Crime Scene Management Assignment At 1400 the Police control room receive a 3 9’s call from a Mr Smith reporting his son James and daughter in law Fiona missing. Having been unable to contact them, they have attended their home address where there is no sign of them. This is completely out of character. You arrive at the scene at 1545, it is almost dark. The property is a large detached house enclosed by a high wall (access is gained via electrically operated gates); in a small new build development of similar style properties. The street is well lit and there are CCTV camera’s overlooking the gate. DS Jones is waiting for you at the gate, and together you drive up to the house; As you approach the property the front door is opened by an elderly couple who introduce themselves as Mr and Mrs Smith, they thank you from coming and invite DS Jones and yourself in. DS Jones explains that he would like to ask them some question about James and asks if they are okay with you having a look round the property. They are clearly distressed, but are eager to help stating that “you are welcome to do anything if it will help to find James”, whilst DS Jones talks to them in the lounge (Room 3) you commence your scene assessment, during which you make the following observations – 1. Porch type area - containing various coats and assorted male and female footwear 2. Hall - small table on which there are a set of Ranger Rover keys, a mobile phone, a packet of 20 Marlboro lights ( 5 remaining) and a disposable plastic lighter. 3. Lounge type area - large wall mounted TV below which are located various electric items, two large sofas. There is also a coffee table with a ¾ drunk bottle of wine, 2 wine glass one of which is lying on it’s side and is cracked, plus an ashtray containing 4 branded cigarette ends 3 Marlboro (one with lipstick on) and 1 B&H 4. Study / Office - Various bookcases with cupboards below, all contain property, of note are a video camera, a camera bag containing a digital SLR, lens, a flash and 6 media cards. Another cupboard contains what appears to be the controller and hard drive for the CCTV system, which appears to be powered up and working. There are 2 large leather armchairs in front of a desk, there is an LCD monitor (screen blank), keyboard and mouse on the desk along with a blank jotter and a phone. The PC is below the desk and appears to be on and connected to a modem, there is a laptop bag containing a laptop leaning against the side of the desk. In the top draw of the desk there appears to be an address book and the draw below contains various documents in suspension files. There is a modem on the window sill which appears live. 5. Toilet and small hand basin, there is a dirty towel on the adjoining hand rail. 6. Dining room – large glass dining table and chairs, large picture showing a bride and groom on the wall above a fire place 7. Kitchen – there are two mugs on a pine table and a cordless phone is lying nearby, in the sink there is cutlery and two dirty plates. On a work surface you notice a block of wooden handled kitchen knives, there are 6 slots and 5 knifes. The base unit for the phone appears to have a built in answer machine and the messages light is flashing and a small LCD display is showing the number 11. 8. Utility area – containing a washing machine, dryer, freezer, work surface with sink, taps and plug area test KM positive. 9. Garage – Various tools are hanging on a board, on to which has been drawn their outlines, as a result it would appear that an axe and saw are missing. There is a large metal cabinet bolted to the wall, it is locked; it is similar in appearance to a gun cabinet. On a shelf you notice clothing plus a helmet and visor consistent with those worn by people when operating chain saws, you are unable to locate either a chain saw or fuel can. There is a strong smell of bleach and an overly clean area of concrete floor in the centre of the garage. 10.Pool area which also contains a running machine adjacent to which is a small table with an I pod and ½ drunk bottle of water, exercise bike and sauna. There is also a small PA set up with 2 turntables and a mixer. 11.Conservatory type area contains various plants and furniture including a pool table, you notice 2 empty shotgun cartridges lying on top of some magazines on a coffee table, there is an area of pitting on the tile floor nearby The stairway in the hall leads to an intermediate landing on which there is a plant in a pot, you notice that there appear to be traces of soil / compost on the surrounding carpet. The upstairs landing has 2 pictures on the wall. One shows a young male in the pilot’s seat of a light aircraft, the other shows the same person with Mr and Mrs Smith. ?? is this James ?? 1/1. Master bedroom – on suite, towels with some areas of discoloration (KM positive) on the floor outside the shower. In the bin is a disposable razor, used hair colouring kit; the laundry bin contains muddy clothing. The tap’s and plug area of the sink, as well as some very dilute areas of staining on the underside of sink all test KM positive, there are two toothbrush’s on the side. The controls and plug area in the shower also tests KM positive. The toilet seat is up. The bed is unmade and the bedding is very disturbed, there are various wardrobes and draws containing an assortment of male and female clothing; on the dressing table there is a hair brush. There is a wall mounted TV connected to a DVD player on top of which is a box for the film ‘Shallow Grave’, the disc is in the player. 1/2. Double bedroom with on suite, fitted furniture, no signs of a disturbance 1/3. Double bedroom with on suite, fitted furniture, no signs of a disturbance 1/4. Small box room with on suite, no bed; large number of cardboard box’s (not search due to quantity). 1/5. The door has a mortice lock, the key is in the lock and it is not lock. The windows are blacked out and the room is poorly lit with a number of different colored lights. There is a data projector suspended from the ceiling. On some wall mounted glass shelves there is a DVD player / recorder and VHS video recorder, and a large collection of pornographic videos and DVD’s. There also appear to be a number of CCTV type camera around the room. Below the shelves there is a small glass fronted fridge, containing various alcoholic drinks, on top there is a large bowl containing condoms and lubricant. By the side of this there is a box containing an assortment of whips and sex toy’s. The floor is covered with thick carpet and there are a variety of cushions scatter about the room. A pair of shackles are hanging from the ceiling, the area below appears damp and discoloured (KM positive) and there is a strong smell of cleaning products associated with it. Outside you notice a number of CCTV camera’s on the outside of the property. The parking area is well lit with floodlights, and there is a Range Rover bearing the registration plate J4 MES. Though it has alloy wheels and low profile tyres the exterior appears to be covered in mud as if the vehicle has been recently used off road, you notice some disturbance to the dirty on the lower horizontal of the boot and a couple of dilute spots which test KM neg. Mr and Mrs Smith have indicated that Fiona’s black Golf GTI – FS14 ILU is missing. General observations The premises are clean and tidy with no significant signs of a disturbance noted during this walk through; there is an extensive CCTV system both around the premises and grounds, plus an alarm system. There are no signs of a forced entry. Questions • Is this a scene? If so why? (20%) • Develop an examinations strategy, and identify 10 priority recoveries that would further the enquiry. Comment on why you have selected them, and what information you expect to gain. (50%) • Would you call any specialists to the scene at this stage, if so who and why ? (30%)
Purchase answer to see full attachment