AC 1.2 – Writing Frames
Surveillance techniques:
One type of investigative technique is surveillance, examples of this include
CCTV and covert surveillance. CCTV allows police to have 24-hour coverage of a
particular area, without the need for officers to be stationed there. It also
provides a video recording which can be watched back to try to identify any
suspects in a crime. Covert surveillance can involve the use of tracking devices,
tapping phones and fixed or mobile surveillance teams. It is planned in advance
to monitor individuals that police have suspicions of, for example, potential gang
members. Surveillance techniques are most useful at the crime scene and the
street because they capture crimes in action or any potential suspects out on the
streets away from the crime scene. They are most useful in violent crimes such
as terrorism and property crime such as burglary because they can gather
information within potential terrorist groups and they can capture any of these
crimes using CCTV.
One strength of surveillance techniques is the visual record that CCTV provides.
An example of where CCTV was useful was in the Jamie Bulger case. After
reviewing footage from the shopping centre, police could see Jamie leaving with
two older boys, who were later found to be his killers. Another strength of
surveillance is that CCTV cameras can act as a deterrence. If cameras a visible in
shops, people will be less likely to shoplift because they know they will be
caught. This therefore means that CCTV cameras can reduce crime numbers.
However, a limitation of surveillance techniques is the possibility of entrapment.
When using CHIS, the undercover officer has to follow very strict rules so as not
to trap the suspect into admitting that they committed a certain crime. One real
life case where CHIS did not follow the proper procedures is the Colin Stagg case.
An undercover policewoman had posed as a potential love interest for Stagg but
it was shown that she tried to incriminate him frequently, such as by repeatedly
mentioning the murder of Rachel Nickell to try to prove his guilt. This therefore
meant that the court couldn’t accept the evidence she brought to them because
her actions were viewed as entrapment. Another limitation of surveillance is that
CCTV is easy to spot. This means that criminals can avoid them when committing
a crime or disguise themselves so they can’t be identified. This makes the
recordings useless to police. Another limitation of CCTV is that the recordings
aren’t always of good quality. This means that although the police may have
video evidence of the criminal committing a crime, they wouldn’t be able to
identify them due to the poor quality of the footage. Furthermore, there are
controversies that surveillance techniques can be a breach of human rights,
especially covert surveillance and CHIS as they are infiltrating individuals’ daily
lives. On top of this, undercover officers have previously tricked their targets into
sexual relationships, which is unethical and a breach of proper conduct.
Forensics:
One type of investigative technique is forensics. Forensics focusses on analysing
DNA found by collecting evidence such as blood, semen, skin flakes and hair.
DNA is found in almost every cell in the body meaning it is very easily behind at
a crime scene in some form. It is also unique to everyone, apart from
Surveillance techniques:
One type of investigative technique is surveillance, examples of this include
CCTV and covert surveillance. CCTV allows police to have 24-hour coverage of a
particular area, without the need for officers to be stationed there. It also
provides a video recording which can be watched back to try to identify any
suspects in a crime. Covert surveillance can involve the use of tracking devices,
tapping phones and fixed or mobile surveillance teams. It is planned in advance
to monitor individuals that police have suspicions of, for example, potential gang
members. Surveillance techniques are most useful at the crime scene and the
street because they capture crimes in action or any potential suspects out on the
streets away from the crime scene. They are most useful in violent crimes such
as terrorism and property crime such as burglary because they can gather
information within potential terrorist groups and they can capture any of these
crimes using CCTV.
One strength of surveillance techniques is the visual record that CCTV provides.
An example of where CCTV was useful was in the Jamie Bulger case. After
reviewing footage from the shopping centre, police could see Jamie leaving with
two older boys, who were later found to be his killers. Another strength of
surveillance is that CCTV cameras can act as a deterrence. If cameras a visible in
shops, people will be less likely to shoplift because they know they will be
caught. This therefore means that CCTV cameras can reduce crime numbers.
However, a limitation of surveillance techniques is the possibility of entrapment.
When using CHIS, the undercover officer has to follow very strict rules so as not
to trap the suspect into admitting that they committed a certain crime. One real
life case where CHIS did not follow the proper procedures is the Colin Stagg case.
An undercover policewoman had posed as a potential love interest for Stagg but
it was shown that she tried to incriminate him frequently, such as by repeatedly
mentioning the murder of Rachel Nickell to try to prove his guilt. This therefore
meant that the court couldn’t accept the evidence she brought to them because
her actions were viewed as entrapment. Another limitation of surveillance is that
CCTV is easy to spot. This means that criminals can avoid them when committing
a crime or disguise themselves so they can’t be identified. This makes the
recordings useless to police. Another limitation of CCTV is that the recordings
aren’t always of good quality. This means that although the police may have
video evidence of the criminal committing a crime, they wouldn’t be able to
identify them due to the poor quality of the footage. Furthermore, there are
controversies that surveillance techniques can be a breach of human rights,
especially covert surveillance and CHIS as they are infiltrating individuals’ daily
lives. On top of this, undercover officers have previously tricked their targets into
sexual relationships, which is unethical and a breach of proper conduct.
Forensics:
One type of investigative technique is forensics. Forensics focusses on analysing
DNA found by collecting evidence such as blood, semen, skin flakes and hair.
DNA is found in almost every cell in the body meaning it is very easily behind at
a crime scene in some form. It is also unique to everyone, apart from
