Assessor Resource

PUAPOLIV003A
Manage incident scenes

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit applies to people required to assess, control and coordinate the investigation of an incident scene in a policing context.

Incident scenes provide useful information and evidence to support investigations. The proper management of an incident scene is critical to the investigative process and can influence outcomes, particularly where prosecutions are involved.

Proper incident scene assessment requires the identification of primary and secondary scenes, the treatment of risks and consideration of tactical factors that may influence the preservation of life, property and evidence. To preserve evidence control must be established at the incident scene by defining scene boundaries, tasking police and support personnel, recording all activities, supporting victims and exercising control over all persons present. Scene investigation requires coordinating interviews with relevant people, recording and handling evidence/exhibits for continuity and using support personnel to identify and gather evidence.

The work outlined in this unit would typically be undertaken by a police investigator in a designated investigation role.

This unit covers the competency required to appreciate, control and coordinate incident scenes to obtain and secure all available evidence to assist investigations, in accordance with jurisdictional law, policies and procedures.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.



Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessment must confirm the ability to:

manage at least two incident scenes to ensure the accurate assessment, preservation and collection of evidence and exhibits at the scene.

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated over time in a range of contexts to ensure the person can achieve the outcome and apply the competence in different situations or environments.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency should be assessed in the workplace or an environment that closely resembles normal work practice and replicates the range of conditions likely to be encountered in the workplace, including coping with difficulties, irregularities and breakdowns in routine.

Specific resources for assessment

There are no specific resource requirements for this unit.

Method of assessment

In a public safety environment assessment is usually conducted via direct observation in a training environment or in the workplace via subject matter supervision and/or mentoring, which is typically recorded in a competency workbook.

Assessment is completed using appropriately qualified assessors who select the most appropriate method of assessment.

Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an industry-approved simulated work environment. Forms of assessment that are typically used include:

direct observation

interviewing the candidate

journals and workplace documentation

third party reports from supervisors

written or oral questions.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Required Skills

analyse situations and make decisions

apply operational safety techniques

communicate (listen, question) and negotiate when questioning witnesses and controlling persons in the vicinity of the incident scene

handle exhibits and preserve continuity of evidence

manage resources and time

manage witnesses and in doing so, demonstrate ethical behaviour and cultural awareness

solve problems in responding to a range of incident scene contexts

use specialised investigatory equipment such as fingerprinting equipment, computer software, photographic equipment etc.

Required Knowledge

government and policy context in which incident scenes are managed and investigated, and all relevant law, policies and procedures

judicial and evidentiary requirements and organisational processes for the collection, preservation and continuity of exhibits

range of investigation techniques

range of support services available to assist investigators in managing incident scenes, in particular forensic services

roles and functions of other agencies in managing incident scenes

The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.

Incident scenes may be:

Primary (where the offence actually took place)

Secondary (where any physical evidence leading to establishment of the incident is located)

Risk factors may include:

Factors at the incident scene that could impact on:

safety of investigators

security/preservation of the actual site

security and preservation of situational evidence

Tactical factors may include:

Access to scene

Availability of support services

Boundaries

Chronology of events

Number of persons at scene

Those which affect the quality of the investigation and may include environmental circumstances

Recording activities at the incident scene may include:

Digital imaging technology

Exhibit logs

Photography

Receipts and personnel movement

Running sheets

Video

Suspects may be controlled by:

Advising of rights

Apprehension

Search

Securing

Separation

Persons at incident scenes may include:

Coroners

Incident scene specialists and forensic experts

Forensic accountants

Information technology consultants

Legal officers

Media

Medical practitioners

Offenders

Other bystanders

Pathologists

Police and other public safety agency personnel

Suspects

Undertakers

Victims

Witnesses

Control may include:

Isolate and search

Group

Muster

Secure

Segregate

Task

Personnel may include:

Personnel from other agencies

Police

Specialist support

Any other person deemed necessary to assist in the management of the incident scene

Support services may include:

Coroner

Document examiners

External agencies

Financial organisations

Handwriting experts

Incident scene specialists such as pathologists

Information technology consultants

Forensic accountants

Forensic investigators

Government medical officers

Interpreters

Legal officers

Technical services

Undertakers

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Primary and secondary incident scenes are identified to establish resource needs within the incident scene assessment 
Risk factors affecting the incident scenes are identified and managed 
Preservation of life, property and evidence are prioritised in the assessment of the incident scene 
Tactical factors and resulting priorities are identified to assist decision making/subsequent action 
To support subsequent lines of inquiry, all activities at the incident scene are recorded in accordance with organisational guidelines 
Boundaries of the incident scene are established and secured to prevent contamination of prospective evidence/exhibits 
Persons are supported and referred to relevant support agencies in accordance with organisational requirements 
Suspects are controlled in accordance with organisational policies and procedures 
Persons at the incident scene are controlled to safeguard their welfare and prevent contamination of the scene 
Personnel are coordinated to manage the incident scene 
Potential evidence/exhibits are preserved to prevent contamination 
Persons relevant to the incident scene are identified and interviewed to determine possible avenues of inquiry and offences/defences 
Information collected is assessed and used to initiate investigative action 
Evidence/exhibits at incident scene/s are identified and recorded prior to examination to ensure continuity 
Evidence/exhibits are processed in accordance with organisational requirements to maintain continuity and integrity 
Incident scene investigations are managed to preserve life, property and evidence, to minimise disruption and to ensure compliance with operational safety guidelines 
Support services are utilised to investigate incident scene 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

PUAPOLIV003A - Manage incident scenes
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

PUAPOLIV003A - Manage incident scenes

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: