WJEC Criminology Unit 3 - Crime Scene to Courtroom - ALL model
essays- A* - 100%
1.1
Police
The role of the police is to protect the public from criminal offenses and to
investigate and coordinate crime scenes, a job needing expertise and
care. Police officers are usually the first responders to a crime scene,
tasked with ensuring it is secure and safe so that the public, along with
other specialists like forensic teams, are not put in danger. This allows
those specialists to perform their duties without the risk of contamination.
The police also take witness statements and secure crucial evidence. All of
these tasks need to be completed within the 'golden hour' to ensure
evidence remains as admissible as possible for court proceedings. A clear
example of this is the Alex Ruggles murder case, where the suspect
categorically denied committing the crime. Here, securing evidence
quickly and effectively was vital to building a strong case that could stand
up against such denials in court, demonstrating the high expertise
required from police.
To carry out these responsibilities effectively, police officers must be well-
trained and possess significant expertise. Officers generally need to have
formal education, often a degree, in addition to a minimum of two years of
rigorous training and successful completion of police exams. However,
recent years have seen a decline in the number of officers available due
to budget cuts. Between 2010 and 2015, police funding was reduced by
19%, significantly impacting the ability to employ sufficient officers. The
cost of employing a single officer is approximately £30,000 annually,
which adds up to £300 million for 10,000 officers. Despite Conservative
promises to increase the number of police by 8,000, funding cuts led to a
,reduction of officers during their tenure, directly affecting police
availability. Labour, who won the subsequent election, inherited a policing
system already struggling with these shortages.
The impact of these budget cuts and reduced numbers is clear: fewer
officers mean that there is less availability to respond to crimes, leading to
some cases being prioritized while others are left without adequate
investigation. This lack of resources has even resulted in a decrease in the
prosecution of what might be considered "lower-level" offenses, such as
shoplifting under £200, which many police forces now deprioritize due to
limited staffing and the need to focus on more serious crimes.
The consequences of limited availability and expertise have been starkly
highlighted in several high-profile cases. The Hillsborough disaster of
1989, where 94 people died and 766 were injured, stands out as a tragic
example of failure in policing. The disaster was exacerbated by the
police's inability to manage the crowd effectively, which led to a loss of
control over the situation. One could argue that the lack of resources
contributed to this failure, as there were insufficient officers to properly
manage the stadium. However, it also reflects a deeper problem related to
the inadequate expertise and preparation of those officers who were
present. The subsequent Taylor Report criticized the police response and
highlighted a lack of accountability and competence in handling such a
large-scale event.
Another case that underscores these issues is the murder of Stephen
Lawrence, a young Black man who was killed in a racist attack on April 22,
1993. The investigation into his death was marred by numerous failings,
including the police’s failure to pursue his attackers promptly and their
refusal to administer first aid. The Macpherson Report of 1999, which
followed a public inquiry into the handling of the case, concluded that the
police's failings were partly due to institutionalized racism within the
force. This lack of professionalism and expertise caused public outrage
and a significant loss of trust in the police, highlighting the severe
consequences when officers are not adequately trained or available to
respond effectively.
These cases illustrate how crucial both availability and expertise are in
effective policing. When there are fewer officers on the ground, either
because of budget cuts or officers leaving for better-paid jobs, the
remaining officers are stretched thin, and the quality of their work suffers.
This can lead to mistakes, as seen at Hillsborough, or outright negligence,
as in the Stephen Lawrence case. The public rightfully questions the
efficiency of a police force funded by their taxes, especially when it fails to
deliver on its fundamental promise to protect and serve.
,In conclusion, the reduced number of officers, coupled with issues of
funding and inadequate training, has led to significant failings in the police
force's ability to handle complex cases effectively. The examples of
Hillsborough and Stephen Lawrence illustrate the impact of these
deficiencies, underscoring the need for a well-funded, adequately staffed,
and highly trained police force to maintain public trust and ensure justice.
Pathologist
A pathologist’s role is to conduct autopsies and examine forensic evidence
in crime scenes involving deceased victims. There are few pathologists as
it is a very specialized role. Not only do they analyse biological samples
and examine injuries to discover the cause of death – they also identify
potential offenders and there findings are often crucial in court.
A pathologist’s greatest strength is that they can provide authoritative
scientific evidence as to the cause and time of a death, demonstrating
significant expertise. This is evident from cases such as Steve Wright aka
the Suffolk Strangler. Wright was convicted of murdering five women in
Ipswich between October and December 2006. The role of pathologists
was vital as they determined he used strangulation to murder his victims.
This was found through detailed expert examination. They even analysed
factors including body temperature to find out victim’s time of death. This
provided compelling evidence – helping in Steve Wrights conviction and
gaining justice for his victims, highlighting the effectiveness of
pathologists in investigating crime due to their high expertise.
Pathologists arguably bolster the integrity of a criminal investigation
through adhering to scientific protocol – increasing validity via forensic
evidence and meticulous examination.
However, there are several limitations to pathologists including
availability, expertise and cost. There are only 35 registered pathologists
in the UK due to the niche, difficult field of forensics – along with the talent
and extensive training required for registration. This can potentially
impact their effectiveness as delays could occur in carrying out autopsies.
Autopsies are time sensitive as factors like body temperature and state of
decomposition are crucial in gathering evidence before it’s too late and
forensic evidence is lost. Furthermore, due to their high qualifications –
they are expensive to hire (often over £100k). Due to high cost, police
may be inclined to opt for cheaper less qualified staff leading to poor
results. Lastly, scientific evidence is not always clear cut or fully gathered.
It is increasingly acceptable to challenge the objectivity and credibility of
of medial scientists. These factors suggest limitations to the effectiveness
of pathologists in criminal investigations and some would argue they
outweigh the benefits.
, The case of Sally Clark highlights significant limitations of pathologists.
Convicted in 1999 for the deaths of her two infant sons, Clark's conviction
was based on pathologists’ flawed conclusions. They argued that the
deaths were non-accidental due to statistical improbabilities without fully
considering other medical explanations. It later emerged that the
pathologists had misrepresented evidence and relied on inaccurate data.
Clark’s wrongful conviction, overturned in 2003, underscores how errors in
forensic interpretation and overreliance on flawed statistical models can
lead to serious miscarriages of justice.
Forensic scientist
It is the job of forensic scientists to analyse biological samples such as
identifying the presence of drugs/alcohol in a victim’s system. They also
analyse evidence seized by the police for evidence of controlled drugs. It
is a highly specialised role requiring great expertise. They deal with areas
including computing, toxicology, psychology and even dentistry. Forensic
psychologists often act as an expert witness in courtroom testimony. They
investigate, research, consult and design treatments. Being a forensic
scientist is a specific, specialised role requiring specific degrees and
qualifications depending on the job, suggesting great expertise is
required. Forensic psychologists require a psychology degree along with
work experience. In addition, a psychological accredited master’s in
forensic psychology is needed – they must have applied for registration
with HPC.
They are all trained to an international standard (ISO 17025) after their
degree. This is necessary as it requires high skill to scientifically interpret
evidence. Due to their high expertise – advanced analysis of evidence is
able to be carried out including spectrometry. Forensic science is a highly
specialised field with great pressure and expertise required; forensic
scientists play an instrumental role in proving a suspects innocence or
guilt. Their high accuracy and specialisation furthers their effectiveness by
decreasing chances of injustice.
On the other hand, due to forensic scientists individually making
interpretations – they will often disagree on one another’s conclusion of
evidence.
Furthermore, juries in court will frequently believe whatever they are told
by forensic experts and are easily persuaded due to them believing their
opinion is valid. This is due to their expertise in the feild. This is an issue
as if a forensic scientist makes the slightest mistake, wrongful convictions
can occur – similarly to SOCO’s. In addition, ethical questions have been
essays- A* - 100%
1.1
Police
The role of the police is to protect the public from criminal offenses and to
investigate and coordinate crime scenes, a job needing expertise and
care. Police officers are usually the first responders to a crime scene,
tasked with ensuring it is secure and safe so that the public, along with
other specialists like forensic teams, are not put in danger. This allows
those specialists to perform their duties without the risk of contamination.
The police also take witness statements and secure crucial evidence. All of
these tasks need to be completed within the 'golden hour' to ensure
evidence remains as admissible as possible for court proceedings. A clear
example of this is the Alex Ruggles murder case, where the suspect
categorically denied committing the crime. Here, securing evidence
quickly and effectively was vital to building a strong case that could stand
up against such denials in court, demonstrating the high expertise
required from police.
To carry out these responsibilities effectively, police officers must be well-
trained and possess significant expertise. Officers generally need to have
formal education, often a degree, in addition to a minimum of two years of
rigorous training and successful completion of police exams. However,
recent years have seen a decline in the number of officers available due
to budget cuts. Between 2010 and 2015, police funding was reduced by
19%, significantly impacting the ability to employ sufficient officers. The
cost of employing a single officer is approximately £30,000 annually,
which adds up to £300 million for 10,000 officers. Despite Conservative
promises to increase the number of police by 8,000, funding cuts led to a
,reduction of officers during their tenure, directly affecting police
availability. Labour, who won the subsequent election, inherited a policing
system already struggling with these shortages.
The impact of these budget cuts and reduced numbers is clear: fewer
officers mean that there is less availability to respond to crimes, leading to
some cases being prioritized while others are left without adequate
investigation. This lack of resources has even resulted in a decrease in the
prosecution of what might be considered "lower-level" offenses, such as
shoplifting under £200, which many police forces now deprioritize due to
limited staffing and the need to focus on more serious crimes.
The consequences of limited availability and expertise have been starkly
highlighted in several high-profile cases. The Hillsborough disaster of
1989, where 94 people died and 766 were injured, stands out as a tragic
example of failure in policing. The disaster was exacerbated by the
police's inability to manage the crowd effectively, which led to a loss of
control over the situation. One could argue that the lack of resources
contributed to this failure, as there were insufficient officers to properly
manage the stadium. However, it also reflects a deeper problem related to
the inadequate expertise and preparation of those officers who were
present. The subsequent Taylor Report criticized the police response and
highlighted a lack of accountability and competence in handling such a
large-scale event.
Another case that underscores these issues is the murder of Stephen
Lawrence, a young Black man who was killed in a racist attack on April 22,
1993. The investigation into his death was marred by numerous failings,
including the police’s failure to pursue his attackers promptly and their
refusal to administer first aid. The Macpherson Report of 1999, which
followed a public inquiry into the handling of the case, concluded that the
police's failings were partly due to institutionalized racism within the
force. This lack of professionalism and expertise caused public outrage
and a significant loss of trust in the police, highlighting the severe
consequences when officers are not adequately trained or available to
respond effectively.
These cases illustrate how crucial both availability and expertise are in
effective policing. When there are fewer officers on the ground, either
because of budget cuts or officers leaving for better-paid jobs, the
remaining officers are stretched thin, and the quality of their work suffers.
This can lead to mistakes, as seen at Hillsborough, or outright negligence,
as in the Stephen Lawrence case. The public rightfully questions the
efficiency of a police force funded by their taxes, especially when it fails to
deliver on its fundamental promise to protect and serve.
,In conclusion, the reduced number of officers, coupled with issues of
funding and inadequate training, has led to significant failings in the police
force's ability to handle complex cases effectively. The examples of
Hillsborough and Stephen Lawrence illustrate the impact of these
deficiencies, underscoring the need for a well-funded, adequately staffed,
and highly trained police force to maintain public trust and ensure justice.
Pathologist
A pathologist’s role is to conduct autopsies and examine forensic evidence
in crime scenes involving deceased victims. There are few pathologists as
it is a very specialized role. Not only do they analyse biological samples
and examine injuries to discover the cause of death – they also identify
potential offenders and there findings are often crucial in court.
A pathologist’s greatest strength is that they can provide authoritative
scientific evidence as to the cause and time of a death, demonstrating
significant expertise. This is evident from cases such as Steve Wright aka
the Suffolk Strangler. Wright was convicted of murdering five women in
Ipswich between October and December 2006. The role of pathologists
was vital as they determined he used strangulation to murder his victims.
This was found through detailed expert examination. They even analysed
factors including body temperature to find out victim’s time of death. This
provided compelling evidence – helping in Steve Wrights conviction and
gaining justice for his victims, highlighting the effectiveness of
pathologists in investigating crime due to their high expertise.
Pathologists arguably bolster the integrity of a criminal investigation
through adhering to scientific protocol – increasing validity via forensic
evidence and meticulous examination.
However, there are several limitations to pathologists including
availability, expertise and cost. There are only 35 registered pathologists
in the UK due to the niche, difficult field of forensics – along with the talent
and extensive training required for registration. This can potentially
impact their effectiveness as delays could occur in carrying out autopsies.
Autopsies are time sensitive as factors like body temperature and state of
decomposition are crucial in gathering evidence before it’s too late and
forensic evidence is lost. Furthermore, due to their high qualifications –
they are expensive to hire (often over £100k). Due to high cost, police
may be inclined to opt for cheaper less qualified staff leading to poor
results. Lastly, scientific evidence is not always clear cut or fully gathered.
It is increasingly acceptable to challenge the objectivity and credibility of
of medial scientists. These factors suggest limitations to the effectiveness
of pathologists in criminal investigations and some would argue they
outweigh the benefits.
, The case of Sally Clark highlights significant limitations of pathologists.
Convicted in 1999 for the deaths of her two infant sons, Clark's conviction
was based on pathologists’ flawed conclusions. They argued that the
deaths were non-accidental due to statistical improbabilities without fully
considering other medical explanations. It later emerged that the
pathologists had misrepresented evidence and relied on inaccurate data.
Clark’s wrongful conviction, overturned in 2003, underscores how errors in
forensic interpretation and overreliance on flawed statistical models can
lead to serious miscarriages of justice.
Forensic scientist
It is the job of forensic scientists to analyse biological samples such as
identifying the presence of drugs/alcohol in a victim’s system. They also
analyse evidence seized by the police for evidence of controlled drugs. It
is a highly specialised role requiring great expertise. They deal with areas
including computing, toxicology, psychology and even dentistry. Forensic
psychologists often act as an expert witness in courtroom testimony. They
investigate, research, consult and design treatments. Being a forensic
scientist is a specific, specialised role requiring specific degrees and
qualifications depending on the job, suggesting great expertise is
required. Forensic psychologists require a psychology degree along with
work experience. In addition, a psychological accredited master’s in
forensic psychology is needed – they must have applied for registration
with HPC.
They are all trained to an international standard (ISO 17025) after their
degree. This is necessary as it requires high skill to scientifically interpret
evidence. Due to their high expertise – advanced analysis of evidence is
able to be carried out including spectrometry. Forensic science is a highly
specialised field with great pressure and expertise required; forensic
scientists play an instrumental role in proving a suspects innocence or
guilt. Their high accuracy and specialisation furthers their effectiveness by
decreasing chances of injustice.
On the other hand, due to forensic scientists individually making
interpretations – they will often disagree on one another’s conclusion of
evidence.
Furthermore, juries in court will frequently believe whatever they are told
by forensic experts and are easily persuaded due to them believing their
opinion is valid. This is due to their expertise in the feild. This is an issue
as if a forensic scientist makes the slightest mistake, wrongful convictions
can occur – similarly to SOCO’s. In addition, ethical questions have been
