Elements and Performance Criteria

Investigations may involve
multi-disciplinary approaches and may have criminal and/or coronial purposes.

Unforeseen events may include
withdrawal/reduction of allocated resources
critical evidence

Resources may include
Human, physical and financial and may include other agencies, such as:
other police organisations
National Crime Authority
Criminal Justice Commissions
other government departments/agencies
non-government agencies such as financial institutions and insurance companies

All relevant personnel may include
team members, investigation supervisors
sources of information may include:
witnesses/victims/informants,
suspects
internal/external agencies
surveillance provided by self or from other legitimate sources

Information may be utilised in relation to
task allocation
information analysis
identification of data collection plans
linking of information

Exhibits may include
The individual items of evidence that could be presented to a court and may be required for viewing by:
judicial officers
prosecutors
defence counsel
expert and non-expert witnesses
for audit purposes

Seize incorporates
the lawful procedures that permit seizure of property/goods including the procurement and execution of relevant warrants

Processing of exhibits may include
forensic examination such as document examination
photography, finger prints
technical services
presentation in court
viewing by the prosecutor and the defence

Avenues of inquiry need to consider
financial practicalities
physical
human and legal constraints

Investigation techniques may include
using other sources of information such as media
doorknocks
forensic examination/analysis
informants/informers
listening devices and other covert surveillance techniques
search and search warrants
computer interrogation/data retrieval

Suspect identification methods may include
line-ups
photographs
fingerprints
witnesses
body samples (blood, hair, skin, fluids, cell scrapings, etc)
handwriting analysis
admissions/confessions
circumstantial evidence
modus operandi (MO)

Methods to establish last known movements may include
direct evidence from witnesses
reconstructions
analysis of physical evidence
database inquiries
time and movement analysis
analysis of known habits

Sources from which to compile antecedents may include
collection of evidence from witnesses
financial profiles
police databases
public databases,
backgrounds of family/friends
forensic/medical reports
employment history

Persons may include
suspects
informants
witnesses
juveniles
people with disabilities
people from different cultural backgrounds

Subjects may include
vehicles
premises
vessels

Operational plan may be
formal
Informal
documented

Other agencies may include
Interpol
other police organisations
government departments
charities
financial institutions
hospitals
forensic agencies
crime stoppers
neighbourhood watch
defence forces
Australian Securities Commission
Trade Practices Commission
law society
legal practitioners
complaints committee
Australian Taxation Office

Profiles may include
simple or detailed
formal or informal
victims
offenders
witnesses
financial and industrial organisations

Profiles may include
physical description
list of family and friends
criminal antecedents,
list of assets
details of any debtors/creditors
sexual identify
sexuality
sexual partners
details of siblings
race/ethnicity,
vehicles,
employment details
qualifications,
skills
affiliations

Actions taken may include
investigation techniques
arrest
summons
caution
closing report
coronial reports
forfeiture of assets

Briefing/debriefings may be
formal or informal
written or verbal

Recommendations could include
changes to law
policy and procedures of both internal and external agencies

Persons relevant to the investigation may include
victims (individuals and/or companies)
complainant
next-of-kin
neighbours
legal representatives
coroners
police pathologists
Immigration Department
embassies
defence forces

Rights may include
caution
legal representation
interpreter
silence
notification of family/friends
opportunity to make a written statement
audiotape or videotape
independent adult present (for juveniles)
support person present (for indigenous peoples, intellectually disabled)
being treated with dignity and respect during searches examinations

Critical aspects of evidence
To demonstrate competence in this unit, processes used in the investigation must meet organisational policies and procedures and jurisdictional law

Interdependent assessment of unit
Pre-requisite: Nil
Co-requisite: Nil

Underpinning knowledge
EEO
Anti-discrimination Act
Disability Act
government and policy environments within which operations will be conducted
different types of criminal activity and their elements
available resources which may need to be deployed to support the investigation
security issues and classifications
correct interpretation of all applicable laws, policy and procedures
Legal and ethical considerations in investigations which involve juveniles and indigenous people
investigation principles and the range of investigation techniques available
knowledge of case management systems and the range of contexts in which they can be applied
court procedures and evidentiary requirements in provision of briefs of evidence for use by the prosecution
ethics, professionalism and cultural diversity
role and functions of other agencies who work with policing in the conduct of investigations
methods and process for subject/suspect identification and profiling
general background appreciation of pathology
the impact of the police role on individuals and groups regarding law enforcement

Underpinning skills
oral communication (listening, establishing rapport, negotiation, conflict resolution)
written communication, in particular the capacity to provide clear comprehensive, accurate and chronologically sequenced written documentation
analytical techniques, in particular application of logic and reasoning to identify and select avenues of inquiry and substantiate these choices
decision making and problem solving
basic investigation methods and skills
preparation and submission of documents
operational safety

Resource implications
No special requirements

Consistency in performance
Evidence for competency in this unit must be gathered over time and across a range of workplace or simulated situations

Context of assessment
Evidence should be gathered over a period of time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments