, having a
limited time frame, or not wearing the correct protective clothing. Whilst examining
and collecting evidence at the crime scene of Meredith Kerchers murder, SOCOs
investigating the case did not wear the correct protective equipment, like shoe
covers. This led to evidence becoming contaminated, as it was mishandled by
officers at the scene. For example, two officers were handling a bra clasp with dirt on
their gloves, and they repeatedly dropped it on the floor. This meant that several
,pieces of forensic evidence were deemed inadmissible in court, and Amanda Knox
was wrongfully convicted of Meredith’s murder but was later acquitted of the murder
after spending 4 years in prison.
Scenes of crime officers play a vital role in criminal investigations, because without
them there would be no one to collect evidence from a scene. This makes them
effective in criminal investigations, as they help to gather the evidence that could be
the difference between a conviction, or a guilty person being let go.
Forensic Scientists
Forensic scientists utilise their scientific knowledge and an array of different
techniques to review, analyse and interpret evidence collected from a crime scene,
aiding the investigation by ruling out or identifying suspects. For example, analysing
and comparing blood or semen samples from a crime scene to a control taken from
suspects. They then inform those investigating the crime and produce a report of
their findings and interpretations for court and may be asked to give evidence as an
expert witness, helping to secure a successful conviction. Forensic scientists often
specialise in different areas such as toxicology, anthropology, and ballistics.
A strength of forensic scientists is that they have a high level of expertise, with a
minimum of a degree in a science subject like forensic science or biochemistry, and
many having higher level qualifications in their specialist area. This level of expertise
is vital when investigating more complex cases. Combining their knowledge with
advanced technology allows them to identify and rule out suspects, helping to secure
convictions in serious and complex crimes. However, as seen in the Adam Scott
case it is possible for forensic scientists to make mistakes and misinterpret evidence
due to a heavy workload and overall stressful nature of the role. A sample of Adam
Scott’s DNA was collected from a ‘spitting incident’ in Exeter but was mixed up with
DNA samples taken from a rape victim in Manchester. Following this, Adam was
arrested and spent 5 months remanded in custody over the rape case, despite
phone data showing he was nowhere near Manchester at the time of the attack.
Most forensic scientists have typical office hours, but some may be on call. There are
currently 3,400 forensic scientists in the UK, which could limit the number of cases
,they are able to take on. This is a weakness of forensic scientists as it limits their
availability. Many police forces say there is low availability for forensic facilities, and
they often have to wait a long time before getting results from any forensic tests.
Forensic science is also expensive to fund, receiving £25.6million in 2022/23. Some
tests being extremely expensive to carry out due to the specialist equipment or
technology required. This means police must be selective when choosing which
forensic tests they ask for. In some cases, a suspect may not be on the police
database, or police may not have a suspect, meaning any forensic evidence has
limited value.
Overall forensic scientists can be extremely effective in criminal investigations, as
they are able to analyse evidence that other roles aren’t able to do, and they help to
secure successful convictions with their expertise.
Police officers
Police officers are often the first people to be called to a crime scene and play a key
role in the investigation. Their main priority is preserving life, and making sure the
scene is secure to prevent any contamination. They also investigate crime, interview
and detain suspects. Police officers are important during the ‘golden hour’ which is
the first hour after a crime has been discovered. This is where evidence is most likely
to be uncontaminated and where any witnesses and victims will be able to give the
most detailed account.
A strength of police officers is that they are availiable 24hrs a day, due to the
structure of their shift pattern. As of September 2023, there were 149,164 full time
police officers in England and Wales. This means that they are often the first people
to arrive at a scene, and there are more of them than other resources like SOCO so
they can attend more calls. This availabilty also allows them to utilise the golden
hour, by carrying out different lines of enquiry. Police also have specialist
departments, like firearms and criminal investigation department. Officers in these
departments receive specialist training and are often more experienced. Utilising
their expertise allows them to effectivley deal with incidents, and investigate crime.
The polices specialist training and experience was effective in the Alice Ruggles
case. Alice was murdered by her ex-boyfriend Trimaan Dhillon on the 12 th October
, 2016. During the ‘golden hour’, CID made many important decisions, like effectivley
securing the scene to prevent the contamination of evidence and talking to
witnesses, friends and family. This revealed that Alice had been having issues with
Dhillon, and he was arrested just a few hours after her death. This is a strength as it
highlights how they utilised the golden hour, and found the suspect quickly.
A limitation of the police is how they are percieved by the public. In certain areas,
some people will refuse to talk to police. This could be due to police officers failing to
thoroughly investigate crime, ‘no criming’ serious offences like sexual assault,
innapropriate behaviour, and crimes commited by police officers. This can be caused
by officers personal discriminatory attitudes and failures in the system. The
macpherson report (1999) was carried out following the failings of the metropolitan
police in the murder of stephen lawrence, and found the Met to be instutionally racist.
In 2023 the Casey review found that the force was still instutionally racist, as well as
failing women and children. Another limitation is that police officers earn between
between £28,551 and £46,044. The pay is relativley low considering the nature of
the job, the workload, overtime and the risks involved. A recent survey conducted by
the police federation found that 78% of police officers were disattisfied with their pay
due to factors like the stress and strains of the job and the risks they face. This
survey also found that 22% of officers were planning to leave the police in the next 2
years due to factors like low morale, impact on mental health and pay. This means
there are often not enough officers to respond to all calls or investigate all crime, as
their availability is affected, which can decrease the publics confidence in the police.
In most criminal investigations police are effective. However their effectiveness can
limited by a range of reasons, like public confidence and limited availibilty. This could
mean crimes arent properly investigated, people may get away with crime, and
victims could be left feeling vulnerable and at risk.
Pathologists
Pathologists are qualified medical doctors that specialise in the causes of death and
disease. They carry out autopsies to help establish the cause of death and the time
of death by examining the body and internal organs. They can take tissue samples to
be sent to forensic scientists for analysis, help establish lines of enquiry in an
