WJEC Criminology Unit 3 Exam Questions and Answers| New Update with 100%
Correct Answers
SOCO Scene of Crime Officers. SOCOs search for evidence such as gunshot residue,
fingerprints, hairs and fibres.
Amanda Knox She was arrested for the murder of Meredith Kercher. Detectives inside the
house failed to wear any protective clothing, such as shoe covers and this was used to suggest
that the evidence collected was unreliable.
Forensic Scientists They review evidence from a crime scene. Forensic scientists may be
expert in a range of fields, such as toxicology, dentistry or fire.
Adam Scott He was held in custody for six months when a plastic tray containing his DNA
had not been disposed of and was re-used in a rape case.
Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) The body responsible for deciding whether a case brought
by the police should be prosecuted in a court. The CPS must decide whether there is a realistic
prospect of conviction and whether prosecution is in the public interest.
Damilola Taylor He was a Nigerian schoolboy who was stabbed to death in London. The CPS
was heavily criticised for relying too heavily on the evidence of a 14 year old girl who it should
have known was lying.
Pathologists Medical doctors who perform autopsies to establish cause of death.
Anthony Hardy (The "Camden Ripper") In the investigation, pathologist Freddy Patel found
that a victim had died of natural causes, despite bloodstains on her walls, clothing and bedding.
Anthony Hardy went on to murder two other women.
What are the limitations in the roles of:
, - SOCOs
- Forensic scientists
- Police officers
- CPS
- Pathologists - SOCOs: They may be exposed to hazardous substances an d so must wear
protective clothing.
- Forensic scientists: Samples can become contaminated in the laboratory, leading to
miscarriage of justice.
- Police officers: Police could behave badly, e.g. in the case of Stephen Lawrence they were
found to be incompetent and racist.
- CPS: The CPS has been criticised when cases have collapsed through lack of evidence.
- Pathologists: The cost of a pathologist is very high.
Colin Pitchfork He was the first person in the UK to be convicted through DNA evidence.
DNA was used to prove that Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth had been killed by the same man.
DNA evidence showed that Robert Buckland, who had confessed to the murder of Dawn
Ashworth, was not the real killer.
Strengths and weaknesses of DNA evidence Strengths:
- It can be used to solve old cases.
- Everyone's DNA is unique.
- It can prove innocence as well as guilt.
Weaknesses:
- Cross-contamination in laboratories is possible.
Correct Answers
SOCO Scene of Crime Officers. SOCOs search for evidence such as gunshot residue,
fingerprints, hairs and fibres.
Amanda Knox She was arrested for the murder of Meredith Kercher. Detectives inside the
house failed to wear any protective clothing, such as shoe covers and this was used to suggest
that the evidence collected was unreliable.
Forensic Scientists They review evidence from a crime scene. Forensic scientists may be
expert in a range of fields, such as toxicology, dentistry or fire.
Adam Scott He was held in custody for six months when a plastic tray containing his DNA
had not been disposed of and was re-used in a rape case.
Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) The body responsible for deciding whether a case brought
by the police should be prosecuted in a court. The CPS must decide whether there is a realistic
prospect of conviction and whether prosecution is in the public interest.
Damilola Taylor He was a Nigerian schoolboy who was stabbed to death in London. The CPS
was heavily criticised for relying too heavily on the evidence of a 14 year old girl who it should
have known was lying.
Pathologists Medical doctors who perform autopsies to establish cause of death.
Anthony Hardy (The "Camden Ripper") In the investigation, pathologist Freddy Patel found
that a victim had died of natural causes, despite bloodstains on her walls, clothing and bedding.
Anthony Hardy went on to murder two other women.
What are the limitations in the roles of:
, - SOCOs
- Forensic scientists
- Police officers
- CPS
- Pathologists - SOCOs: They may be exposed to hazardous substances an d so must wear
protective clothing.
- Forensic scientists: Samples can become contaminated in the laboratory, leading to
miscarriage of justice.
- Police officers: Police could behave badly, e.g. in the case of Stephen Lawrence they were
found to be incompetent and racist.
- CPS: The CPS has been criticised when cases have collapsed through lack of evidence.
- Pathologists: The cost of a pathologist is very high.
Colin Pitchfork He was the first person in the UK to be convicted through DNA evidence.
DNA was used to prove that Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth had been killed by the same man.
DNA evidence showed that Robert Buckland, who had confessed to the murder of Dawn
Ashworth, was not the real killer.
Strengths and weaknesses of DNA evidence Strengths:
- It can be used to solve old cases.
- Everyone's DNA is unique.
- It can prove innocence as well as guilt.
Weaknesses:
- Cross-contamination in laboratories is possible.
