Module 13

In order to illustrate the process, a criminal investigation can be used. The situation can be that a male victim has been found unconscious at the side of the road, evidently the victim of a stabbing.

• The purpose of the investigation.
  Obviously, the primary objective is to detect the crime by ascertaining who was responsible for injuring the victim.
• The interim objectives
  The interim objectives may be:
  
  i. Identify the victim
  ii. Research the victim
  iii. Examine the scene
  iv. Forensically examine weapon if found
  v. Seek witnesses and obtain statements
  vi. Investigate the circumstances
  vii. Identify the attacker
  viii. Research the attacker
  ix. Trace and arrest the attacker
  x. Interview the attacker
  xi. Prepare the prosecution file
  xii. Assist with the prosecution (The assumption for this illustration is that immediate scene actions have been carried out, and the scene is secure.)
•  The budget
  In the ordinary course of an investigation such as this would not carry a budgetary consideration for the team. However, it may be felt that a specific accounts process for the investigation should be started in the event of overtime being worked by the investigators, forensic exhibits being submitted (which has a cost implication), transport logistics, and so on.
• Task breakdown and definition
  In order to break down the tasks that will need to be done, it may be easier to take each of the interim objectives and organise the tasks around them. Thus:
  
  xiii. Identify the victim: search clothing; fingerprinting; house to house at scene; local pubs checked; DNA samples to be taken from victim,; etc.
  xiv. Research the victim: (once identified) criminal history check; address check; domestic circumstances check; intelligence check; speak to the victim if consciousness regained; etc.
  xv. Examine the scene: search team to be informed; search parameters to be considered; equipment to be made available; the existence of CCTV footage to be explored; etc.
  xvi. Forensically examine weapon if found: crime scene investigators to be utilised; proper packaging to be arranged; forensic submission paperwork to be completed; transportation of exhibit to laboratory to be arranged; continuity of evidence to be managed; etc.
  xvii. Seek witnesses and obtain statements: house to house enquiry to be organised and executed; questions to be agreed in advance; statements to be taken; etc.
  xviii. Investigate the circumstances: (once some indications are forthcoming from the above) create a time line of events; organise the information for the interview team; etc.
  xix. Identify the attacker: forensic identification; eye witnesses; victim statement; local knowledge; investigator's knowledge; prior history between victim and possible suspects; etc.
  xx. Research the attacker: criminal records check; intelligence check; domestic history check; etc.
  xxi. Trace and arrest the attacker: location: housing plan; arrest strategy; history of violence?; search team; exhibits team; etc.
  xxii. Interview the attacker: ascertain first account; staged disclosure to be used; interview co-ordinator to be appointed, and briefed; interview co-ordinator and interview team to meet; etc.
  xxiii. Prepare the prosecution file: investigation report; case summary; statements etc to be typed; tape transcripts to be typed and reviewed; disclosure officer to be appointed; disclosure file to be prepared; etc. xxiv. Assist with the prosecution: disclosure officer to attend court; court warnings to be arranged: etc. (The potential list of tasks that will have to be considered is exhaustive - this illustration is made deliberately brief to avoid becoming a template for every investigation.))

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