Application
This unit describes the skills required to manage information within investigative contexts, including collecting, collating and evaluating information for analysis and interpretation.
This unit applies to those working as police officers, generally in a designated investigation role, responsible for managing information in a policing context.
The skills and knowledge described in this unit must be applied within the legislative, regulatory and policy environment in which they are carried out. Organisational policies and procedures must be consulted and adhered to, particularly those related to information security, information management systems, and codes of conduct.
Those undertaking this unit would demonstrate strong autonomy, making independent decisions and accessing support from a broad range of policing services. They would be required to possess strong decision making and problem solving skills, leadership abilities and robust communicative competence. The individual would perform sophisticated tasks that require strong adaptability across a broad range of contexts.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENTS | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions section. |
1. Collect information | 1.1 Identify avenues of enquiry to facilitate collection of information. 1.2 Establish information channels to maximise the availability of information at all stages of the investigation. 1.3 Communicate information requirements to stakeholders to facilitate collection. 1.4 Select collection techniques to obtain required information. 1.5 Record collected information for the purpose of accessibility and retrievability. |
2. Protect the integrity and security of information | 2.1 Assess risk to identify whether information/sources could be compromised. 2.2 Secure integrity of information to mitigate risk and prevent unauthorised access. |
3. Collate information | 3.1 Use collation methods relevant to investigation to facilitate interpretation. 3.2 Evaluate the effectiveness of collation methods. 3.3 Amend collation methods to improve accessibility, interpretability and retrievability of information. |
4. Evaluate information | 4.1 Assess origin of information to determine reliability and validity and identify associated risks. 4.2 Assess information continually to determine investigative relevance, reliability and validity. 4.3 Record information collected within investigation for archiving purposes. 4.4 Identify information gaps to collect further information. |
5. Analyse and interpret information | 5.1 Evaluate consistency of interpretations by comparing interpretations with available information. 5.2 Evaluate evidence to determine probative weight. 5.3 Interpret evidence and information to identify investigative activities. 5.4 Develop recommendations to provide direction to and further inform the investigation. |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the candidate must demonstrate evidence of performance of the following on at least one occasion.
reading and analysing complex information from a range of sources
collecting information through the application of collection techniques
communicating with stakeholders to facilitate collection
recording information using information management systems, with consideration of security and risk
collating information to facilitate analysis through the application of collation methods
evaluating information to determine credibility, reliability, validity and relevance
identifying information gaps, invalid or irrelevant information
interpreting information to identify investigative actions and develop recommendations
Evidence of Knowledge
Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the depth of knowledge demonstrated must be appropriate to the job context of the candidate.
information security and classifications
freedom of information and privacy legislation
information analysis and interpretation techniques
jurisdictional policies and procedures related to information gathering, recording and dissemination
jurisdictional information management systems, including digital evidence management
information collection techniques and methods
Assessment Conditions
This unit contains no specific industry-mandated assessment conditions. Guidance on suggested and recommended conditions and methods can be found in the Implementation Guide.
Consideration must be given to holistic assessment for this unit. Refer to advice in the companion volumes.
Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
Foundation Skills
The foundation skills demands of this unit have been mapped for alignment with the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF). The following tables outline the performance levels indicated for successful attainment of the unit.
Further information on ACSF and the foundation skills underpinning this unit can be found in the Foundation Skills Guide on the GSA website.
Competency Field
Investigation