The Police

Every investigation of a crime that occurs the police will always be involved. The first involvement of the police is when the crime is reported to the police operator and when the first attending officer (FAO) arrives at the scene, this officer begins the general investigation of the crime that has been reported. The initial response stage of the investigation is carried out by the FAO. This officer has many roles and responsibilities to carry out whilst investigating the crime.The FAO are to respond to the radio call reporting a crime after either a witness or a victim reports the crime to the police officer. The FAO is most often the person who is alerted by the police control room to the crime, and therefore will travel to and attend the scene of the crime. The police is also in charge of keeping any witnesses and any potential suspects present, but away from the main crime scene and separate from one another. This is important as it means that statements of witnesses and potential suspects can be taken. However is there are any potential suspects they should be kept separately to to the witness’s and victim(s) to avoid intimidation, this will ensure that the statement isn't influenced. As well as keeping the witness's and potential suspects the police is to isolate the area where the crime occurred, this is to protect the crime scene and prevent evidence, which may be present at the crime scene, from being contaminated. After securing the crime scene, if necessary the first attending police officer should then notify backup, investigators, superior officers and specialised units. The first attending officer also has the responsibility to set up the CAP, Common Approach Path, this path is set up by the FAO so that any other emergency services or officers that are sent out to the seen are aware of vital evidence at the crime scene. The CAP is set up as a guide for officers and emergency services to follow so that evidence is less likely to be stepped on and therefore contaminated.  

Constable McGowan was the FAO at the Jessop residence however not to the crime scene which would be discovered weeks later in another county so it was out of his jurisdiction, the name of the FAO at the crime scene is unknown. Both Constable McGowan and the unknown both followed the correct procedures when on duty, McGowan didn't have a crime scene so he didn't feel it necessary to coordin off the area instead he performed a search of the Jessop residence and gathered statements of the neighbours, he also organised a search party with the local neighbours. The FAO at the crime scene where the body was found coordined off the area so that no evidence was contaminated. As it was in the middle of a field there was no need to keep away the public as there was none present.

However because the police are involved in all criminal investigations, the role they will vary depending on what type of crime they are faced with. For example in a burglary the police are unlikely to cordon off the scene as its contained within the building, however as part of a suspected bomb attack they may be required to cordon off a very large area to cover the blast radius. In some cases such as a burglary or mugging the police will take statements from the victims and potential witnesses, unless the situation is serious they are unlikely to call for backup, however in more serious cases such as a murder or suspected bomb attacks the police would be required to call for backup and specialised departments almost immediately, such as bomb squad. In almost all cases of crime, the police will be the first to the scene to assess what has occurred.