Collection of evidence

Procedures

1.    First offending officer – to access the scene as they are the first to arrive, they will decide if assistance is necessary and will look for any witness’s. they will make sure no-one can enter or leave the scene and they will preserve any evidence before the scene of crime officer gets there. When entering the scene the first procedure followed in a crime scene is to speak to the first attending officer which is a police officer who was first at the scene. They are able to find out any details and identify where the evidence is and if there’s any witnesses. This helps when the forensics come as they will have some knowledge of the scene on what has occurred and find the correct evidence. By speaking to the FAO, information and details on the crime scene can be found out so that the correct evidence can be collected and this can save time. The information and details on the crime scene can be recorded either on paper or computer. It can be recorded by doing things such as writing down the time it occurred and the location. By doing this it can be looked back onto to in the future when the crime is being revisited and the evidence needs to be looked back over.  FAO there can be sketches recorded, drawing of the scene or photographs. These photographs can be taken by the FAO at the scene when they first arrive. Also they can find and question witnesses because by doing it straight away they can get the most recent information they can. When collecting evidence from the FAO, it is mainly information documents and it is either written or typed up on to a computer, from this it is either photocopied or stored and save onto the computer. This is a way to preserve the evidence and keep it safe so that it can be viewed in the future if needed to. Each piece of document written needs to be labelled. A label will be put on describing where it was taken from , who took it and the time it was taken. This is so that it can be looked back through when a certain case needs re-looking at. Also by having details from the FAO, such as sketches and photographs it can mean that a reconstruction can be made. This is all physical evidence; this is because it is taken about the crime scene and not from the crime scene. This information is gained from the FAO, who investigates into the case to get it.
       In my case the bodies where found my walkers in the woods and police where called, the first offending officers who where first at the scene then secured the scene and then the detectives and forensic teams arrives to the scene where the FAO informed them about the scene.

2.       Securing the scene – When cordoning off the scene it is putting a protective border around the scene so that no unauthorised personals can enter the scene and also so that the scene is kept away from the public trespassing or walking through it. It also means that the crime scene is mapped out and can help forensics know which part they are collecting evidence from. It also can be used to protect the evidence from being contaminated by either people trying to enter, such as the offender trying to go into the crime scene and contaminate the evidence that can reveal it was them who committed the crime. It can also protect the evidence from harsh weather conditions, such as strong rain, wind or sun. The rain can wash away vital evidence such as blood, saliva or drugs. The wind can blow away evidence such as suspected drug packets, or pieces of hair samples. So by cordoning and securing the scene early it can ensure that the weather doesn’t affect the evidence. This can be secured by putting up tents over the scenes where it has happened. The scene is cordoned off to prevent people such as media, suspects and the public entering. It ensures only the correct people enter the scene and handle the evidence. It is preserved by recording down who cordoned off the scene and who secured it. All three types of evidence can be preserved from doing this procedure, biological, chemical and physical. This evidence is analysed differently depending on what is collected. In court it will be presented as a written document, who cordoned off the scene and who secured it. Also what time they did this and where it occurred. The benefits of using this procedure is that all evidence can be preserved and used in court against a person to prosecute them. Another strength is that by wearing PPE when securing the scene it means that it can prevent the evidence from being contaminated when following this procedure. The weaknesses are that it can be time consuming and if it takes a long time it can mean some evidence can still be contaminated while trying to set it up. Another weakness is that if an crime has occurred such as murder, and a person is running away and leaving a trail of blood. It couldn’t all be cordoned off because the crime scene would be too large to cordon it all off.
      In my case after the FAO attended the scene the scene was then secured and cordoned off so that no one could get in the scene and so that the scene could be assessed. because the girls had been there for 13 days this meant that there had already been the opportunity to tamper with the evidence so it was important for the scene to be secured to confirm what happened.

3.       Log book – to sign each person who enters the scene in and also sign when leaving the scene. This is done while a crime scene investigation is occurring and is a log which explains who has entered the scene and at what time, this can involve witnesses, unauthorised personnel’s or forensics. Each person’s name is noted down explaining what time they entered the crime scene and what their role was. This entry log is written into a document and is preserved by keeping safe in a file which relates to the case. By ensuring no one else enters the crime scene it can prevent contamination occurring to any evidence which could be vital. This can involve preventing contamination of physical, biological and chemical evidence. This is presented in court using the entry log book which explains details on who entered the crime scene. The strengths of this are that it can prevent evidence from being contaminated and if any evidence is contaminated then it can be tracked down and information found out on who caused the contamination. The weaknesses are that people could possibly lie about who they are and why they are there.
       in my case everyone present at the scene signed in and out so no one got into the scene that shouldn't of been there however when the search was going on for the girls, the criminal Ian Huntley was present at every search for the girls acting concerned so he should never of been allowed to do this especially with his previous convictions.

4.       Common approach path (CAP) – this ensures a directional plan to know where to approach first. This makes sure that no evidence is missed. Anyone entering or leaving the scene must follow this path.  This protects evidence from being contaminated and protects the forensic from any damage the evidence can cause to them. While the CAP is set up full PPE must be worn and it must be ensured that the CAP is set up properly and does not move. For example if different weather conditions the CAP will be set up differently because it will have to remain in the same place throughout the weather so its done to suit to weather so that this doesn't affect it. This is usually done by either the forensics, or the first offending officer. When doing this procedure it must be ensured that it is noted who did the procedure and at what time, this is recorded in the entry log so that it can be reviewed if needed and if an unofficial personal was doing the CAP, they could be investigated into to. This wouldn’t be a type of evidence but it would prevent evidence getting destroyed. The CAP mainly prevents evidence found on the floor from being destroyed, because by setting up a path to prevent people standing on it, this prevents contamination. This would prevent evidence such as physical, biological and chemical from being destroyed.  This can be presented by ensuring there is a clear path for the forensics to follow so that they can get evidence from all around the crime scene without having to walk through the crime scene. The strengths of creating a CAP, is to ensure that the forensics are protected from the evidence and the evidence is protected from them. This prevents contamination of the evidence and ensures that it won’t be overlooked in court. Also by wearing PPE while performing this procedure it means that while setting up the CAP the evidence will be more protected rom contamination than without the PPE. The weaknesses are that it can be time consuming and in bad weather conditions needs to be done quickly to ensure that the evidence doesn’t get contaminated, for example if it was raining and there was puddles of blood, it would cause it to mix with the rain water and could be washed away. Another weakness is that while setting up the CAP quickly, vital evidence could be overlooked and if the approach path is set up incorrectly it could cause them to destroy the evidence. The value of this evidence could be enough to prosecute the correct person in court and by not correctly setting up an approach path, the evidence could be damaged.
       in my case the crime scene was where the girls bodies where so a CAP was placed and was correctly done in order to find any evidence surrounding their bodies, it will have been placed quickly due to the weather conditions and the fact it was in the woods. there was a separate crime scene where different evidence was so several CAP would of been used.

5.       PPE (SOCO kit) – forensic scientists must wear all PPE before entering the scene,. This consists of gloves, safety goggles, a full forensic white protective suit, show protectors and a mouth mask. This is used to ensure a forensic is protected from the evidence and the evidence is protected from them. If PPE wasn’t worn correctly it could mean that bodily fluids, such as saliva and hair pieces could fall into the crime scene from the forensic and mix with the already found evidence there. The full PPE ensures that none of the forensics own body features mix in with the evidence they are trying to collect. It is also used so that they are protecting themselves, because if they are handling suspected drugs they would need protection on their hands in case it is harmful chemicals. When wearing PPE is must be ensured that it is put on correctly and every time someone enters the crime scene it must be recorded. By wearing PPE it can ensure physical, biological and chemical evidence are secure and prevented from any contamination. The evidence is analysed depending on what it is, because it is mainly evidence that can be investigated in the science labs. A document will be written to document all the forensics that were involved in the investigation and if they wore the correct PPE. The strengths are that it can prevent evidence from being contaminated and this means that no evidence will be overlooked in court. The weaknesses are that for the forensics it can be very hot which might distract them.
       In my case from what I know full PPE was worn when collecting the evidence. the girls had previously gone missing so evidence was found not just at the crime scene o PPE was worn at all time when evidence was present and also at the crime scene.

6.       Note taking – notes are taken at the crime scene, notes of all information regarding the scene such as where the entry and exit zones are, where any evidence is and anything to do with the scene. This ensures that nothing is missed or forgotten after the investigation. by taking notes at a crime scene it can help when looking back at the case as a reconstruction can be made which will help to find out further information regarding the investigation. it also ensure that investigators know exactly where every item was.
       in my case investigators where able to reconstruct the crime which gave them information on exactly what happened so they would of had to take notes.

7.       Photos/sketch (plan of the premises) – sketches and photos are done of the scene so that investigations can refer back to them, this locates where the evidence was. When looking at photos, it could provide investigators with information that may have been previously missed. this process is also known as an initial assessment. By doing the assessment of the scene it means that forensics can know what has occurred in the crime and have more knowledge on what to collect during the investigation, this then makes it quicker and easier for them to find the correct evidence. This type of evidence, which could be documentation is things such as sketches and photographs, these are vital pieces of evidence because when they are looked back through they can cause a reconstruction of the scene. This can enable them to find out more information about the crime and come to a conclusion on a suspect. The presentation is presented through photographs, taken from a camera, sketches taken from the crime scene investigators and information on things that occurred that day, for example weather or if any other murders occurred that day. The weather can be found out using a weather station and logged down. The strengths of this procedure is that more information and knowledge on the case can be found out by investigating further into the crime scene and the day it occurred on. This gives the forensics knowledge on what happened during that day, which may relate to the crime that has happened.
       in my case, photos and sketches where taken of all evidence and the scene, this would of been presented in court by showing a presentation of all the photos and sketches.

8.       Exhibits logbook – this ensures that all evidence has been recorded and logged and given to the exhibits officer. It ensures that all evidence has been sent for examination. If not then evidence may be miss-placed. The log describes all the evidence that has been collected and who it has been collected by. It also describes what time the evidence has been collected and where it was found. This is similar to labelling the evidence found, by labelling and creating an evidence log it is double protection and information on the evidence that allows people to know where it has been. As if it was just a label someone could incorrectly right on the label so the logbook ensures that it more specific. The procedure for this includes each time a piece of evidence is found and packaged it will e signed into the log and put into the file, this involves all type of biological, physical and chemical evidence. This can then be presented a documentation form and be shown in court.  Strengths of this are that it can ensure the evidence is collected by the right people and that if there is any anomalous results from the evidence is can be explained why. However a weakness can be that it can be time consuming keeping track of all the information.

       in my case all evidence was logged in the case however evidence had been previously missed such as Huntleys car but no further evidence was missed and all information was signed in.

 Types of evidence recovered

       In a crime scene evidence is collected from the forensics that is relating to the crime that has occurred. This evidence can identify what has occurred in the crime and also link it to the offenders who have committed a crime. There are three different types of evidence:

1.       Biological

2.       Chemical

3.       Physical

Biological

       Biological evidence is evidence relating to the human body and any bodily fluids. This can consist of blood, saliva, hair samples, semen or fingerprints. Evidence such as Blood or semen is collected using a cotton bud, a sample is swabbed and put into a tube which is then sealed and labelled and logged and sent off for DNA sampling. For samples that are more solid such as hair samples or skin samples, it can be collected using tweezers; it can then be put into a paper bag as this doesn’t take the moisture in. Finally fingerprints cannot just be picked up and can need a chemical mixture in order for them to become visible. This can be a dusting powder, it comes it different colours so fingerprints can be attracted from different surfaces. It then shows a clear mark of the fingerprint, which is lifted using Jlar tape. This tape is then stuck to a plastic clear cut out and can be put in any bag preferably a paper bag. When the biological evidence has been picked up and put into a bag, the bag must be labelled. This is called ‘bag and tag’. The label is used to describe where the object was found, who collected it, what time and what crime scene number. This is so it can be taken into the chain of custody and information on who had it at certain times can be revealed. The biological evidence is all analysed differently, blood is analysed by performing a Kastle Meyer test, a sample of blood is rubbed onto filter paper with ethanol and Kastle Meyer mixed on it. If a pink colour shows, it means that blood is present and then it can be sent off to find out DNA. Saliva is analysed by testing on strips of iodine. The bud is rubbed onto the strip and if a blue colour is shown, it means that iodine is present. Semen is analysed by using acid phosphate, a strip is coated In acid phosphate and the semen sample is rubbed onto it, If it is positive it turns to a dark purple or black colour and can be sent off for further analysis. Fingerprints are analysed by comparing fingerprints found to a suspects or a database on fingerprints.

Physical

      An example of a physical type of evidence is footprints, weapons, or videos as this is a piece of evidence which of physically there. A weapon is collected using gloves so no fingerprints get onto the weapon and contaminate it, and put into a container where there is no tight packaging touching it, this is so it can prevent blood or any substances on it from being lost in the packaging. From this it is then labelled, describing the location, time and case number. A footprint is collected by using dent stone, this is a substance which is created using mixture and water and poured onto a 3d footprint. It then cools and creates a hard clay model of the footprint shape, this can then be analysed by looking for distinguishing features the footprint model may have as each footprint is different. For example this could be the make of the shoe, the shoe size or the amount of wear and tear the shoe has.

chemical
       Chemical evidence can be things such as drugs, gunshot residue or accelerants. While analysing suspected drugs, a chemical test is used called marquis reagent. A sample of the suspected drug is taken using either tweezers, or a spoon to scoop it into a test tube which is sealed and then labelled. The suspected drug is mixed with marquis regent and a colour is formed depending on what drug is present. Cocaine is a yellow green, heroin is red/pink, amphetamine is yellow and ecstasy is blue/purple. The results from a evidence analysis is presented by a documentation being produced, this is then presented in court and can be used against a person in court. The strengths of using evidence that can be analysed is that a range of results can be found out from the one piece of evidence, this can be enough to prosecute the right person and ensure that enough evidence is shown to make a fair trial.

Key evidence in my case

       In my case there was biological evidence such as the blood, hair samples and fingerprints. there was also chemical evidence such as the bin and the clothes and then there was also physical evidence as an accelerant was used to burn the bodies and also the clothes.

The bin 

       A bin was found containing holly and Jessica’s man united t-shirts and Huntley’s pants, they were found burnt in the bin in an out building of Soham Village College. Police discovered the bin after finding a set of keys in Ian Huntleys home. The bin was packaged and logged into the exhibits log and brought back to the forensics lab. There was also man underwear and shoes belonging to the girls in the bin. Surface debris including hairs and fibres where found and recovered from inside and outside of the bin. The clothes where screened for blood, saliva and semen. After forensic analysis, two of Huntley's hairs were found in with the clothes and his fingerprints were on a bin bag which had been placed on top. 49 tiny fibres matching the girls' shirts were found on Huntley's clothes and around his house and also fibres from Huntley's carpet and curtains were also found on the shirts, establishing a two-way link between the clothes and Huntley's home. Replica Manchester united T-shirts were marked out with the cuts found this showed that the t shirts had been cut in a zig-zag line and the expert said that it was most likely cut while the bodies were immobile. Another expert established the accelerant petrol was used to burn the clothes. Specialist techniques were used such as comparison microscopy, microspectrophometry, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy and thin layer chromatography to identify the type of fibres present, their colours and their dye compositions to distinguish between fibres from the Manchester United t-shirts. These techniques allow scientist to differentiate one fibre from another. Taping was done from Ian Huntley’s car, carpets, curtains, bedding, sofa and bathroom mat they were put on an acetate sheet and analysed under a microscope. The fibres collected form Ian Huntley’s home were matched with the Manchester United football shirts and the tracksuit bottoms. all evidence will have been placed into either a plastic or paper bag then taped up and labelled and then logged out in the log book and given to the exhibits officer which will then be sent off for further examination.

The mobile phone

       Soham is served by mobile phone network and there are a few hotspots where mobile phone links up to the mobile phone network. Mobile phone records show that Jessica Chapman’s phone sent a final disengage signal at 18:46pm when it disconnected from the network. This was received from a hotspot where Ian Huntley’s house was further incriminating him.

The car
Ian Huntley had a red Ford Fiesta and he thoroughly washed and vacuumed it, the day after he murdered the girls. He ripped out the floor mat of the boot and replaced it with carpet and he threw away a throw over that had been covering the back seat. He had a mechanic replace all four of Huntley's tyres, despite them having 4mm-5mm of tread left. A forensic examination from the underside of the car found traces of chalk, brick dust and concrete. The combination found matched the surface of the track where the girls' bodies were found. Pollen samples also linked the car to the site.

Fibre Analysis
To define the exact composition of the fibres from the football shirts, comparison fibres from shirts provided by Manchester United and other shirts bought from the same outlet where Holly and Jessica bought their shirts as well as shirts from other suppliers were examined. The T-shirts that Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman had been wearing were made up of wool and four types of polyester fibres not identical to the numerous other T-shirts clear differences were seen between the T-shirts that Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman and the other T-shirts. 
The carpet recovered from Ian Huntley’s house and car was a blue colour which was made up of five different colours. All five colours were identified from the carpet on the Manchester United shirts and from the Manchester United shirts on the carpet. This two-way transfer of 154 fibres showed there was contact between Ian Huntley and Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. the fibres will have been picked up using tweezers and then placed into a tube otherwise if there just placed straight into a bag then they may get lost s they will be placed in a tub then a bag and logged out then sent off for further analysis where the hair will be looked at under a microscope and examined.

Forensic Ecology
Patricia Wiltshire is a forensic ecologist, she was called in by police as a forensic expert when the bodies of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman were found. Patricia Wiltshire the forensic ecologist noticed that although the area around the ditch were the bodies were found had been untouched there where stinging nettles which had sprouted new sideshoots and this only occurs when the nettled had been trampled on or damaged from this the point of entry into the ditch was established and from the rate of growth of the sideshoots present, Patricia Wiltshire was also able to establish the nettles were disturbed 13 to 14 days earlier. Patricia Wiltshire also carried out an analysis of soil from the suspect Ian Huntley’s car and of items belonging to him. By comparing them to samples taken from the ditch she was able to prove that he had been to the site. 64 different types of pollen, some from rare plants, were taken from the site. Many matched pollen found on Huntley's shoes, the pedals and foot-well of his car and a red petrol can. Huntley also knew the area well. He used to go plane-spotting there; his grandmother lived in Lakenheath and his father used to have a house half a mile from where the bodies were found.

The value of the role of a forensic scientists

       Forensic scientists have a very important role in the criminal process: from initial crime scene investigation to forensic laboratory analysis to providing expert forensic statements and culminating in their appearance in court as an expert witness. Forensic scientists do not just perform forensic analyses and report on the results. As expert witnesses they are allowed to provide opinion as well factual evidence in criminal cases. Forensic science helps law enforcement officials solve crimes through the collection, preservation and analysis of evidence. For example, if there are no witnesses to a crime, forensic proof is often all prosecutors have to investigate. If human remains have decayed so much that they can no longer be identified, forensic experts study dental work, DNA and skeletal structure to identify a person and determine gender. In most cases, forensic investigators can ascertain the reason for death and whether crime was involved.

      With my case forensic science was the key to solving it. Forensic science helped to link Ian Huntley to the two girls through fibres in the carpet of Huntleys car to determining the girls man united T-shirts through their fibres and examining different man united t-shirts. Forensic in different specialised areas also where key such as the forensic ecologist who helped to determine how long the bodies had been there and analysing the soil from the area where the bodies where found and from Ian Huntleys shoes and his car. This linked Ian Huntley to the scene. A forensic scientist specialised in fibre analysis also helped to solve the case. They showed that there were 154 fibres linking Huntley to the murders of the two girls. Forensic scientists who analysed the bin with the girls burnt clothes in where also able to find Ian Huntleys fingerprints on the outside of the bin bag which proved he handled the bin bag, fibres from his car and house where found on the clothes and blood droplets from the girls were also found in his house. All of this evidence linked Huntley to the murder. Without all this evidence and without forensic scientists analysing all the information then the murder may have never been solved and Hunltey and Maxine Carr may have never been traced to the kidnapping and murder of Jessica and Holly.