Gathering and Preserving Evidence
Commonly, a security guard assigned responsibility for a site will be one of the first persons to arrive at the scene. And, while he or she will not ultimately have responsibility for investigating any crime that has resulted, he or she will play a critical role in protecting the scene (and ultimately preserving any evidence) from damage or injury. Of course, if a crime scene is not protected or is inadequately protected, crucial evidence can be damaged or even lost. Without evidence the perpetrator(s) may not ever be held accountable for their actions.
The areas that security guards may have to protect will range in size (and therefore difficulty) from an interior room with only one entrance/ exit, to a large area with many means of access, such as an apartment building.
Methods of securing a scene are as numerous as the scenes themselves. The key is to keep the ultimate objective in mind — allowing enough evidence to be preserved so that the person or persons responsible can be made accountable.
Review the situation:
- What evidence is present?
- How is it vulnerable?
- What is the best method of protecting it until the authorities can complete their investigation?
Some evidence may be damaged or destroyed by exposure to the elements. For example, fingerprints may be washed off if exposed to rain, snow, and wind. A footprint in the dust may be disturbed by traffic in the area. Use your common sense. If you believe that evidence may be disturbed by some particular activity in the area, ask whoever is responsible to cease the activity. Do not allow strangers access to the scene until the authorities are through. Close doors and windows to prevent people from accessing the scene. Use plastic sheeting to prevent exposure of the scene to the elements. The key here is to be creative and to use whatever is at hand to assist you in preserving the evidence.
WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE SURE THE CRIME SCENE IS PROTECTED?
If you are the first one at a scene of a crime, you may be called to give evidence in court about what you saw when you first arrived.
Crime scenes need to be preserved and left untouched until police arrive. In a way this is similar to your duty of care for evidence. Think of any of the CSI shows you have seen on TV. An undisturbed crime scene makes it possible for Police to conduct an investigation without worry of evidence contamination.
While you are waiting for the police: get medical attention for anyone who needs it take notes of anything you see, hear or smell. Make sure you record the time draw diagrams to make your notes clearer write down the names and addresses of any witnesses, and any information they give you. Ask them to stay at the scene until the police arrive include a description of anyone suspicious that you see near the crime scene make sure no one enters the scene to damage or remove evidence. You could set up a barrier with tape or anything else available, or keep a door closed protect trace evidence such as footprints, tire prints, cigarette stubs, etc. If the weather is bad, you could use a plastic sheet to cover this evidence escort all authorized people, such as fire or ambulance personnel, to the scene write down the details of any changes that were made to the original scene.
WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVE:
make sure you know who is in charge, and turn the responsibility for the scene over to that person. This is important because the court will need proof that there was no break in the chain of people in charge of guarding the evidence: complete your notes. Include the name of the person in charge and their badge number and the time when they took control of the scene; help the police as needed, then return to your normal duties.