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OVM2601 ASSIGNMENT 01 SEMESTER 02
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, Refer to the scenario when answering this question.
Scenario
You attend a housebreaking case which happened in a residential area. Upon your
arrival, you contact the SAPS Local Criminal Record Centre to come to the scene.
When the fingerprint expert examines the scene he finds that there are fingerprints
on the Defy double-door fridge in the kitchen of the house that was broken into.
1.1. In your own words, discuss what the next process will be after the
fingerprints have been taken and what crime investigation principle
which is relevant in this scenario will apply. (3)
Having obtained the fingerprints from the Defy double-door fridge in the
housebreaking scene, the next step entails the process of individualisation. This
entails the checking of the fingerprints that have been lifted against those in the
Criminal Record Centre (CRC) database. A positive identification of the fingerprints
present at the crime scene to the fingerprints presented by a particular suspect
would implicate the suspect thereby aiding in building the case against the suspect
(OVM2601 Study Guide:3).
The crime investigation principle applicable here is the principle of individualisation.
This principle is centered on the idea that what is found, say, fingerprints is not
enough; it must be linked to a particular person. It means that the connection
between the crime scene and the suspect directly points to their involvement in the
crime (OVM2601 Study Guide:3).
1.2. Section 37 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 51 of 1977, authorises police
officials to ascertain the bodily features of suspects under certain
instances. Name and discuss, in your own words, the different options
available to you as a police official.
In a housebreaking case where fingerprints were obtained on a Defy double-door
fridge, section 37 of the Criminal procedure Act 51 of 1977 confers upon police
officials several options in order to positively identify the bodily features of a suspect.
These measures are very important in identifying the suspect on the side of the law