personnel involved in criminal investigations question
and 100% verified answers 2025 pdf.
Personnel involved. - ANSWER>Police officers/ detectives who investigate the crime.
*Forensic specialists with expertise in different areas.
*Crime scene investigators - in the UK scenes of crime officers (SOCO's) who collect evidence.
*The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) which decides if a suspect is charged.
*There are also other agencies e.g. the National Crime Agency which is responsible for leading
the UK's fight to cut serious and organised crime, and HM revenue and customs.
*Forensic scientists who interpret the evidence.
*A pathologist who determines the cause and means of death, which can provide vital
investigative evidence.
Scene's of crime officers (SOCOs) - ANSWER>These roles are often depicted on television as CSIs
all crime scene investigators and are employed by the police service to preserve and protect a
crime scene and recover evidence.
*Clearly, such evidence can be vital in criminal investigations. - Ian Huntley.
*It is essential the evidence at a crime scene remains uncontaminated and is collected as soon as
possible to provide reliable evidence in a criminal investigation.
*SOCOs Typically search for trace evidence such as gunshot residue, fingerprints and hairs and
fibres, Should contamination occur, the evidence will be inadmissible (unable to be used) in
court, However, such risk is minimised as SOCOs are trained and qualified in this area.
*They usually operate an on-call system and are therefore always available to assist in criminal
investigations.
Limitations of SOCOs - ANSWER>>There are many times when the role produces limitations to
solving a crime:
*SOCOs may be exposed to hazardous substances in the course of their role, such as
contaminants contacting the skin or airborne substances that could enter the mouth. Why is this
a limitation?
, This is a limitation as the SOCO is putting themselves at risk and can be physically harmed by
this.
*Such risks are minimised by the wearing of protective clothing, including masks and glasses.
*Not anyone can be a SOCOs, it requires years of training, skill and patience as well as care and
attention to detail. Failure to collect evidence correctly can lead to a guilty person going free.
*They can injure themselves on the crime scene.
*Things can be left at the crime scene.
Amanda Knox - ANSWER>Amanda Knox is an American woman who spent almost 4 years in an
Italian prison following her conviction for the 2007 murder of Meredith Kercher, a fellow
exchange student who shared her apartment. In 2015, Knox was definitively acquitted by the
Italian Supreme Court of Cassation.
*One of the SOCOs went to the crime scene and did not wear protective clothing.
*They also broke down the door but there was blood on the door so it could be contaminated.
*The SOCOs left the bra covered in Meredith's blood at the crime scene.
Forensic scientist - ANSWER>Forensic scientists review evidence from a crime scene and produce
information for court.
*Evidence such as blood and other body Fluids are analysed in a laboratory and interpreted.
*This information can assist a court in making a decision on producing a just result.
*They can narrow down suspects, find more evidence, produce a timeline of events - they have
expertise knowledge.
One of the advantages of forensics is that it includes many specialist areas with expertise such
as:
· Computers. - white collar/technological crime - computer use/history.
· Toxicology (drugs) - were victims under the influence? / could drugs have caused the death?
· Dentistry.
· Fire. - how it started/burn time.
· Psychology.