basics of scientific aids to investigation
sarada avadhanam


Chapter 2 : Crime scene recognition Recording and reconstruction
•Dos:
•Limit access to the crime scene by using tape and major incident log.
•Attempt to identify possible routes used by the suspect.
•Note original condition of the crime scene
•Record changes in conditions.
•Protect evidence from adverse environmental conditions.
•Conduct all administrative duties outside the tape.
•Record the location of evidence before moving it.
•Give priority to trace evidence.
•Keep a open mind as to what might be evidence.
•Take photos of items at 90 degrees with and without L SHAPED scales.
•Call expert personnel for detailed difficult collection / documentation.
Take photographs of all aspects of crime scenes. 90 degrees photos of items and blood stains.
Don’ts
•Don’t permit unnecessary personnel to enter the crime scene.
•Don’t use routes possibly used by the suspects.
•Don’t assume that others will note original condition.
•Don’t fail to document any changes or contamination at the scene.
•Don’t allow evidence to be compromised by nature.
•Don’t eat or use any facilities or the phone within the crime scene.
•Don’t remove items and package without documentation.
•Don’t package trace evidence in a bundle.
•Don’t ignore items that appear out of place or difficult to explain.
•Don’t touch anything unnecessarily.
•Don’t photo items without scales.
•Don’t assume the expert can always answer the questions from non expert collection or documentation.
•Don’t limit your photos to overall / item location.

What are the guidelines while sending evidence for physical examination?
· Soil on clothing and other articles are transferred into dry and clean containers and clothing of victim and accused are to be separately packed. While sending the soil send control. They should be transmitted to FSL as early as possible.
· Glass fragments should be embedded in plasticene
i. Larger fragments are packed between layers of absorbent cotton
ii. While collecting glass do not destroy other trace evidence like finger prints, blood, grease, and paint on them.
· Paint chips and flakes are packed in small plastic containers. If it is in the form of smears on garments, tools without removing send the entire article if possible.
· While sending tool marks for comparison send the article bearing tool mark as well as tool separately. Taking adequate care to ensure that no additional marks or striations occur.
· In case of telegraphic wire copper wire theft cases the IO should bind the cut end and mark it to distinguish it from the end cut by the culprit and this should be protected by covering it with cotton.
· Send the items as a whole in case restoration of erased marks as engines and chassis or other wise the entire vehicle without cutting part of the chassis or removing the engine avoiding further damage may be sent.
· In case of spurious articles and cases registered under infringement of trade mark and send known standard original authentic samples.
· Cigarette /beedi stubs separately packed indicating their location
· Entire scene with articles sent be photographed
· Carpets upholstery and bed to be thoroughly examined for minute traces of debris, fibers, glass pieces, metal parts and stains.