Elements and Performance Criteria

Incident scenes may be
primary (where the offence actually took place) or secondary (where any physical evidence leading to establishment of the incident is located)

Risk factors
include those factors at the incident scene that could impact on:
the safety of investigators
the security/preservation of the actual site
the security and preservation of situational evidence

Tactical factors may include
those which affect the quality of the investigation and may include environmental circumstances
chronology of events
access to scene
number of persons at scene
availability of support services
boundaries

Activities at incident scenes may be recorded by
running sheets
exhibit logs
receipts and personnel movement
video photography

Security of an incident scene may be affected by
topography
climatic conditions
human interference
animal interference
preservation of life/property
type of offence
other emergency services

Persons at incident scenes may include
incident scene specialists and forensic experts
witnesses
victims
other bystanders
suspects
offenders
police and other public safety agency personnel
media
coroners
pathologists
medical practitioners
undertakers
forensic accountants
information technology consultants
legal officers

Control of an incident scene may include
muster
task
segregate
isolate and search
group
secure

Incident scenes may be recorded by
digital imaging technology
photographs
video
sketches or in writing

Control of suspects may include
separation
apprehension
search
securing
advising of rights

Support services may include
incident scene specialists such as pathologists
forensic investigators
coroner
government medical officers
interpreters
technical services
legal officers
undertakers
forensic accountants
information technology consultants
document examiners
handwriting experts
financial organisations
external agencies

Interpretation of scene may be
formal or informal
preliminary or verified, and should be made in collaboration with support services

The range and nature of fraud incident scenes differ from most other types of incident scenes in that
they are less likely to be contaminated
less volatile
more static
more likely to retain evidence characteristics
most exhibits will be documents and related equipment and be non-perishable
more likely to be indoors
likely to be greater in number
more likely to be cross-organisational and more likely to develop over a longer period of time

Critical aspects of evidence
It is essential for this unit that competence be demonstrated in management of the incident scene to ensure collection and preservation of the scene and the accurate assessment and collection of evidence and exhibits

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

Underpinning knowledge
government and policy context in which incident scenes are managed and investigated and all relevant law, policy and procedures
the range of support services available to assist investigators in the management of incident scenes, in particular forensic services
judicial and evidentiary requirements and organisational processes for the collection, preservation and continuity of exhibits
role and functions of other agencies in managing incident scenes
range of investigation techniques

Underpinning skills
communication (listening, questioning) and negotiation in questioning witnesses and controlling persons in the vicinity of the incident scene
analytical and decision making
problem solving skills in responding to a range of incident scene contexts
resource management and time management
exhibit handling and preserving continuity of evidence
witness management, in particular demonstration of ethical behaviour, and cultural awareness
use of specialised investigatory equipment, such as fingerprinting equipment, computer software, photographic equipment etc
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