1. Arriving at the Crime Scene Uniformed police usually arrive 1st. Uniformed police usually arrive 1st. 1. They must ensure safety of victims and surrounding people. 2. Usually not trained as dectectives and should touch as little as possible. 3. Secure site with a physical barrier.

2. A dead body If a person is dead, the body will not be moved in any way until it has been examined and photographed. If a person is dead, the body will not be moved in any way until it has been examined and photographed. Movement can disturb rigor mortis. Movement can disturb rigor mortis. Movement can contaminate vital clues and evidence. Movement can contaminate vital clues and evidence.

3. The Senior Detective and Forensic Pathologist Senior detective is in charge of investigation. Senior detective is in charge of investigation. Pathologist will check for vital signs (heart rate and breathing. Pathologist will check for vital signs (heart rate and breathing. Will check for rigor mortis and lividity and anything that may explain cause of death. Will check for rigor mortis and lividity and anything that may explain cause of death. Initial inspection of body is quite brief with most work done at the morgue. Initial inspection of body is quite brief with most work done at the morgue.

4. Needs to take pictures before the body is moved Needs to take pictures before the body is moved Focus on wounds, position of body, murder weapon, trace evidence, murder scene etc Focus on wounds, position of body, murder weapon, trace evidence, murder scene etc A ruler marked with a suitable scale is usually included in the photos to give a size comparison. A ruler marked with a suitable scale is usually included in the photos to give a size comparison. Photographer

5. Police draughtperson May be asked to sketch area. May be asked to sketch area. Focus will be on positions of doors, windows etc, positions of bloodstains, weapons and other evidence. Focus will be on positions of doors, windows etc, positions of bloodstains, weapons and other evidence.

6. Witnesses Will be kept calm as much as possible and usually isolated and interviewed as soon as possible while things are fresh in their mind. Will be kept calm as much as possible and usually isolated and interviewed as soon as possible while things are fresh in their mind. Discouraged from cleaning themselves up in case they have trace evidence. Discouraged from cleaning themselves up in case they have trace evidence.

7. CSI In overalls and overshoes try to approach crime scene using same route as first police officer. In overalls and overshoes try to approach crime scene using same route as first police officer. Thoroughly search immediate and surrounding areas for any trace evidence – eg fingerprints, body fluids, fibres, hair, skin, paint etc Thoroughly search immediate and surrounding areas for any trace evidence – eg fingerprints, body fluids, fibres, hair, skin, paint etc May call in experts to assess blood splatter, gun powder burns May call in experts to assess blood splatter, gun powder burns Only after completed is the body removed. Only after completed is the body removed.

8. Collection and Preservation of Evidence Physical Evidence Collection and Preservation Bloodstained clothingIndividual items placed in paper bags which are sealed with staples Firearms, knives, toolsWrapped in paper Developed latent printsPhotographed in situ before being ‘lifted’ Trace evidence (hairs, fibres, dust, glass fragments etc.) Placed in pill boxes or snap-lock plastic bags Bullets and cartridge casesPlaced in envelopes Liquid blood and other body fluids such as saliva Swabbed with cotton bud and placed in a sealed vial Tyre and shoe impressionsPhotograph and, if possible, cast taken