1.

Introduction

1.1 CRIME SCENES: AN ASPECT OF HISTORY

Crimes and of course crime scenes are as old as humanity. Over time, great progress has been made in handling
crime scenes and in examining evidence in order to bring justice.

In modern societies crime scene investigation and the forensic handling of the evidence is a multidisciplinary
scientific procedure. Ballistics, fingerprint examination, DNA analysis, fibre examination and explosive residues
are only some of the areas that forensic analysis includes.

Many academic papers and training procedures are available, providing guidelines and best practices for crime
scene investigation and the forensic examination of evidence. In their pages various experts with different areas
of expertise have deposited their valuable experience along with their scientific knowledge. For example, the
European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) Scene of Crime Examination Best Practice Manual
provides a framework of standards, principles and approaches for the detection, recording and recovery of
forensic evidence at the crime scene in compliance with the requirement of ISO 17020. In addition,
INTERPOLs Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) Guidefirst published in 1984, constitutes the international
standard for conducting and organising DVI operations. This is mainly focused on scientifically and
internationally accepted methodology on victim identification.

However, this literature does not cover in detail the time period from the moment the crime/incident occurs until
the police investigators or forensic experts take over the case. But this is a problem because the outcome of a
forensic case is often already determined even before the crime scene investigation (CSI) team or other
responsible agency arrives at the crime scene.

Since forensic technology and methods are constantly developing, first responders should always be aware that
even traces of DNA or other forensic findings may be of great value for the outcome of the case. There are
many reported cases where first responders, lacking personal protective equipment (e.g. gloves, shoe covers),
left shoeprints or fingerprints inside the crime scene. In addition, personal belongings such as first responders
cigarette butts have often been found in the crime scene and examined as evidence. Focused training for first
responders can minimise contamination issues to only those that occur inevitably.

The fact that most of the literature describes procedures that are performed by forensic experts or police
investigators, combined with the lack of written guidelines, practical information and actions that first
responders have to take, highlights the need for the creation of this learning module on Forensic Awareness for
Police First Responders.

1.2 AIMS AND PURPOSE OF THE LEARNING MODULE

The aims and purposes of the learning module are to:

Provide basic and practical guidelines to those police officers that first arrive at the scene, regardless of
their level of forensic knowledge;
Assist and enhance first responders preparedness concerning the protection of the scene and
preservation of evidence;
Highlight the important role first responders have as they need to take crucial decisions quickly and
sometimes on subjects that are not covered by their area of expertise;
Enhance forensic awareness of first responders by introducing them to the forensic principles and
procedures in a more understandable and simplified way;
Serve as a stand-alone learning module that any police officer could use to prepare themselves
adequately, in case they have to act as the first responder at a crime scene.
A Crime Scene (Created by Konstantina Tsekoura, March 2017)

1.3 BASIC DEFINITIONS

It is essential to clarify the terminology that is going to be used in this learning module so some definitions of
the main concepts will be given as a starting point.

1.3.1 First responder

According to Wikipedias definition, A first responder is an employee of an emergency service who is likely to
be among the first people to arrive at and assist at the scene of an emergency such as an accident, natural
disaster, or terrorist attack. First responders typically include police officers, deputy sheriffs, firefighters,
paramedics, and rescuers. In this definition it could be added that a first responder is potentially involved in all
crime scenes, both major and minor ones. In the context of the training purposes of this module, a first
responder is described as the police officer that first arrives at a crime scene and automatically is charged with
its proper protection and preservation.

In some cases the aforementioned police officer is adequately trained, experienced and has a solid background
in crime scene investigation and forensic procedures. In other cases, and especially if an incident takes place in a
small and rather isolated community, village or even an island, the first responder most probably will be the
local police officer. However, in all cases the first responder, even with limited knowledge, has to protect human
lives as well as evidence.

1.3.2 Evidence
A definition might be: Evidence is a thing or set of things helpful in forming a conclusion or judgment and
consequently the means by which an allegation may be proven, such as oral testimony, documents or physical
objects. More broadly construed, evidence is anything presented in support of an assertion.

Evidence in crimes scenes certainly differs according to the nature of the crime. For example, in a homicide case
it would include any objects left by the perpetrator such as cigarettes, whereas in a disaster it would include
objects that may elucidate the cause of the disaster such as plane parts or the black boxes.
1.3.3 Forensic awareness
This could be defined as the the comprehension of an emergency situation such as a crime scene and the basic
knowledge of forthcoming forensic procedures, in order to secure and protect existing evidence.

Forensic awareness training should be considered as a key factor for first responders of all categories. First
responders with no forensic awareness might easily take poor decisions that could lead to serious consequences
(e.g. destroying precious evidence, leading to more human casualties).

1.4 RESPONSIBILITIES OF A FIRST RESPONDER

It may be of common belief that the only responsibility of first responders is to save human lives. This is
certainly not the case since first responders duties are multi-layered and differ according to the nature of the
incident. Of course their initial concern is to make sure that they do not need to medically assist any individual
and that the crime scene as a first assessment is safe. Furthermore they need to contact other emergency services
or responsible law enforcement agencies to report the incident, give as much accurate information as they can,
and request their assistance.

Until other services arrive at the crime scene the first responder is solely responsible for:

Securing the area by establishing the perimeter;

Determining itineraries for medical services and other agencies to reach the crime scene, highlighting
to them the necessity to fulfil their tasks and at the same time to protect evidence;
Keeping unauthorised individuals back and away from the scene;
Recording the names and phone numbers of the witnesses;
Protecting evidence (in exceptional cases, e.g. extreme weather conditions for incidents in the open air,
it is essential for evidence to be collected before it is destroyed);
Ensuring chain of custody for evidence that has to be collected and documented (chain of custody is
defined in legal terminology as the chronological documentation of seizure, custody, control, transfer,
analysis and disposition of physical evidence see 2. Main Forensic Principles for further details);
Avoiding any kind of contamination of the evidence (due to bystanders or the first responders
themselves) see 2. Main Forensic Principles for further details;
Providing a general assessment of the incident to the investigators when they arrive.
Providing any valuable information for the forensic investigation to the responsible CSI team.

It might seem that only a superman could perform all these duties and responsibilities. In reality, with adequate
training every police officer could cope in an appropriate and professional way as a first responder.

This module aims to contribute to establishing an appropriate series of actions for first responders. It could also
be a useful training tool for those who want to be proactively aware of first responders actions in the crime
scene.

1.5 CHAPTERS OF THIS MODULE AT A GLANCE

In the pages to come the following subjects on forensic awareness for police first responders will be covered:

2. Main Forensic Principles

In this chapter, forensic principles as well as the forensic procedures most commonly used worldwide are
presented in a non-technical way. It is of high importance for first responders to be aware of the procedures that
follow the collection of evidence. This way they can understand the importance of keeping the crime scene
intact and of avoiding any kind of contamination.

3. Arrival at the Scene and Initial Assessment

The general principles that apply to almost every crime scene will be analysed in this chapter. In addition special
categories of crime scenes, such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters and forensic cases with great social impact
will be presented. In different cases the standard procedure may require additional steps and actions to be taken
by the first responders. First responders should be aware that in every crime scene, key evidence could be
anywhere. In addition, it is not easy to determine at a first sight whether the incident is already concluded or it is
still evolving and subject to further change. For this reason the initial assessment is of high importance because
it constitutes the first assessment of the severity of the incident.
4. Protection and Control of the Scene

These could be described as the key roles of a first responder. Almost simultaneously with the initial assessment
of the situation first responder needs to set the boundary of a rather large area around the scene and keep
everyone back and out. Only one entrance and exit point should be established in order to control who enters the
scene. The sooner the crime scene is controlled the better the evidence is preserved and the higher the
probability for valuable future forensic results.

5. Coordination of Emergency Services

Depending on the special circumstances of an incident, a first responder might need to communicate with other
emergency services, even before they finish securing the scene. In any case communicating with other
responsible agencies is crucial, since it alerts all specialised personnel to go to the scene and also provides
guidance and assistance to the first responders on handling special challenges related to the nature of the
incident. The emergency services that can be involved in a crime scene and which first responders might need to
contact include medical services, search and rescue services, the fire brigade, police special forces, counter
terrorism units, bomb squads, CSI teams, etc.

6. Documentation and Handing over the Scene

Documentation of the scene is necessary in order to officially record the state of the scene when first responders
arrive. Proper and detailed documentation is vital because it is the only reliable way to provide information to
investigators, CSI teams or other responsible services.

7. Health and Safety

Crimes scenes are by definition a hazardous environment to work in. Taking that into account first responders
should be extremely conscious of their activity and movement in every crime scene. However the health and
safety of personnel is of high importance at all stages of police operations. This chapter outlines health and
safety measures applicable when approaching a crime scene.

8. Media and Family

This chapter refers to the most sensitive subject in almost every police operation. Most crime cases attract media
attention and it should be taken as a certainty that first responders will need to handle media pressure at least at
the early stages of the incident. All information should be considered confidential and any leak to the media or
non-involved individuals should be avoided. In addition, first responders at a crime scene may face relatives
under severe psychological pressure or even suffering from traumatic stress. First responders should treat these
people with respect and understanding, without making any concessions on keeping the crime scene intact.

9. International Cooperation

There is no doubt that some crimes scenes go beyond national borders. In these cases international cooperation
is also required. First responders should be aware of that possibility, in order to be able to smoothly collaborate
with their foreign counterparts. Nevertheless international cooperation can be implemented in all phases of
crime scene investigation as well as forensic examination of the evidence. In many cases immediate response
teams (IRTs) and disaster victim identification (DVI) teams from different countries successfully cooperate on
incidents with international impact, and forensic labs collaborate in order to compare and match scientific
results.

Glossary

In this module many technical and scientific terms as well as acronyms are used. The glossary provides a list of
explanations for all of these.
2. Main Forensic Principles

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This topic covers the main forensic principles, practices and procedures used in law
enforcement. It aims to provide an introduction to the forensic process and highlight what is
of critical importance for forensic investigators and the judicial process in court.

2.1 TRACE EVIDENCE

A French scientist and forensic pioneer, Edmond Locard (13 December 1877-4 May 1966),
stated that every contact leaves a trace. This principle is known as the Locards exchange
principle, and relating to trace evidence it means that when two objects touch one another,
there is a transfer of trace material from one object to another.

This principle is widely accepted and is used in forensic examination of a crime scene to
investigate links between, for example, a victim, a perpetrator and a location by means of
trace evidence. A simplistic way to represent the interrelationship between perpetrator, victim
and crime scene is called the Criminalistic Triangle:

2.2 CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION

To investigate the interrelationship between perpetrator, victim and crime scene, a forensic
examination has to be conducted. A crime scene is considered to be a place where the crime
took place and a location which contains trace evidence of criminal activities in the past.

A popular, simplified model of a forensic examination of a crime scene consists of four

phases. The first responder will arrive at the scene just before the first phase (the orientation
phase). The actions of a first responder will affect all four phases in the investigation
thereafter, and as the actions of first responders are practically irreversible, this means that
first responders play a crucial role in the outcome of a crime scene investigation.

The four phases are:

1. Orientation phase. In this phase an initial, non-invasive walkthrough over the crime
scene is performed. The observations by the police first responder and the outcome of
their actions precede the information gathered by a forensic examiner and are used as
input for setting up an action plan for the forensic examination.
 2. Preparation phase. In order to carry out the actual forensic investigation,
preparations will take place to ensure the requirements to perform the examination are
met. These concern personnel, equipment, securing the site, judicial requirements, etc.
3. Implementation phase. In this phase the actual forensic investigation takes place.
The examination of the crime scene is carried out according to the action plan. It is in
this phase that the actual trace material is collected and samples are taken for further
examination and testing in a laboratory.
4. Finishing phase. The last phase of a forensic examination is the finishing phase. The
work done is checked to see whether it has been carried out according the action plan
and is adjusted if required.

The four-phase model is a simplified representation of the steps that are taken, as in practice
shortcuts and loops between the phases can occur.

2.3 TRACE EVIDENCE

2.3.1 Examples of trace evidence

Classical trace evidence commonly examined in forensic labs includes (but is not limited to)
fingermarks, shoeprints, biological traces (hair, blood, semen, epithelial cells) which contain
DNA, tool marks, fibres and textile/fabric, samples for chemical profiling of unknown
suspected materials, gunshot residues, narcotics, explosives, guns and ammunition.

Non-classical traces include digital information carriers (mobile phones, laptops, GPS
devices, etc.).

2.3.2 Identification of trace evidence

Traces cannot not always be seen by the naked eye or easily identified.

Physical evidence can be visible (like bloodstains), but sometimes it needs to be made visible
by for example advanced chemical enhancement methods or by the use of alternative light
sources (like latent fingerprints or DNA contact traces), or it may simply remain invisible and
is only found by back-engineering of the activities on a scene.

Another example is digital information. Highly sophisticated smartphones, watches, GPS

devices, computers and even car-board computers contain information that can be used in the
investigation phase or the evidential phase in court.

Experts are needed to reveal, recognise and extract these data. Digital and electronic data can
be lost if the data carrier is improperly secured or handled.

2.4 EVIDENTIAL VALUE

Evidential value can be considered to be what can be achieved with the collected trace
evidence from the crime scene in a forensic laboratory and later with results in court.

A forensic examination is based on applied science. A forensic scientist or expert will give
evidence in court based on the examination of items that are submitted to a forensic
laboratory.

Three factors affect the value of physical evidence and to what level a forensic scientist or
expert is able to draw conclusions. These factors are the circumstances it is found in, how
unique a trace it is, and (in particular) the quality of the crime scene examination that has
been performed.
2.5 LEVELS OF EVIDENCE

In general, in a forensic investigation three types of levels of evidence can be achieved:

1. Identification: What kind of trace is it? For example, it is a shoeprint.

2. Classification: To which group or class does the trace belong? For example, it is a
Nike sports shoe, size 9.
3. Individualisation: From what unique source does a trace originate from? For
example, the shoeprint can be uniquely linked to a particular shoe belonging to the
suspect by characteristic marks caused by wear in the sole.

Although individualisation is the highest possible level that can be achieved through forensic
investigation, forensic scientists are more and more being asked for their opinion on the
activity level. For example, did a suspect handle the weapon that was used to kill the victim.
This judgement is based in part on the forensic examination of the weapon, but also involves
the context/situation and the persistence and transfer of traces in specific situations.

The decision on whether the suspect is guilty of committing the crime or not (for example,
whether they stabbed the victim to death) is left to the court. This level of evidence is called
the offense level.

2.6 QUALITY ASSURANCE (QA)

Forensic science institutes and forensic laboratories strive to apply quality assurance (QA)
systems, as this prevents any discrepancies or faults in the examination that would have to be
addressed in court. They have quality systems which include standard operating procedures
(SOPs) and proficiency tests. They are accredited by national accreditation boards, which are
members of the European Accreditation, or are working towards a form of accreditation. For
example, ISO/IEC 17025 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration
laboratories is a well-known ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standard
used by testing and calibration laboratories.

These QA systems only apply to the examination of evidence as it is submitted to the

institutes and laboratories to be examined. The forensic scientist or expert therefore has to
assume that several critical procedures in the previous examination of the crime scene have
been followed. These procedures and their associated risks, such as contamination, the
integrity of evidence, and information about context, will therefore be explained in the
following section.

2.7 FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE EVIDENTIAL VALUE OF TRACES

2.7.1 Contamination
Contamination is well known within the medical professional environment. In a hospital
medical equipment is regarded as contaminated when it is exposed to bacteria, for example.
The definition of contamination in a forensic context is a situation when (trace) material is
added to trace evidence at a crime scene (after the incident) which has no relation to the
crime.

The examination of the original situation as found by the police first responder is of
utmost importance in reconstructing what happened during the incident.

As any changes or alterations could lead to a false reconstruction, a false lead in the police
investigation phase, contamination is one of the main threats to an investigation. In the worst
case, contamination could lead to a wrong conviction or failure in court to prove the
involvement of a perpetrator in a criminal activity.

Understandably non-forensically skilled persons at the scene might unintentionally change

the original situation by destroying, moving or adding material that does not belong to the
scene.

At an early stage it is not always clear to first responders that they are dealing with a crime
scene where a criminal activity took place. In this phase, no personal protection measures are
taken (e.g. no overalls, gloves, mouth mask or shoe covers are worn), and the scene is not
protected from the first responder who attends the crime scene who might unintentionally
leave (invisible) trace material on the scene.

The new techniques used in forensics are highly sensitive, which makes the identification of
very small amounts of contaminated material likely. Only a few transferred cells from the
skin of a person that has been present on the scene are needed to get a complete DNA profile,
and that person could then be unjustly incriminated.

For example, a cigarette butt left by a police officer might lead to an extensive and expensive
search for an unknown person that could be a murderer or leave in court a question
unanswered about who left the DNA at the scene.

It is therefore important that first responders communicate clearly with crime scene
investigators about their activities and whereabouts on a crime scene. In this way any
contamination can be identified and excluded from the forensic process.

Example of contamination: fibres found on a dead body (left side of picture) and fibres
unintentionally left by first responders (paramedics who performed cardiopulmonary
resuscitation CPR) (right side of picture). (Microscopic view, 200x magnification).
Picture: Paul van den Hoven

2.7.2 Integrity of evidence: the chain of evidence

The purpose of a forensic examination is to deliver valid examination results that can be used
in court as evidence. To prove the integrity of the evidence, forensic personnel document,
label, photograph, draw and describe potential evidence. This is done proactively by showing
the absence of any alterations, substitutions, or change of condition.

Forensics uses the term chain of custody. A definition of the chain of custody is the
movement and location of physical evidence from the time it is obtained at the crime scene
until the time it is presented in court.

If there is any doubt in court about the integrity of evidence, then any persons that have been
present at a crime scene can be asked to testify in court about their activities at the scene and
the original situation at the time of their arrival.

For example, in one case a court acquitted a woman on drugs charges due to lack of evidence.
The court explained the testimony of the prosecution witness, a police officer, was not
sufficient. This was because the identity of the objects confiscated from the accused was not
fully established because the chain of custody was not followed. Upon arrival the first
responder observed that the suspect had a plastic bag with white powder in her possession.
Subsequently he had put the bag aside (and out of sight) and did not hand it over to the
forensics investigators immediately upon their arrival. As a witness, the first responder was
unsure about whether a plastic bag containing white powder that he had seen in the
possession of the suspect was the same one he later handed over to the forensics
investigators.

2.7.3 Information about context

In court the presence or absence of information about the context the evidence is found in can
affect the value of the evidence.

For example, by finding only a few fibre traces that match the clothes of a suspect on a
corpse of a victim, a forensic expert might conclude that there had not been intensive contact
between the victim and the suspect. However, the expert might change their opinion on
learning that the body had previously been exposed to a water jet when firefighters tried to
extinguish a nearby fire which possibly removed a large amount of fibre traces.

A first responder can provide crucial information about the context the evidence was found
in. Investigating police officers are legally allowed to collect evidence. Under some EU
judicial systems, other first responders might not be allowed to record (e.g. take photos of) a
crime scene. However, in the absence of investigators, this record (e.g. photos taken by the
police first responder) can provide valuable information to be used in the investigation
process.
3. Arrival at the Scene and Initial Assessment

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This topic analyses the first crucial moments when first responders arrive at the scene.
Although the time period covered in this process is often rather short, there are significant
and numerous tasks that first responders need to fulfil. This topic also covers the tasks that
first responders should carry out in order to ensure the integrity of the crime scene and
eliminate contamination risk.

3.1 A PHONE CALL

For a great number of police officers a routine day starts with a phone call informing them
about a crime, disaster or suspicious incident. Automatically, police officers who receive
such a call put on the hat of first responders.

Their reaction should be immediate, since they have been called because they are located
closer to the crime scene than anyone else. Within a few minutes they are expected to be the
first to approach the scene.

This could be described as the starting point that usually dictates whether or not this case will
be solved, and whether or not it will lead to the arrest and potential conviction of the
perpetrator, depending on whether sufficient/reliable evidence can be secured. In other words,
the actions first responders take in the few minutes after receiving the phone call and the way
they handle the crime scene will certainly affect the outcome of the investigation process.

A crime scene is defined as the place where a crime has occurred. However, it is clear that
there is a wide variety of crime scenes: a homicide might take place in a bedroom and a
terrorist attack might occur at an international airport. Regardless of the size of the crime
scene, a piece of physical evidence can be located in any centimetre of it. For this reason first
responders initial responsibility and concern is to be fully aware that at least for a small but
rather crucial time period, they are solely responsible for securing and protecting the scene
and all physical evidence inside it.

3.2 LOOK, LISTEN, SMELL

The expression look, listen, smell could be used as a memory trick for first responders.
This is because it includes everything that should be done in the most simplified way and it
can be applied to all crime scenes, regardless of their differences. In addition, there are some
common guidelines that can be applicable to the majority of incidents:
 Approach: Even when approaching a crime scene, first responders should be
observant (a suspicious vehicle or a suspect may try to flee immediately after the
incident).
Health and safety issues for first responders and other individuals in the scene:
o When arriving at the crime scene initial observations should be made in order
to ensure safety for the next steps;
o Ensuring the safety of all individuals at or nearby the scene should be one of
first responders top priorities;
o First responders do not enter the crime scene unless they are certain that there
are no hazardous materials (e.g. unexploded devices or explosives, biological
weapons, radiological or chemical threats). If hazardous materials appear to be
present, special agencies (such as the bomb squad, CBRN teams, etc.) should
be asked to assist and until experts are sure that the scene is safe, no person
should be allowed to approach the scene;
o Even when there is no sign of additional threats, first responders should
remember that there is no innocent crime scene. From this perspective first
responders should remain cautious and alert because the incident may not be
concluded.
Communication with other emergency services: At the early stages of their
response first responders need to communicate and liaise with other emergency
services, such as medical services, search and rescue services, the fire brigade, police
special forces, counter-terrorism units, bomb squad, crime scene investigation (CSI)
teams, etc. This communication alerts all specialised personnel to approach the scene
and also provides guidance and assistance to the first responders on handling specific
challenges related to the nature of the incident.
Securing the crime scene:
o Maybe the most challenging decision for first responders is to determine the
boundaries of the crime scene. It is certainly difficult to estimate the size of a
crime scene at first glance. However, as an initial assessment is it preferable
for first responders to overestimate the size of the crime scene rather than
underestimate it, because at a later stage it is relatively easy, if necessary, to
reduce the boundaries of the scene but much more difficult to expand them.
o Once first responders decide on the scene boundaries, they need to mark them
clearly with physical barriers. There are plenty of ways to achieve this (e.g.
police tape, cones) whereas in some crime scenes stand alone barriers exist
(e.g. doors, windows, walls).
o The determination of a single entry and exit point as well as paths inside the
crime scene is crucial, because it enables first responders to better control the
situation, minimise contamination and loss of evidence and provide medical
assistance to those who need it without altering dramatically the crime scene
(e.g. by damaging or even destroying evidence in the crime scene).
Facilitating medical assistance:
o It is not only included in their professional responsibilities, but it is also a
moral obligation for first responders to ensure that medical attention is
provided to injured individuals. For this reason first responders should call for
medical assistance and facilitate access to these persons.
o At the same time first responders should briefly inform the medical personnel
on the apparent status of the injured. They should also remind them or even
instruct them on the spot, to avoid interfering with physical evidence and
altering the crime scene.
Dealing with people:
o Police first responders have to identify and control (non-injured) people in the
crime scene. These individuals belong to the following categories: a) suspects,
b) witnesses, c) bystanders, d) family/relatives, e) the media. Each of these
groups of people should be handled differently by the first responders. In
 addition, suspects may sometimes pretend to be bystanders so that they
manage to flee the crime scene.
o Although first responders do not perform the official interrogation, they have a
responsibility to secure suspects as well as to keep witnesses in another safe
place until investigators take over the case.
o When first responders conclude that someone is merely a bystander they
should instruct them to leave the scene, in order to avoid unnecessary
crowding that would just complicate the crime scene management.
o Families: Handling family and relatives of the victims, especially just after the
incident, constitutes the most delicate part of first responders duties. These
people are certainly under severe psychological pressure and they can even
suffer from traumatic stress. It is important to treat families and relatives that
are trying to accept the loss of their loved ones with respect, understanding
and compassion. However, first responders should make no compromise on
ensuring scene integrity, protecting evidence and minimising contamination.
o Media: It is certainly difficult to combine at the same time, the psychological
pressure family and relatives are applying to first responders, with media
pressure. The media may arrive at the crime scene even earlier than first
responders, and this can cause extra pressure and challenges to secure and
handle the scene just after the incident. First responders have to keep the
media in a safe distance, in order to avoid inappropriate photographs and
videos being uploaded in all channels and social media only minutes after the
crime/disaster. In addition, first responders should inform media people that
regular communication will be established with them as soon as the
responsible investigative police unit takes over the scene.
Handing over the crime scene: When the investigators in charge arrive at the scene,
the first responders need to provide them with an accurate and detailed briefing on the
incident as well as on the actions taken so far. This enables the seamless continuation
of crime scene management and the initiation of the investigative process.
After handing over the crime scene: Usually after handing over the scene to
investigators, first responders remain at the crime scene and assist in its control.

3.3 DOCUMENTATION

Scripta manent (written words remain) is maybe the most famous Latin expression that
captures the importance of documentation in all cases. The documentation of the scene is
necessary in order to officially record its state at all times, starting from when first responders
arrive until the scene is handed over to investigators.

Proper and detailed documentation is vital because it is the only reliable way to provide
information to investigators, crime scene investigation (CSI) teams or any other responsible
services. In addition, it is almost impossible even for the most experienced and observant first
responder to recall everything needed to be disseminated, even after only a short period.

Some key points that first responders need to document, in order to preserve information and
substantiate the investigative procedure, are the following:

Initial observations: First responders initial observations and remarks, while

approaching and arriving at the crime scene (e.g. weather/environmental conditions,
location and license plates of suspect vehicles, location of persons).
Information about the crime: A draft sketch of the crime scene may prove really
valuable, since it can be used as a benchmark in the CSI process. Details concerning
the crime should be noted (e.g. broken windows, hazardous odours, damaged objects).
Collecting contact details: A detailed record of contact details for witnesses,
suspects or even some of the bystanders that are given permission to leave the crime
scene. It should be emphasised that first responders do not perform any interviews of
 witnesses or suspects. This is solely the investigators responsibility. First responders
should log their names, telephone numbers and actions in brief and guide them to a
place where investigators may do the interview.
Collecting evidence: As is described in detail in the following sub-chapter, first
responders do not usually collect evidence. However, there are cases that first
responders need to proceed to evidence collection as a precautionary measure. For
example in incidents that take place in the open air and in bad weather conditions,
first responders should collect evidence before it is destroyed. In these cases
documenting thoroughly the collected evidence and, if possible, taking photographs of
its location in the crime scene, is of great importance for the maintenance of the chain
of custody, which is defined in legal terminology as the chronological documentation
of seizure, custody, control, transfer, analysis and disposition of physical evidence.

First Responder Responsibilities (Created by Konstantina Tsekoura, April 2017)

3.4 NOT ONLY DOS BUT DONTS AS WELL

First responders responsibilities are not limited to the tasks they should DO, but there are
things they should NOT DO, in order to have a positive contribution to the overall
investigation and the final judicial outcome of the case. For example, first responders should
not:

Interfere with the investigation of the crime scene.

Collect evidence, except in exceptional cases (as already mentioned above). In all
other cases, the collection of evidence by first responders increases dramatically the
risk of contamination and obstructs CSI, according to quality assurance (QA)
standards. However, one of first responders primary responsibilities is to secure the
scene and protect the physical evidence.
Allow anyone, themselves included, to use the facilities of the crime scene. In
particular no one should smoke, eat or drink inside the crime scene, no one should use
 objects that are in the crime scene (e.g. electronic devices, windows, doors), and no
one should use bathroom facilities, or other places of the crime scene.
Expose themselves or their colleagues to health and safety risks. For this reason, if
first responders lack protective equipment (gloves, body uniforms, etc.) they should
touch nothing in the scene.

3.5 SPECIAL GUIDELINES FOR MAIN CRIME CATEGORIES

It is well known among police officers that each crime scene is unique and should be treated
accordingly. However, since it is not possible to cover all crime scene particularities in a sub-
chapter of a training module, we will try to cover in a more generic way the special features
of main crime categories.

3.5.1 Homicides and assaults

In homicide and assault cases there is a high probability that the perpetrator has not managed
to escape the scene, when the first responders arrive. For this reason more attention should be
given and extra measures should be taken in order to have the suspect successfully identified
and arrested.

In addition, the victim may not be dead but just severely injured. If this is case, providing
adequate medical assistance to the victim as soon as possible is of utmost importance.

3.5.2 Terrorist attacks

Destruction and chaos might be the most appropriate words to describe crime scenes
related to terrorist attacks. The primary concern of first responders should be to secure the
scene and communicate to other emergency services an initial assessment which is as
accurate as possible.

Most terrorist crime scenes result in mass casualties and they encompass an area many times
greater than the average size of an ordinary crime scene. For these reasons first responders
should ensure that other specialised emergency services and police forces are called to assist
them as soon as possible.

3.5.3 Disasters (natural or man-made)

In this category a great variety of different cases is included, since a disaster is any kind of
calamitous event that causes a significant number of casualties and also material and
environmental damage. Disasters can be sub-divided into those caused by natural phenomena
(earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, etc.) and those that are anthropogenic and are
caused either by human negligence or deliberate human actions (plane crashes, nuclear
explosions, environmental destruction, massive fires, etc.).

In such cases, the first responders initial and also spontaneous assessment is often that
management of such an incident exceeds the countrys own resources and most probably will
require a cross-border cooperation response (see also 9. International Cooperation). It is vital
that the first responders communicate this assessment as quickly as possible to other
emergency services, in order to save time in the outset of the international cooperation.

In addition in disaster cases, victims identification constitutes a rather important part of the
overall case management. Scientific approaches (DNA analysis, fingerprints and dental
records) as well as standardised disaster victim identification (DVI) procedures are performed
by all DVI teams involved in disaster cases as required. For all these reasons, first responders
in disaster cases should be aware that they would have to join forces not only with
investigators and CSI teams but also with DVI teams that by definition have the predominant
role in identifying all victims and returning the bodies respectfully to their families.

4. Protection and Control of the Scene

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There is no doubt that different kinds of traces are present in the scene of an incident or
crime, so control and measures taken to protect these traces are crucial for the traces found to
become evidence admissible in court. This topic covers how a scene should be established
and controlled, and how traces should be protected, whether they are in open space or in
buildings, on persons or on/in vehicles, etc. The topic also covers measures to prevent the
contamination of traces.

4.1 CONTROLLING THE SCENE

4.1.1 Assessment of the scene

Since practically any police officer could become the first responding officer at the crime
scene, it is very important that they are aware of the importance of their reaction and
behaviour.

Upon arrival at the scene of an incident, the police officer, as a first responder or one of the
first responders on the scene, should do the initial overview and assessment of the scene and
treat it as a crime scene until it is assessed and maybe determined to be otherwise.
Although the health and safety of all present at the scene should be a priority of the police
first responder, one of the main goals is also the protection and control of a crime scene. This
means the reduction of contamination and unnecessary movement (define the corridor for
entering, exiting and moving inside the scene), preservation of possible traces and
preservation of the crime scene in a state as close as possible to the time of the critical event.
In other words, the first contact officer and first responder aim to ensure that the scene is
preserved as well as possible to maximise the forensic recovery.

4.1.2 Establishing a crime scene

Establishing a crime scene is not always simple and easy, since a police officer may be
involved in performing priority tasks, such as arresting a suspect or performing life-saving
actions on an injured person.

If the scene of the incident is determined to be a place where a crime has possibly been
committed, then it is designated as a crime scene. The boundaries of the crime scene now
have to be established. The location and the type of incident or crime mostly determine the
boundaries of the scene.

The establishing of boundaries should start from one starting point and then be extended to
cover and include the necessary space. The boundaries should be established beyond the
possible starting scope of the investigation and then be reduced if necessary. This is because
it is much easier to reduce the scene than expand it.

The established boundaries should include the place where the event or crime actually
occurred and the possible routes of entry and exit of the suspect(s), victim(s) and witnesses.
Possible places where the evidence or victims are moved to, should also be within the scene
boundaries or, if not directly connected and attached, established as a secondary crime scene.

Practically, boundaries can be created by using different physical barriers preferably police
tape but also ropes, cars and other available equipment and naturally present barriers like
fences, walls, doors, etc.
A Crime Scene (Photo: Curtis Perry, flickr.com, published under Creative Commons (CC
BY-NC-SA 2.0))

4.1.3 Controlling a crime scene

The established boundaries of the scene should be under the protection and control of the
police first responder at all times so that the integrity of the scene is maintained.

The protection and controlling of the crime scene involves:

Keeping all unwanted and unnecessary persons out of the scene;

Documenting the entry or exit of people involved in the crime scene in some kind of
crime scene log;
Control the movement (by defining the corridor) and behaviour of all the persons and
staff that are necessarily on the scene, for example paramedics or firefighters.

If medical personnel or firefighters had already entered the scene before the police first
responder arrived, the police first responder needs to identify them and determine if anything
was moved, touched or changed in any other way.

4.2 PROTECTION OF POSSIBLE TRACES AT A CRIME SCENE

During the initial assessment and establishing the crime scene boundaries, the police first
responder should, at all times, be aware of the possible presence of different traces. Traces
include latent traces that cannot be seen by the naked eye, as well as shoeprints, tyre tracks,
etc. Probably greatest attention should be focused on the floor since it is the most common
place for traces and also has the greatest potential for contamination.

Items found on the crime scene should not usually be moved or repositioned. This includes
moving trash or apparently insignificant objects, adjusting the air-conditioning or other
appliances and even opening doors and windows. Nothing should be touched unnecessarily.

In case an object on the crime scene is moved for some reason, this must be noted and
documented in the some kind of crime scene log (the form of which may differ from one law
enforcement agency to another).

There are some exceptions to the rule of not moving items. For example, a firearm can be
moved, with extreme caution, in order to ensure the safety and well-being of persons present
at the scene. If a firearm is moved, this must be done by qualified personnel who are capable
of handling and disarming a weapon in a safe way, and it must be well noted and documented
in the crime scene log.

Sometimes traces and possible evidence can be compromised or destroyed and lost by outside
natural or other factors, like wind, rain, snow or shoeprints and tyre tracks from the first
responders shoes and vehicles. In these cases measures for the protection and preservation of
that kind of traces have to be carried out. This can be done by using buckets, boxes, plastic
containers or other items.

The protection and controlling of the crime scene should include a ban (prohibition) on:

Taking photographs or filming the crime scene, either with mobile phones or any
other form of audio-visual recording, with the exception of the situation where the
crime scene will be significantly changed and altered due to a weather conditions or
first responder activities. Such information, documentation or photos should be
 handed over immediately to crime scene investigators. The ban is active not only for
non-forensic first responders, but also for people who have access or who can see the
scene, like bystanders, people who live in the area, etc.
Touching any objects, including windows, doors, adjusting heating systems and air
conditioning, even with gloves on;
Using any existing installation / equipment on the premises, premises like bathrooms,
toilets, kitchen, equipment like computers, faxes, telephones and rubbish bins;
Unnecessary movement by people;
Smoking, eating, drinking and spitting;
Speaking unnecessarily inside the scene, such as speculating and creating versions
and scenarios.

4.2.1 Good practices for the protection of possible traces in residences

and commercial establishments
Do not allow the repair of the places of break-in (windows, doors, etc.);
In case of breakage of windows and doors, in particular those on outer walls, these
must be preserved because they are more vulnerable, and in case of imminent risk
(e.g. adverse weather conditions) they must be transported to a safer location;
In cases where bad weather conditions (rain, snow, wind) can cause the destruction or
contamination of traces, close doors and windows;
In cases of burglary only, check the vicinity, in particular flowerbeds and waste bins,
for objects related to the burglary, such as tools used for break-ins and broken glass;
Do not allow the owner or occupier of the residence to handle objects in order to
verify what was stolen, etc.;
Instruct the owner or occupier of the residence to stay in the parts of the residence that
were not accessed (outside the crime scene);
Do not allow access to the residence by relatives/acquaintances or other persons.

4.2.2 Good practices for the protection of possible traces on living

persons
For victims and suspects:

Do not provide non-urgent medical treatment, except in case of distress, and do not
touch wounds;
Separate the victims from the suspects (e.g. in cases involving firearms) and do not
allow any physical contact;
Place the person in a clean area;
Preserve the hands / arms of the person with paper bags until traces are collected (e.g.
for crimes involving firearms or of a sexual nature);
Ask objective and essential questions to the victims;
Do not let the person clean himself/herself or take off or change any clothes, shoes,
jewellery, watches, etc.;
For suspected crimes of a sexual nature, and with the authorisation of the criminal
investigator), the victim should be taken/sent to hospital, escorted by a police officer.

4.2.3 Good practices for the protection of possible traces on/in

vehicles
Certain measures should be taken for the protection and controlling of vehicles found on the
crime scene or related with the crime scene:
 Check if there is an immediate risk of fire or explosion (e.g. fuel spillage, battery
overload, etc.);
If it is possible, check whether the vehicle is an electrical car, since an extinguished
fire might in that case unexpectedly start to burn again; in case of doubt, consult an
expert;
Do not disturb the vehicle, except in cases where weather conditions or other factors
can destroy or contaminate the possible traces, when doors and windows should be
closed;
Do not allow any repairs or changes to be made to the vehicle;
Check the vehicle surroundings for tools possibly used to break in (e.g. if it was used
to smash a window or cut a grid), as well as glass from the break-in and/or any other
objects from possible criminal activity;
Secure the vehicle so it cannot be accessed by third parties;
If the vehicle has to be removed, do not change the position of the seat, and make
notes of the position of the key and gearstick;
If there is a need to tow the vehicle, warn and inform the person towing the vehicle to
avoid contact with the inside and outside of the vehicle (even with gloves on);
In cases where the vehicle was involved in a road accident, explosion or fire, do not
allow it to be removed, moved or accessed, except for the rescue of the victims.

Burnt Car (Photo by Chris Tamm, flickr.com, published under Creative Commons (CC BY-
NC 2.0))

4.3 ANTI-CONTAMINATION MEASURES

Police first responders have to keep in mind possible contamination of the crime scene. Two
objects in contact always exchange a certain amount of material, and even if the objects are
not in direct contact there is a possible contamination of the scene, e.g. by hair and fibres.

For this reason, certain simple rules must be followed:

 Suspects and victims should not be allowed in the same space or in the same vehicle.
This will prevent the secondary transfer of traces between the suspects and victims
and the scene, or items seized from the suspects and victims and the scene.
Items recovered relating to the suspects, victims or scenes should be properly handled
and packed in separate areas, by different people at different times, to reduce the risk
of cross-contamination.

If anti-contamination measures are not followed, important traces at the scene can be
destroyed or altered. This can lead to different findings by the crime scene investigators and
misleading results of forensic examination.

5. Coordination of Emergency Services

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Good communication and data sharing among the first responders from the different
emergency agencies on the scene of an incident is crucial in order to:

Save lives and property;

Preserve possible traces that can lead to efficient forensic examination and turn traces
found on the crime scene into evidence. (See 2. Main Forensic Principles)

Upon arrival at the scene of an incident, a police first responder should do an initial appraisal
and assessment of the scene with the aim of establishing whether a crime has been
committed.

Depending on initial appraisal and assessment of the scene of incident, a decision has to be
made about which other emergency or other kind of service should be called in. These could
be medical services, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team (bomb squad), firefighters,
CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) incidents responders and the coroner.

Apart from these common first responders, a police first responder should also be in
immediate contact, directly or indirectly, with the crime scene examiners or forensic lab to
get a better understanding and directions on how to handle a scene of an incident.

5.1 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

5.1.1 Controlling the crime scene

In situations where medical emergency teams are necessary because of the urgent need to
provide medical care, a police first responder must initiate a series of actions in order to
protect the integrity of the crime scene, preserve potential traces and avoid destroying and/or
contaminating potential traces and forensic evidence. These actions are necessary even if the
medical services are already at the crime scene when the police first responder arrives.

Where reasonably practical, the emergency medical services personnel should follow the
following instructions:

Wear protective clothing (caps, overalls, mouth masks, disposable gloves and shoe
covers);
Use the specified common approach path to enter and exit the crime scene and get
access to the injured person;
 Operate only in the space strictly necessary for the performance of their work, without
moving or removing any objects that are at the scene of the crime;
In situations where the medical personnel need to cut and/or remove clothing in order
to treat a person:
o Tell the medical personnel about the possibility of destroying traces that are
found around bullet holes or other physical damage, and that these can be very
important in the later stages of forensic examination.
o Preserve the victim's clothing as much as possible, in particular, without
cutting any areas where there are holes/cuts present (physical damage such as
bullet holes from firearms usage and cuts from knives or any other cold
weapon);
o If it is necessary to remove the victim's clothing or any other items, arrange for
them to be packaged separately, each item in a separate and properly marked
paper bag;
Leave used disposables (medical supplies, equipment and other objects used to help
an injured person needles, gloves, tapes, bandages, gauzes, etc.) in place for
evaluation by the forensic examiners so any changes in the scene can then be
explained;
Record the movements of a treated person, as well as any items that have been moved
or removed (e.g. clothing, documents);
Record any comments made by the treated person, especially in situations of
imminent death, in which they should try to obtain / register a last statement;
Provide the names of the emergency medical personnel, the service to which they
belong and their contact details (e.g. telephone, e-mail).

5.1.2 Hospital treatment

If a victim or suspect needs to be taken to hospital by medical personnel, then a police officer
(not a first responder) should accompany them. If medical service personnel were the first on
the scene of the incident and took any person involved in the crime (suspect or victim) to
hospital, a police first responder should communicate with them and send someone (another
police officer) to hospital immediately. In both of these cases, the police officer needs to
make sure that:

Note the hospital where the suspect or victim is taken and the contact details of the
emergency services (e.g. telephone, e-mail);
If it is necessary to transport several victims / suspects to a hospital unit, they should
be separated from each other, so as to avoid the exchange of information between
them and potential contamination, until a police officer is present;
All trace evidence on and from persons involved is collected and preserved by the
police officers and medical staff:
o Clothes are put in separate properly marked paper bags;
o Samples for alcohol and drugs tests are taken from persons;
o Possible DNA traces are properly protected and preserved;
o If the incident involved firearms, possible areas for gunshot residue (GSR)
sampling (e.g. hands) should be protected and GSR samples should be
collected as soon as possible.
Ask members of the emergency service team to record any comments made by the
victim, suspect or witness during their treatment;
Inform members of the emergency team to note which clothing and shoes they wore
for possible examination later on.

5.2 EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL (EOD) TEAMS AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS

Firefighting (Photo by Manchester Fire, flickr.com, published under Creative Commons (CC
BY-NC 2.0))

Explosions and fire are quite often connected because an explosion often results in fire and
vice versa, fire can quite easily cause an explosion. Although saving lives and minimising
further damage and injuries is the priority when the incident scene includes one or both of
these phenomena, the police first responder and members of the emergency services need
also to be aware that process of putting out fires and preventing further explosions can
destroy any valuable traces or physical evidence.

For this reason the police first responder should warn the members of emergency services to
use procedures and techniques that are not just effective in suppressing fires and explosions
but also ones that will not lead to unnecessary additional damage to the surroundings.

An incident scene that involves explosion must be secured before any kind of examination is
carried out. This means that an EOD team must provide a safe scene by determining if any
other device or loose explosives are present. An EOD team will only be needed and work in
situations involving explosives or explosive devices, since firefighters will work with other
types of explosions like gas and dust explosions.

Firefighters are very often first on the scene of an incident, responding to emergency calls
such as fires in cars, buildings and forests, and to airplane or train crashes.

Although the first responsibility of the firefighters is to get the fire under control, save lives
and give people first aid and care, they also need to be aware of the possible forensic
evidence on the scene of the incident. Obviously, a lot of damage can be done to any traces
by their firefighting actions:

Spraying high-pressure water or fire-suppressing foam;

Removing the debris that is blocking the entrance and pathway or knocking out doors,
windows or walls to create an entrance and breaking into a crashed vehicle;
 Carrying a person out from danger in their arms or over a shoulder so they are in
direct physical contact.

These are possible situation where the role of the police first responder is very important
because their knowledge and awareness of the importance of preserving forensic traces can
help and give the right direction to the firefighters in order to protect traces or prevent
contamination.

5.3 CBRN RESPONDERS

Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) incident scenes are usually large and
very complex. This kind of scene, besides the usual emergency services, requires the
involvement of professional teams specialised in this kind of work. For the police first
responder in CBRN incidents, it is important to:

Recognise it as a CBRN incident and initially assess the scene;

Protect themselves and the persons involved;
Control the situation at the scene by establishing safe and secure perimeters (gathering
casualties and witnesses at a safe place, communicating between different responders
on the scene);
Manage casualties (treatment, decontamination, transport);
Maintain communication with all the other additional agencies/ specialist teams.

5.4 CORONER

In cases involving dead bodies where the presence of a coroner is required, the police first
responder should ensure that no entry to the crime scene takes place before the arrival of
persons in charge of the investigation.

6. Documentation and Handing over the Scene

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This chapter covers the verbal and written documentation of the crime scene by the police
first responders for the investigators. It also covers the transfer of responsibility for the crime
scene to the investigators.

6.1 DOCUMENTATION OF THE CRIME SCENE

The quality and objectivity of the information collected by the first responders at the crime
scene and the reliability of its transmission to those who will initiate or continue with the
investigation are crucial for the success of any criminal investigation.

Crime scene investigation is like a puzzle that comprises different pieces (first responders,
crime scene investigators, criminal investigators, forensic experts, prosecutors, etc.). Each
one of these pieces has an important role in the correct construction of the puzzle. In this
analogy, the first responders are normally the first piece of the puzzle, and considering it in
this way it is easy to understand the importance of their role for the success of a criminal
investigation.
In the field of crime scene investigation there are two important times when the first
responder should communicate with those who will initiate or continue with the
investigation:

On arrival at the scene, after the first evaluation of the space;

At the handing over of the physical space to those who will initiate or continue with
the investigation.

The first responder always needs to have in mind that the place where a crime has been
committed is usually extremely complex and unstable. Its integrity is threatened by the
fragility and precarious nature of the evidential traces and also by multiple external
potentially destructive factors, both human and natural, voluntary and involuntary. Since the
risk of destruction or alteration of these traces is ever-present, it is essential to proceed
rapidly with their identification and collection.

6.1.1 Oral communication of the first evaluation of the scene

It is crucial that after the first evaluation of the space where a crime could have occurred, the
first responder should provide an oral communication to the team that will initiate or continue
the investigation. This communication should be made according to the defined procedural
rules and channels of their organisation, and in the shortest period of time. If written official
forms are required, these should be sent retrospectively.

The information received from this oral communication is also very important for the
evaluation of what is needed to investigate the scene, regarding:

Personnel;
Equipment and other material resources.

In the oral communication, the event should be characterised by a brief description, which
should include the following information:

Facts about what happened (possible type of crime);

Geographical and spatial characterisation of the place of the event (open space, road,
housing, commercial space, etc.);
Date and time of the initial call, arrival at the place, estimated time of occurrence of
the event;
Identification of all the persons possibly connected with the event, namely: victims,
suspects, witnesses, medical emergency teams, firefighters, etc.;
Means and objects possibly used for the commitment of the crime, including
weapons, vehicles, equipment, etc.;
Possible modus operandi for the commitment of the crime;
Information about the common approach path used by the emergency services
(paramedics, fire brigade, etc.);
Other events with direct or indirect interest for the investigation.

6.1.2 Importance of the first responder documentation to the

investigation
Given the characteristics of a crime scene, Heraclitus's maxim applies: No man ever steps in
the same river twice. As a result, it is not possible to later reinspect the scene as it was when
the first responders arrived.

6.2 HANDING OVER THE CRIME SCENE

Handing over the Scene (Photo: Polcia Judiciria, Portugal Laboratrio Polcia
Cientfica)

The handing over of the physical space by the first responder to those who will initiate or
continue with the investigation is done by passing on any relevant information. This includes:

The preliminary information collected;

Reporting on the steps taken and in execution;
Indicating the border of the scene initially carried out;
Handing over the domain and management of the space.

These are to be done in a way without affecting the security of the site or the carrying out of
subsequent investigation actions, like the collection of information from neighbours, etc.

The communication between the first responder and the investigators can initially be verbal.
However, it should also be provided as a written report or statement including both a Crime
Scene Initial Information Record Form and a Control Log of the Access of Persons.

The topics that should be addressed in the report are:

6.2.1 Control Log of the Access of Persons

This document is a register of all movements to and from the location of the incident,
including the date and time, the identity of the persons and the reason for their
presence/intervention.

6.2.2 Crime Scene Initial Information Record Form

This document includes:

Documentation of the common approach path used by emergency services and the
first responders;
Factors pertinent to entrance and exit points of a perpetrator, if recognised as such by
the first responder;
 Summary of the relevant detailed observations upon arrival of the first responder,
such as:
o Weather conditions;
o The state of doors, windows, curtains or blinds (closed / open or burglary
signs);
o Lights or other electrical appliances (on/off);
o Odours (cigarettes, smoke, gas, gunpowder, perfume);
Summary of the conditions of the place upon arrival, indicating whether it was
necessary to restore public order and the degree of such intervention;
Report on the intervention of the rescue teams, their identities and telephone contacts;
Identification of people at the scene:
o Identification of the victims (if possible; be aware that identification by means
of documents in the possession of the victim should be carried out in
cooperation with forensic investigators. No cleaning of the victim to ease the
visual identification is allowed at this stage. If the identification of the victim
is nevertheless commanded by police authorities, it is advisable to document
this);
o Identification of the suspect (s) and indication of the basis of the suspicion;
o Identification of the witnesses;
o Identification of the people who were at the crime scene, besides suspects and
witnesses, and recording their reasons or justifications, and the same
information about those who are filming or photographing the site.
Identification of vehicles at or near the crime scene that may be related to the event. If
access to a vehicle that is not identified at the crime scene is needed to identify the
vehicle, this should be granted in cooperation with forensic investigators.
Information about the location of objects that have been guarded/protected in a
precautionary manner for further examination. This includes information about the
original position of items in the exceptional case that there was an urgent need to
change, move or collect an object from its original position, and their current location.
The same information is required from other emergency services, such as paramedics,
who might change the original location of the objects due to their professional actions.
Information about all decisions made by the first responder, even if these decisions do
not seem relevant to them;
Information about any consultation/ agreements with third parties, made by the first
responder (for example: contact with a company to arrange machinery for the
excavation of a buried body).

All of the abovementioned information collected by the police first responder must be given
to the investigators as soon as they arrive.

It is advisable to first hold a meeting between the person responsible for the first on-the-spot
police intervention and those who initiate or continue with the investigation to have a two-
way verbal communication and report the mentioned topics.

7. Health and Safety

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7.1 INTRODUCTION: THE HIGH IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES

Health and safety issues should always be considered as the first priority when a police first
responder arrives at a scene, and should therefore be assessed before the start the initial
forensic assessment of the scene.

Health and safety should remain a priority until the end of the forensic examination of the
scene.

7.2 INITIAL ASSESSMENT BY FIRST RESPONDER

A crime scene is any place where a criminal or illegal action could have happened. This also
includes places where acts connected with the illegal act had occurred before or after the
crime.

The arrival of a police first responder at a crime scene by its nature implies physical contact
with persons, objects and places, and physical, biological or chemical hazards are highly
likely to be present. Even minimal contact with these objects or places can be potentially
fatal. At the initial assessment of the scene, the first step for the police first responder is to
identify the different materials present and what health and safety risks they could give rise
to.

When arriving at the scene of the event, and before doing anything else, the police first
responder must examine the place and make an evaluation about the possible types of harm,
and document them to later inform those who will initiate or continue with the investigation.

Potential hazard - Unsafe structures (Photo: Polcia Judiciria, Portugal Laboratrio

Polcia Cientfica)

7.3 TYPES OF HARM

The human body is vulnerable to harm caused in various ways:

Skin contact by direct contact or absorption;

Inhalation from dust, aerosols, smoke, gas, evaporated liquids or solid materials
through the respiratory tract;
Ingestion by the introduction of contaminated agents into the human body through
the mouth: directly or through the contact of poorly washed hands with food,
cigarettes, etc.;
Injection direct injection of contaminated products through syringes or wounds
produced by contaminated glass/metal or other objects with sharp edges.

7.4 RISKS: FACTORS AND SITUATIONS THAT MIGHT CAUSE OR LEAD TO HARM

There are three main types of risk:

Environmental risks (electric shock, collapse, explosion, etc.);

Intoxication risks (exposure to gas, smoke or toxins, etc.);
Infection risks (tuberculosis, hepatitis, HIV, etc.).

The risk of infection is increased by movement in unhealthy places such as dumps and places
with dead bodies and bodily fluids, and by physical contact with individuals belonging to
high-risk behaviour groups, such as drug addicts, prostitutes and transvestites.

All these risks are increased because at the first approach to the crime scene the police first
responders do not have the necessary information about the existing physical, biological or
chemical risks.

Not all hazards are immediately obvious and some of them may be identified only as the
scene is assessed.

7.4.1 Sources of potential hazards

Insecure environment (offender still present at the scene);
Environmental factors (excessive heat or cold, lack of oxygen, etc.);
Unsafe structures (incidents involving fire, bombs or gas explosions);
Chemicals present at the scene;
Biological materials (blood and body fluids, etc. may present a risk of HIV/AIDS,
hepatitis and other infections);
Unexploded explosives (homemade explosives, improvised explosive devices (IEDs),
military explosives, commercial explosives, etc.);
Firearms and ammunition;
Other risks: sharp objects, harmful radiation, electrical risks, gases, etc.
Potential hazard Dead body, biological fluids (Photo: Polcia Judiciria, Portugal
Laboratrio Polcia Cientfica)

7.5 PROCEDURES: THINGS TO DO AND NOT TO DO TO MINIMISE THE RISKS

Taking in consideration the many serious dangers for the police first responders it is
mandatory for them to always closely follow a set of health and safety procedures before
carrying out any procedures related to the protection of traces.

7.5.1 General procedures

In any situation, the police first responder should never:

Enter a space before potential atmospheric, structural, mechanical and electrical

hazards are identified;
Eat, drink, smoke or use the bathrooms or the rubbish bins;
Touch material with blood and body fluids, including toxic samples;
Touch insect larvae, eggs and pupae ;
Touch substances of a chemical or unknown nature;
Touch explosive, incendiary or pyrotechnic material;
Touch firearms (even if ready to shoot) and ammunition;
Touch any sharp or piercing object that could cause damage or injury.

7.5.2 Confined spaces

Special attention is needed when carrying out work in confined spaces (sewers, wells, silos,
tanks, etc.). These spaces may contain various hazards, such as toxic gases, explosive
atmospheres and oxygen deficiency.

Never enter before all atmospheric, mechanical and electrical hazards are identified and
documented. Sometimes it might be necessary to suppress or remove health and safety
hazards before starting the safety assessment of the space.
In this kind of situation the police first responder should:

Provide for site isolation with warnings to alert unauthorised personnel not to enter,
and keep entrances clear.
In case of an accident, for example, if a person has fallen into a confined space, never
attempt a rescue, unless the team has the expertise and the equipment/material
required.

7.5.3 Chemicals
In relation to exposure to environments with the presence of chemicals there may be a variety
of possible hazards, notably fire, explosions and corrosion, depending on the type of material
found.

Risks presented by different types of chemical:

Flammable or combustible materials (petrol, petroleum, ether, acetone, methanol,

etc.): These can ignite easily when exposed to the air and near a source of ignition,
such as spark or flame. In certain situations there is a high probability of explosion.
Explosive substances: Some explosive compounds, such as nitroglycerine and
nitroglycol (constituents of the commercial dynamites), become chemically unstable
when exposed to environmental conditions that are not suitable for storage. For
example, the ether forms peroxides in the neck of the container in which it is stored.
Many explosive substances are extremely sensitive to heat, shock and friction.
Oxidising substances, such as nitrates, hydrogen peroxide and concentrated sulphuric
acid: These are a class of chemical compounds that readily react with oxygen, giving
rise to combustible materials or substances that can easily accelerate their
decomposition.
Corrosive substances, such as acids and bases: These destroy living tissues or
materials such as wood and metals. The extent of damage depends on the
concentration and the size and duration of contact.

7.5.4 Volatile substances, gases and dust

In spaces containing volatile substances (fuels, chemicals, etc.), gases (gas, gases, etc.) or
dust (extremely high explosion risk), the police first responder should:

Stay as little time as possible inside the space;

Ventilate the space by opening windows, doors, etc.;
Not use any means of communication inside the space (mobile phones, radios, etc.),
turning them off while remaining there;
Not handle electrical equipment (connect switches, etc.);
Where possible, close the point of emission of the gas or gases (for example: cooker
knobs);
Remove all persons from the proximity of the space;
Create as wide as possible a perimeter with an appropriate safety cordon.

7.5.5 Explosive devices and substances

In spaces containing explosive devices or substances (extremely high explosion risk), the
police first responder should:

Not touch any of the materials on the site;

Not use any means of communication inside the space (mobile phones, radios, etc.),
turning them off while remaining inside;
 Move quickly away from the site;
Remove all persons from the proximity of the space;
Create as wide as possible a perimeter with an appropriate safety cordon.
Immediately contact the specialised explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team.

7.5.6 Clandestine drug laboratories

In spaces containing clandestine drug laboratories (extremely high explosion risk), the police
first responder should:

Stay as little time as possible inside the space;

Not ventilate the space by opening windows, doors, etc.;
Not tamper with any of the equipment or materials;
Not disconnect the electric current;
Not turn off any of the equipment;
Create as wide as possible a perimeter with an appropriate safety cordon.

7.5.7 CBRN agents

In spaces with chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) agents (extremely high
risk of death), the police first responder should:

Move quickly away from the site;

Do not tamper with any of the equipment or materials on site;
Remove all persons from the proximity of the space in question but keep them under
custody for decontamination by decontamination teams;
Create as wide as possible a perimeter with an appropriate safety cordon.
Immediately contact the specialised CBRN teams;
If necessary, immediately contact the specialised EOD teams.

7.6 INITIAL TREATMENTS

7.6.1 Accidental exposure to biological material or acid or alkaline

substances
In case of accidental exposure to biological materials or acid or alkaline substances, treatment
to the exposed area must be started immediately, by washing with:

Soap and water in case of percutaneous or cutaneous exposure;

Water or saline solution in case of mucosal exposure.

After this initial treatment, the person should see a medical doctor.

7.6.2 Wounds
In case of a wound caused by cutting or chopping, disinfect immediately and take the person
to an appropriate hospital.

The police first responder should not work with exposed wounds or lesions, but should
protect them carefully with a waterproof dressing that provides full 360 coverage while they
are working.

7.7 DISINFECTION PROCEDURES

After the police first responder finishes their work at the scene they should not leave the
space without properly disinfecting the parts of their body and clothing (including shoes) that
have been in contact with any person, material or objects at the scene, using an appropriate
disinfectant. Non-corrosive disinfectants are commercially available. In addition, any
disposable materials used at the scene should be deposited in appropriate containers.

Finally, regarding the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the
International Labour Organization (ILO), as well as governmental public health and
occupational safety organisations, the police first responders should be provided with
preventive health programmes and working conditions, especially suitable for the
minimisation and control of risks.

8. Media and Family

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This topic focuses on how police first responders at a scene should handle and communicate
with the media and with the close family members of affected persons.

Good communication requires that all shared information has a purpose. It should be:

Clear to avoid misunderstandings and speculations;

Restricted in accordance with various concerns, such as:
o At first, only general information about the incident should be given more
details should be given later;
o Personal or sensitive information can be shared only with close family
members, but only if the listener is psychologically ready to hear it.

Any release of information should be considered a delicate issue and even small mistakes can
be misleading and cause misunderstandings, resulting in unpredictable damage. This can be
avoided by regular practising and with the preparation of a good communication plan.

Unfortunately, there is no universal communication approach that suits all situations. People
receiving information related to a crime scene often have different backgrounds, legal
knowledge and their own interests in a criminal trial, and so understand and respond in
different ways to the same communication. It is therefore very important to know the
different ways to effectively communicate the same content internally to law enforcement
personnel, to the media and to the close family.

In addition, when this information concerns crime scenes or disasters, and moreover during
the early stages of the incident when first responders are in charge, communication will
probably take place under public, political and even emotional pressure.

Finally, it is important to remember that every word or expression can have an impact
throughout the whole chain of custody. This chain concerns the movement and location of
physical evidence from the first reporting or documentation by the police first responder until
the final court session is closed.

8.1 DEALING WITH THE MEDIA

Reporters at a crime scene in Denmark (Photo: Peter Kirkeskov Rasmussen, flickr.com,
published under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0))

8.1.1 Aims and practices of the media

The media has a legitimate role to play in informing the public about significant events. The
media often find out about the incident about the same time as the police or other emergency
services, and sometimes the media teams can arrive at the scene even before the first police
responders.

Different types of media publicise the information at different speeds:

Fast distribution: electronic media, online media portals and live broadcastings;
Secondary release: daily newspapers printed overnight;
Reproduction: Weekly newspapers or magazines can generate greater publicity for
the event by reproducing and commenting on the information collected after the day
of the incident.

In many countries TV broadcasting can be filmed from a helicopter. Nowadays, the media
companies also use high-tech equipment, and full high-definition images can also be obtained
by using the flying drone cameras or infrared cameras.
The people in the crowd at a scene can generate a second source of information for the media.
They might take photos, record videos or make loud comments, and this might be the first
material released from the scene. This material can then be used by journalists and media
channels or shared via social media.

It is certainly difficult for first responders to control all these activities. However they can
take some measures:

Increase boundaries around the crime scene;

Use tents or similar materials to cover or conceal the victims;
Take actions to restrict or prevent the media from having visual access to the scene
and take photos or videos.

8.1.2 Crime investigation-related public relations

Media communication is one of the means by which, when properly used, may provide the
police and forensic investigation with public support and awareness of the situation or event.
It is beneficial to law enforcement in many ways, such as engaging the public to recognise
and report suspects or motor vehicles or to find particular investigation-related witnesses. It
might also reduce any public distress or worry caused by the incident, and help to establish a
feeling of safety.

From the first public announcement about the incident, public opinion develops with each
new release of information.

It is certain that the media will try to get as much information as possible from first
responders. However first responders should clearly state in the first place that they are not
allowed to make any comments or provide any kind of information regarding the incident.
They should also inform media people that briefing and updating on the incident will be
conducted on a regular basis by a police press officer as soon as the crime scene is handed
over to the police unit in charge.

8.1.3 Communication with the media

Good communication can be achieved by using different approaches and means. This
includes proactive communication, in which information is pre-prepared and released to the
media, and reactive communication, in which law enforcement representatives respond to
media requests for information, such as in interviews.

In ordinary cases the media contacts are proactively organised and coordinated by the press
officer. The entirety of the information that is meant for the media is usually communicated
by the same person or spokesperson. All prepared communications are done with care and in
compliance with the legal aspects of crime scene investigation and forensic process.

First responders should keep in mind that they are not allowed to make comments and
provide information. This is because:

Everything they might say whether positive or negative could be used or even
misquoted in media releases. Press officers and other officers who bear the
responsibility to communicate with the media have gone through extensive training.
First responders have many tasks to fulfil in a limited period of time, and giving
interviews is in any case of relatively low priority.

8.2 DEALING WITH FAMILY

The police are usually the first officials to approach affected persons or their close relatives.
This means that they are in a unique position to help affected persons to cope with the
immediate trauma caused by the incident and to help restore their sense of security and
control over their lives.

In many cases, beside the victims themselves, first responders have to handle emotionally
stressed family members, friends or witnesses. These people may have various strong
feelings and emotions (such as panic, anger, aggressiveness). First responders need to be able
to deal with all these behaviours when they arrive at the crime scene.

Understandably, relatives often want information about the incident, and expect first
responders to take immediate action. Often, however, information must be withheld in order
to help crime scene investigators and other law enforcement personnel to investigate the case.
In such cases, family members may express anger or impatience with those in charge of the
crime scene. Knowing how to deal with these situations is an important part of a first
responders job.

8.2.1 Attitude
In dealing with family members, the attitude of first responder is expected to be:

Empathic
Tactful
Honest
Respectful
Compassionate
Understanding

By treating the victims and their close family members with respect and care, first responders
will gain their trust and ensure their cooperation.

8.2.2 Disclosing information

At times, it is difficult to recognise what information can be disclosed and what cannot. Each
case is different, and crime scene investigators must follow proper procedures and protocol
when it comes to the release of any information from the scene, even to the family. It is not
the first responders responsibility to give any kind of information, not even to family
members, because if they do they might unintentionally hamper or interfere with the
investigation process.

Instead it is advisable for first responders to lead family members to a safe place not close to
the crime scene and help them calm down until investigators start interviewing or briefing
them.

8.2.3 Other issues

In cases where the family does not speak the official or native language well, there might be a
need to request that an interpreter comes to the crime scene. To find an appropriate person
might take time and first responder must ensure that the situation is kept under control until
the interpreter arrives. In situations with under-aged persons it is always useful to involve
specialists, for example a psychologist or negotiator.
9. International Cooperation

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The aim of this topic is to present the opportunities and obstacles that police first responders
might face in performing their tasks, in cases when there are two or more countries involved
in a criminal case.

Nowadays, the police cooperation is well-established at EU level, but if the scene activities or
investigations cross national borders, then there will be some uncertainties or unexpected
legal, ethnic, technical, political or other complications. The best way to improve the
cooperation at the international level is to use internationally approved field-specific
standards to both:

Harmonise procedures and processes across countries;

Provide trainings on best practices.

9.1 TRUST AND INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS

9.1.1 International Partnerships

Criminal activities often take place in more than just one country. This means that they do not
stop at borders, and nor do the investigations. In order to combat the criminals, who can
move easily from country to country, there is a need for sustainable and constantly improving
international cooperation.

Currently, the main obstacle to international cooperation is that the legal system varies across
and within countries. Besides this, there are also barriers between law enforcement agencies
themselves, even between the closest neighbouring countries.

In order to make law enforcement more effective, there is a need to firstly establish trust and
mutual respect between law enforcement agencies and their stakeholders. This process has
several steps:

1. Reach first common understanding;

2. Reach mutual agreement;
3. Develop of a good/best practice manual, where standard operational procedures are
laid out;
4. Implement the standard operational procedures.

The aim is to establish international standards and develop Europe-wide harmonised quality
management systems, which allow countries to follow almost the same operational
proceedings, with the same quality and results all over Europe. So far only a very few
European countries have achieved this in their crime scene operations.

9.1.2 Trust

In order to substantially improve the current achievements in the criminal justice system,
there is a need for a change in peoples attitudes. People need to recognise and acknowledge
that law enforcement work done in other Member States is of sufficient quality. For example,
if evidence is presented in one countrys court as valid, then it should also be accepted as
valid in another country involved in the case.
Formal recognition of the quality of law enforcement work can be gained through the
accreditation by the International Organization for Standardizations (ISO) ISO/IEC 17020 or
other relevant international standard. This will lead to more trust in law enforcement and
justice across countries.

9.1.3 International law enforcement organisations

There are several types of internal organisation:

EU law enforcement agencies, including: Europol, Eurojust, CEPOL and Frontex;

European professional expert networks, such as: the European Network of Forensic
Science Institutes (ENFSI), the European Judicial Training Network (EJTN) and
the Law Enforcement Working Party (LEWP).
Worldwide law enforcement agencies, including: INTERPOL, the United Nations
Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO).
Networks in the forensic domain: the International Forensic Strategic Alliance
(IFSA), a partnership of continental networks.

All of these organisations play an important role in setting up specific field standards or
minimum requirements for police first responders, crime scene investigation units and
forensic examiners.

9.2 HARMONISATION, BEST PRACTICES AND STANDARD PROCESSES

Efforts to harmonise the chain of custody internationally have been ongoing for several years.
The chain of custody is the tracing of the movement and location of physical evidence from
the time it is obtained at the crime scene until the time it is presented in court.

This harmonisation process is a long-term approach and needs a lot of information sharing,
consultancy and agreements between the counterparts.

In Europe, Europol started actively in 2010 and the Council of the European Union in 2011 to
work out an EU-wide strategy. This indicated a need for harmonisation and common
procedures in scene activities and laboratory examinations.

The EU decided to establish a European Forensic Science Area (EFSA) which covers all
Member States. This means it gives for the first time an opportunity for different forensic
service providers, including scene of crime units, to get assistance from abroad. This
assistance can be sending pieces of evidence for further examination in a different country or
inviting foreign forensic examiners to come and help in a case. In addition, all the existing
non-personalised databases will be made available via a single gateway to all Member State
law enforcement organisations.

The EFSA 2020 action plan was created. In order to cultivate common standards and achieve
minimum standards of work, ten EU-wide best practice manuals have been developed. One
of these is dedicated to the scene of crime activities and includes first responder officers.
These are in the process of being implemented throughout the Member States.

At the same time the final aim is to bring all forensic laboratories under the one standard
(ISO/IEC 17025). This will allow them to keep the evidential value (by reducing the risk of
contamination or loss of traces) in court proceedings all the way up to the highest court level.

Nowadays we already have guidance documents not only at a European level, like ENFSIs
Scenes of Crime Best Practice Manual but also at a worldwide level, like UNODCs Crime
scene and physical evidence awareness for non-forensic personnel or the IFSAs The
minimum requirements for crime scene investigation'. The goal is that all countries will
achieve the minimum quality working standards for their work at the scene, from the actions
of the first responders to the submission of evidence to the laboratory. Also the accreditation
of the crime scene work with ISO/IEC 17020 is now a reality that all crime scene units
should achieve in a near future.

All these initiatives are aiming to establish commonly agreed and accepted principles and
standardised procedures. It is extremely important that police first responders accept, adopt
and follow these principles and procedures, because it will guarantee that evidential value can
be preserved up to the highest courts decisions. In cross-border cases the court might be in a
different country to the actual scene.

9.3 NATIONAL CONTACT POINTS (NCPs) AND JOINT INVESTIGATION TEAMS (JITs)

There are of course some structures in place, that police first responders should be aware of,
like 24/7 national contact point system and joint investigation teams (JITs). It is important to
know, for example, if the criminals are escaping to another country, that help is always
available in other Member States for a police first responder or investigation.

In cross-border investigations good cooperation is obviously beneficial, especially in

situations where several law enforcement officers from different countries need to coordinate
their actions in order to work as a one joint team. To achieve this, a framework for JITs was
set up in 2009.

A JIT is an investigative team that is set up for a fixed period and for a specific purpose,
based on an agreement between or among two or more law enforcement authorities from
different EU countries. In these cases Europol and Eurojust are always involved as well.
Europol and Eurojust have jointly produced a Guide to EU Member States Legislation on
Joint Investigation Teams. A specific resolution about a Model Agreement for setting up a
Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was released by the Council of the European Union in 2010.

9.4 FORENSIC TRAINING AND ON-SITE ASSISTANCE

9.4.1 Forensic training

There is a need for police to be trained in forensic procedures and minimal standards and best
practices, but to date there has been a general lack of progress.

To deal with this issue, the EFSA 2020 action plan has been developed. In the annex, one of
the six concrete actions to be targeted is forensic awareness. By raising awareness, this will
ensure that forensic evidence is better understood when used in court.

This training is available for all types of first responders (police, fire brigade, medical teams,
public health and environmental officials, military staff, forensic investigators) and for
decision makers, prosecutors and judges. It takes place through ENFSI and CEPOL joint
training schemes or via their domestic forensic service providers.

9.4.2 On-site Assistance

Several ENFSI forensic laboratories offer forensic on-site assistance, some of which is
online. Two examples are the Netherlands Forensic Institute or the National Institute for
Criminalistics and Criminology in Belgium. Both of these laboratories have established also
very close relationships with prosecutors, by involving prosecutors to work beside of lab
personnel as forensic advisors who can intermediate between the police and forensic lab. This
new way of thinking has allowed police to reduce the costs for unnecessary work in cases
where the added value form the examination was questionable.

9.5 DISASTER VICTIM IDENTIFICATION (DVI)

When a major disaster occurs, such as terrorist attacks or earthquakes, often the country does
not have sufficient resources to deal with mass casualties, including the identification of
victims. In some cases, the incident may also have damaged or destroyed the countrys
existing emergency-response infrastructure, making the task of victim identification even
more difficult.

INTERPOL provides assistance in disaster victim identification (DVI) if the disaster is

recognised to be of this scale. DVI support can also be necessary in cases where foreign
citizens are casualties, such as in a plane crash or any other major fatal accidents,.

In such cases, the services offered by INTERPOL are:

A downloadable DVI guide;

Assistance from the Command and Coordination Centre;
On-site investigative support or connection to INTERPOLs databases via an Incident
Response Team.

Glossary

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CBRN team
A team of trained persons competent to handle chemical, biological, radiological and even
nuclear events and preserve evidence.

CEN
The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) is an association that brings together the
national standardisation bodies of 34 European countries. CEN develops and defines
voluntary standards at a European level.

CEPOL
The EU Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) was founded in 2000 to develop,
implement and coordinate training for law enforcement officials.

chain of custody
In legal terminology it is defined as the chronological documentation of seizure, custody,
control, transfer, analysis and disposition of physical evidence. It is the movement and
location of physical evidence from the time it is obtained at the crime scene until the time it is
presented in court.

contamination
The undesirable introduction of substances or trace materials to traces which will be subject
to forensic examination
coroner
A person with the competence to confirm and certify the death of an individual. In some
cases the coroner can also identify the cause of death.

crime scene
A scene of an incident prior to establishing whether a criminal or illegal action has taken
place or not. The crime scene is not solely restricted to the location of the incident, but also
includes areas where relevant acts were carried out before or after the crime. Suspects and
victims who are subject to an examination for the recovery of forensic and/or medical
evidence can also be considered to be crime scenes.

crime scene examiner/investigator

A person with the competence to perform the examination at the crime scene, using a set of
techniques and procedures that aim to register the crime scene, and to search, locate, collect,
pack, label and transport traces and other objects within the scope of the criminal
investigation

crime scene investigation (CSI)

The scientific procedure that includes the collection, preservation, packaging, transportation
and documentation of physical evidence left at the crime scene, in order to determine facts
during the legal process

crime scene perimeter

Physical delimitation of the place to be examined, usually with a police tape, in order to
protect the crime scene from the destruction and contamination of traces and to ensure a safe
basis for the correct execution of the examination at that place

criminal investigator
A person with the competence to perform the criminal investigation of a case

disaster victim identification (DVI)

The formal process of identifying victims who have died as a result of major disasters such as
terrorist attacks or earthquakes. According to international standards, scientific methods,
primary comparison of fingerprints, dental records or DNA samples, are required to obtain a
conclusive identification. The application of international standards is the common basis for
the work in multinational DVI operations.

EA
European co-operation for Accreditation (EA) was founded in 2000 and is an association of
national accreditation bodies in Europe that are officially recognised by their national
Governments to assess and verifyagainst international standardsorganisations that carry
out evaluation services such as certification, verification, inspection, testing and calibration
(also known as conformity assessment services).

ENFSI
The European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) was founded in 1995 with the
purpose of improving the mutual exchange of information in the field of forensic science.
ENFSI is now recognised as the monopoly organisation in the field of forensic science by the
European Commission.

explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team

A group of trained persons competent to disarm improvised explosive devices, military
explosive devices, and to neutralise ammunition and preserve evidence. Sometimes also
called the bomb squad.
Europol
The European Police Office (Europol) is the law enforcement agency of the EU, founded in
1999. It handles criminal intelligence and the combating serious international organised crime
by means of cooperation between the relevant authorities of the Member States, including
those tasked with customs, immigration services, border and financial police.

evidential value
What can be achieved with the collected trace evidence from the crime scene in a forensic
laboratory and later with results in court

first responder
The first officer arriving at the crime scene, responsible for all immediate action taken at the
scene of the crime. The first responders responsibility ends when the officer responsible for
the crime scene takes over official responsibility for the crime scene examination.

forensic awareness
The understanding of an emergency situation such as a crime scene and a basic knowledge of
forthcoming forensic procedures, in order to secure and protect existing evidence.

ICRC
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was founded in 1863 and is an
independent, neutral organisation ensuring humanitarian protection and assistance for victims
of armed conflict and other situations of violence. It takes action in response to emergencies
and at the same time promotes respect for international humanitarian law and its
implementation in national law.

IFSA
The International Forensic Strategic Alliance (IFSA) was founded in 2004 and is a
multilateral partnership between regional networks of operational forensic laboratories across
the world.

immediate/incident response team (IRT)

An incident response team (IRT) is a group of people who prepare for and respond to any
emergency incident, such as a natural disaster. Incident response teams are common in public
service organisations. This team is generally composed of specific members designated
before an incident occurs.

INTERPOL
INTERPOL is the only global police organisation. It is a network of police forces from 190
countries across the world that helps police in different countries work together to solve
crimes that cross borders.

ISO
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) was founded in 1946 and is an
independent, non-governmental international organisation with a membership of 162 national
standards bodies. ISOs international standards ensure that products and services are safe,
reliable and of good quality.

ISO/IEC 17020
ISO/IEC 17020 Conformity assessment Requirements for the operation of various types of
bodies performing inspection specifies requirements for the competence of bodies
performing inspection and for the impartiality and consistency of their inspection activities.

ISO/IEC 17025
ISO/IEC 17025 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration
laboratories is the main ISO standard used by testing and calibration laboratories.
OHCHR
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) was
established in 1993 and works to promote and protect the human rights that are guaranteed
under international law and stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948.

physical evidence / biological evidence

Physical evidence usually involves objects found at the scene of a crime. A successful crime
investigation depends upon the collection and analysis of various kinds of evidence. Forensic
scientists classify evidence in different ways and have specific ways of dealing with it. One
major distinction is between physical and biological evidence.

quality assurance (QA)

A quality system is defined as the organisational structure, responsibilities, processes,
procedures and resources for implementing quality management. In the context of forensic
investigation, QA covers scientific, legal and ethical aspects of the work of both the police
officers at the crime scene and the laboratory scientists.

trace
Material transferred from one object to another, such as from a suspect or victim to the crime
scene.

UNODC
The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was established in 1977 and is
mandated to assist its member states in their struggle against illicit drugs, crime and
terrorism.