Preparation for inspection of the crime scene

Preparing to inspect the scene of the incident

Inspection of the crime scene can be defined as an urgent, initial investigative action, consisting of a direct examination by the investigator of the situation at the scene of the crime, the traces and other objects located on it, their recording and removal in order to obtain factual data relevant for the detection and investigation of the crime.

The success of the crime scene examination largely depends on how well the investigator prepared for it. However, it should be noted that there is usually no time for its thorough preparation, since going to the scene of the incident must be carried out immediately after receiving a report of the incident.

The stage of preparation for the inspection of the scene of the incident is divided into two stages, providing for:

actions of the investigator before leaving for the scene of the incident;
actions of the investigator upon arrival at the scene of the incident.

Actions of the investigator before leaving the scene of the incident

At the first stage, having received a report of an incident, the investigator must first of all:

clarify what happened and where,
take measures to provide assistance to the victims, if it has not already been provided,
take measures to restore order and safety of citizens in areas adjacent to the scene of the incident;
take urgent measures to protect the scene of the incident, ensure the presence of eyewitnesses before the investigator arrives;
when preparing for departure, check the availability of technical equipment;
order (ensure the availability) of vehicles necessary to go to the scene of the incident, to send the victim to the hospital, the corpse to the morgue, to deliver material evidence seized from the scene of the incident;
determine the circle of persons who should participate in the inspection (police operatives, specialists in the field of forensic science, forensic medicine, fire protection, etc.).

The scene of the incident must be preserved in its original, unchanged form. Its protection can be carried out by persons who discovered the incident and reported it, police officers, administration of enterprises and institutions, employees of local authorities, etc.

Actions of the investigator upon arrival at the scene of the incident

Upon arrival at the scene of the incident, the investigator:

makes sure that assistance has been provided to the victim;
checks whether the situation at the scene of the incident has changed (based on a brief interview with the victim, eyewitnesses and other persons who were there);
removes unauthorized persons;
defines the role of each inspection participant, explains to them their rights and responsibilities;
gives orders to police officers to carry out operational search activities (identifying crime suspects, eyewitnesses, witnesses, identifying places where stolen property is hidden, the crime weapon, etc.).

Upon completion of the preparatory activities, the investigator begins to inspect the scene of the incident. In order to better organize work at the scene of an incident, standard programs are drawn up and actively used - algorithms for the actions of members of the investigative and operational team.

1.2

Actions of the SOG participants at the scene of the incident

Investigator:

— manages the SOG on duty, determines the order of its work, ensures the coordination of the actions of its personnel to identify the victims, eyewitnesses of the incident and the perpetrators of the crime; carries out work to collect (detection, recording and seizure) traces of a criminal act;

— before leaving for the scene of the incident, determines the optimal composition of the members of the special task force, informs them about the incident, assigns each of them tasks to carry out urgent measures;

— if necessary, involves, through the operational duty officer of the police department, additional specialists and other persons (for example, employees of the patrol service * (161)) to participate in the inspection of the scene of the incident;

- allows, in cases provided for by law, access to the scene of the incident of persons who do not officially participate in the inspection (including representatives of the media (hereinafter referred to as the media)).

- inspects the scene of the incident, during which:

1) records the time of arrival at the crime scene;

2) removes unauthorized persons from the inspection site, including police officers who do not take part in the inspection or security of the scene. Admission to the scene of the incident of persons not officially participating in its inspection is made only with the permission of the investigator (inquiry officer);

3) determines the circle of specialists to participate in the inspection of the scene of the incident;

4) takes measures to identify the victim and provide assistance to him;

5) receives primary information from internal affairs officers who were the first to arrive at the scene of the incident (for example, a police squad, etc.); establishes what changes have been made to the situation at the scene of the incident; determines the boundaries of the inspection and the procedure for conducting it;

6) identifies and briefly interviews eyewitnesses of the incident;

7) attracts relevant persons with special knowledge to the inspection of the scene of the incident: a forensic expert, a forensic physician (in case of harm to the health of the victim) or another specialist;

summarizes and analyzes information received by him from eyewitnesses, participants in the inspection of the scene of the incident and other persons that is of interest for putting forward and verifying investigative leads;

9) puts forward versions, taking into account information received at the scene of the incident, and plans the implementation of urgent measures aimed at solving the crime. For this purpose, he gives instructions to employees of operational units to carry out the necessary operational measures, and exercises other powers provided for by the criminal procedure law;

10) informs the members of the Special Investigation Team about the facts and circumstances known to him that are important for identifying and hot pursuit of the persons who committed the crime;

11) personally draws up a protocol for the inspection of the scene of the incident and bears personal responsibility for its quality;

12) upon completion of the inspection of the scene of the incident, as well as interviewing eyewitnesses and victims about the circumstances of the crime committed, gathers members of the Special Investigation Team and sums up the work done.

Operations officer:

- having arrived at the scene of the incident first, takes measures to preserve the original situation, and in the absence of the investigator, conducts an inspection of the scene of the incident. As a member of the SOG:

- gets acquainted with the circumstances of the incident to determine the direction of the search and take operational-search and other measures to identify and detain persons involved in the crime;

— resolves the issue of the dog handler’s use of a service-search dog;

— establishes the identity of the victim;

— identifies eyewitnesses to the crime, persons who can report something about the incident, suspects, lifestyle of the victim, etc.; for these purposes, together with the local police commissioner, he goes around the territory (households, apartments);

— conducts a survey of eyewitnesses and the victim about the circumstances of the crime known to them and the persons involved in it;

— maintains contact with the police department on duty;

- systematically, as data is received that is of operational interest for solving the crime, informs the investigator about it; takes measures to apprehend the criminal without delay;

— informs the operational duty officer of the internal affairs department information about the nature of the crime; signs of the persons who committed it;

— identifies from the records of persons previously convicted of similar crimes, those who are prone to committing them and who are registered at their place of residence, etc.; takes measures to verify their involvement in the crime;

— carries out operational investigations aimed at identifying, detecting and detaining persons suspected of committing a crime; checks seized items according to operational and forensic records; identifies eyewitnesses of the incident, as well as places of storage and sale of stolen goods;

- carries out the instructions of the investigator and informs him about the results of participation in the inspection of the crime scene and measures to identify the persons who committed the crime;

- draws up a detailed report on the work done addressed to the head of the internal affairs agency.

An employee of the forensic unit when visiting the scene of an incident:

— exercises the procedural powers of a specialist (Article 58 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation);

— discusses with the investigator the need and sequence of using certain technical means;

— determines the advisability of involving other specialists in the inspection of the crime scene, clarifies the sequence of actions to detect, record and seize traces and material evidence;

— agrees with the investigator on the procedure and method of photographing (video) filming the scene of the incident, selects and photographs objects;

— draws the investigator’s attention to the circumstances associated with the discovery, securing and seizure of objects and documents; gives explanations regarding the actions he performs;

— assists the investigator in the detection and seizure, packaging, as well as preservation of objects and traces of a crime, selection of comparative and control samples;

- conducts research of objects and traces at the scene to obtain information about the circumstances of the crime and the persons involved in its commission.

District police commissioner:

— if it is impossible for the on-duty SOG or employees of the operational units to arrive at the scene of the incident, conduct an inspection of it, and also perform other actions to establish the circumstances of the crime and the persons involved in it.

When going to the scene of an incident as part of the special task force:

— takes measures to protect the scene of the incident, as well as material assets and documentation;

— invites citizens as witnesses to participate in the inspection of the scene of the incident;

- finds out the circumstances of the crime committed and the persons involved in it and informs the investigator about this;

- carries out other assignments of the investigator.

In addition, he informs the investigator, investigator, and operational officers about persons living or appearing in the area of the incident who are of relevant interest to the preliminary investigation authorities and assists the employees of the operational unit in the pursuit and detention of persons suspected of committing a crime.

Dog inspector:

- coordinates with the investigator the use of a search dog to search for persons who committed a crime, weapons, other objects, as well as camouflaged shelters;

- takes part in the prosecution and detention of persons suspected of committing a crime;

— draws up an act on the use of a service-search dog or a report indicating the reasons for its non-use.

Patrol service employees:

- take measures to suppress the crime;

— organize and carry out the prosecution and detention of criminals;

— provide assistance to victims, call an ambulance if necessary;

— if possible, identify eyewitnesses to the crime;

- provide security at the scene of the incident;

- remove all citizens from the scene of the incident to a distance that excludes the possibility of destruction or damage to traces and material evidence.