UNIT 23: Forensic Evidence, Collection and Analysis
INVESTIGATING A CRIME SCENE
INVESTIGATE A SIMULATED CRIME SCENE USING FORENSIC
PROCEDURES
Our simulated crime scene was a dead woman reported in the bushes
next to East Surrey College, me and my classmates were each assigned
different roles to carry out the simulated crime scene investigation.
DAY: DATE: VENUE: OFFENCE
MONDA 30TH EAST SURREY :
Y NOVEMBE COLLEGE ASSUMED
R 2020 MURDER
SOCO: EXHIBITS INVESTIGATIN SCENE PHOTOGRAPHER:
HENRY OFFICER: G OFFICER:
DESCRIPTION OF SCENE: LOGGIST: RAFAELA
GARCIA
FRICKER SYDNEE LAUREN ABBY
BRAIN PIERRE
SUNLIGHT
LOW WIND
SECURITY MEASURES AROUND SCENE
LOTS OF STUDETNS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WALKING AROUND
Figure 1- Scene taped off by cordon
Assigned roles and
procedures used
, Sydnee Brain 193024
UNIT 23: Forensic Evidence, Collection and Analysis
Holly was assigned the role of a cordon, so she was therefore the first
person called to the scene. Holly carried out specific measurements to
stop any media or other unauthorised personnel such as students and
staff from the college, from contaminating and/or damaging the crime
scene and any evidence, or even taking away crucial trace evidence on
their shoes, hands, clothes etc. The measurements holly took to restrict
outside access included, taping off the scene and placing barricades at
points of entry. After the scene was secured, Holly then delegated the job
to Abby, the loggist, to fill out the log sheet to keep record of every
person, including witnesses, paramedics and other authorised personnel
that entered and left the crime scene and the time they did so. This type
of measurement helped limit the amount of people who must be
examined when stray fingerprints and shoeprints are found, therefore
preserving the integrity of the crime scene.
Due to the nature of the crime, Holly took it upon herself to contact the
SSU unit (consisting of CSI’s and SOCO’s) as well as an SIO. Leigh was
given the role of the senior investigating officer, this meant that he was
overall responsible for managing the investigation, including the forensic
strategy and retrieval of evidence. It was also leigh’s job to ID the scene
and assess what and who is required to attend and why. Once Leigh had
identified the scene, he assigned the SOCO to areas of interest at and
around the scene to assist in collecting and examining the forensic
evidence.
Lauren acted as the investigating officer; she began by doing a walk-
through examination around the scene to organize an approach to
collecting any evidence. While having a look around, Lauren got a bigger
picture of the scene before beginning any evidence examination or
collection. The role of the SOCO was appointed to Henry to assess the
crime scene and identify hazards, his job included collecting and
documenting chemical, biological and physical evidence, preparing
investigation reports and making evidence ready to be used at the lab.
Since the scene was in a fielded area, Henry found it suitable to use
search patterns such as parallel divisions of the scene, Henry did this by
forming a line and walking straight, at the same speed, from one end of
the crime scene to another. Henry also used the grid technique this
involved two parallel searches, offset by 90 degrees and performed one
after the other. Because of the environment and amount of SOCO’s
involved, these techniques were most effective compared to, for example,
the zone technique. The zone technique can be used in small outdoor