Focus On... Crime Scene Investigation - 'more than meets the eye'

Mark Walsh | Principal CSI

Hi all – hope you enjoyed Phill’s blogs last week. If you missed them you can read them using the links on the right-hand side of this page.

Right, back to the blog…

Forensic evidence is the main tool for solving crime for all police forces. But we don’t always walk away from a scene with forensic evidence that will identify an offender. Physical evidence is not the only thing we are looking for. We also assess how crimes are committed and from that can link scenes and identify offenders through similar offences. 

Vehicle crime is a great example. Say several cars have been broken into. CSIs may only find good forensic evidence at a few of the scenes but due to other circumstances (we can’t tell you this bit, sorry!) we can double check fingerprint lifts against other scenes and solve more than one crime at a time.

Recently we got a DNA match on an offender in relation to a vehicle crime who then admitted over 30 similar offences even though no evidence was obtained at some of the other scenes – a good result. 

Of course a CSI would prefer to find evidence at all of the scenes they attend – this is something that you, as potential victims, can certainly help with. Preserving scenes is absolutely essential, giving us the best chance to find the proof we need to bring offenders to justice.

We do know how distressing being the victim of a burglary can be.  If you are unfortunate to find yourself in this situation, the best action you can take to assist us is:

• try to identify where and how the burglar got in    
• look at what items have been moved - this will establish which rooms have been entered and searched
• do not to touch anything – if you have to move items let the CSI know on their arrival - but please be aware, touching items may mean forensic opportunities are reduced
• contrary to what you see on the TV, picking up items with cloths and gloves can wipe off fingerprints
• check to see if the burglar dropped an item of their own property – are there items in your house you do not recognise?

When you call 999 or 101 our Control Room call handlers will give you scene preservation advice. However, often a victim will be too upset or shocked to take that advice on board, and we understand it is natural to want to search through your belongings to see if anything has been taken. But if I can give you one piece of advice to help us make sure we have the best possible chance of bringing someone to justice, it is this: 

All CSIs have undergone excellent training and will be looking for a large range of forensic opportunities dependant on the crime and the circumstances. We are highly effective and thorough and usually conduct burglary scene searches in less than an hour. That means you are then free to clean up, repair damage and find out exactly what has been stolen so you can inform the investigating officer and your insurance provider. So please help us help you and try not to touch anything if you can.

I’d like to tell you a bit more about our team and what we deal with if I may. 

Our department forms part of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, I believe the second largest directorate of its kind in the UK. From criminal damage to murder scenes, we are trained to cope with whatever is required.

We even get involved in unsolved murders and rapes from many years ago and part of the department’s function is to review all forensic evidence and look for new leads that may identify an offender. With the development and refinement of DNA, murders and rapes which were thought to be undetectable are looked at again and new techniques in the world of forensics can result in successful convictions of people who have never even been in trouble with the police before

Other rapes and murders have been solved by re-analysing extracts taken from victims’ clothing over 20 years ago. Sometimes very small but significant amounts of DNA have resulted in offenders being identified – something even the scientists at the time would not have dreamed possible.

Looking for new forensic leads to solve historic cases has to be one of my favourite parts of the job. Most of the cases are from the 1980s when DNA was in its infancy as a crime fighting tool and it cost a fortune to use. Just a couple of tests could cost many thousands of pounds - a result may have taken many months to come back and there was no database to compare the results, unlike the facilities we have now. 

To identify offenders from crimes which occurred before I even joined Kent Police is one of the most satisfying feelings you can get from a professional perspective, coupled with the fact that the victims, or victims’ families can begin to get closure on a crime that has haunted them for years.

To be able to delve into these historic cases we need the help of the Kent Police Cold Case Investigation Team. To give you some insight into the fascinating work this team carries out they will be up next in our Focus on… series. Stay tuned.

Thanks for reading.

Mark

Focus on... Crime Scene Investigation - everyone wants to be a CSI

Mark Walsh | Principal CSI

Hi all,

I’ll start with a little info about myself if I may. I’ve been a CSI since 1991 and since then I’ve progressed to become a Principal Investigator. While it is still a technical role, I also help
with the management of the CSI function to make sure it runs efficiently.

All the work we do, meticulously covering scenes to find evidence, would be wasted if there were no forensic scientists available to examine it. A large part of my role over the last two years has been working to secure new providers to carry out this work for us. It is yet another myth that police forces have scientists in a basement lab waiting to be passed evidence from CSIs (as seen on TV). In fact most is carried out by specialist external companies. By reviewing our providers we have been able to save millions of pounds whilst maintaining the high standards required. 

Recruitment into the team also forms a large part of my role. Everyone wants to be a CSI and I get numerous requests a week, sometimes a day, from people who are interested. The job is not always what people expect – TV doesn’t help this either - and with the shift patterns and distressing crime scenes, a lot of people decide it isn’t for them. 

In this job you cannot predict what will happen next. One minute you could be attending a theft from a vehicle and the next you may have to go to a harrowing scene and end up working long hours on a serious investigation. 

To prepare our investigators for what’s involved; all our staff undertake a comprehensive training programme to make sure they fully understand the role before they go out into the field.

Richard Hunt | CSI Trainer

 

Hi, I’m a trainer here at the Kent Police Training School, where the majority of both our theory and practical sessions are held. We have a purpose built ‘street scene’ containing a Post Office, Estate Agents, pub and houses. They are all set up in the same way as real businesses which really helps our budding CSIs get to grips with scenes that they will attend when they’re in post. The ‘street scene’ gives us the opportunity to create complex scenarios across multiple locations as well. 

We also have a few disused vehicles that we plant evidence in and grassy areas that our CSIs recruits can cordon off and split into sections so they can hone their searching skills.

When recruiting, the trend is to generally source candidates who have already obtained a forensic science degree. With their wealth of theoretical knowledge, our job is to help them convert it into the practical skills required to effectively examine a crime scene. 

In contrast, some of our applicants are already in the policing family and can bring skills and attributes from their previous roles such as excellent communication as well as good recording and searching skills. Their grasp of police speak and procedures can often be a great help too.

Either way our trainers are here to make sure all recruits successfully pass the training programme and have all the skills and determination they need to become a great Crime Scene Investigator.

The long and often unsociable hours do not suit all, but the rewards and the sense of justification I get when an offender is jailed due to evidence I’ve collected is why I return every day and the reason I love my job.  

That’s all for today, tomorrow we’ll let you know about some of the ways we collect evidence, how you can help if you ever find yourself a victim of burglary and talk more about our work with colleagues in the Cold Case Investigation team.

Thanks for reading,

Mark & Richard

Focus on... Crime Scene Investigation - 'you have to detach yourself from the reality'

Crime Scene Investigator

Phill Pemble

Afternoon all.  Here is another snapshot of the daily work of a CSI. 

I went back to the scene I had left the day before (if you remember, it was an allegation of rape) and took more pictures as the light was much better.

With no more jobs on the work-list I submitted evidence from previous jobs to the lab. I had managed to obtain DNA from clothing of a recent assault victim so I sent that in for analysis. I also sent off some plants that had been recovered from a scene to confirm that they were in fact cannabis and to calculate the potential street value – something that can affect the length of sentence given to drug dealers/producers. I also submitted syringes and other drug paraphernalia for DNA examination. 

Evidence submission came to an abrupt stop when I was asked to attend a burglary scene. A garage at a house had been broken into with an item stolen. Despite searching I could not find any forensic evidence but I spoke to the owners and showed them how this particular incident happened so they could protect against it in the future. I then passed the job back to officers so they could make witness enquiries in the nearby area. 

Back in the office the day quietened down and I carried on with my paperwork – not very exciting but we have to make sure all the proper processes are followed.  

The next day 

Once again the phone was ringing as I walked through the door with a request to attend a sudden death involving a child. As with all instances of sudden death, they can be explained by a range of scenarios, but it is my responsibility to check the scene and eliminate any concerns over the cause. It is important we attend to rule out any involvement by a third party. I gathered the evidence and returned back to the office. 

Next on the list: offenders who had gained entry to a home and stole various items. I managed to recover fingerprints which I really hope will help put a name to the burglar/s. Later I was passed items by officers that were left at another scene and I logged them for testing. You can only hope that in the offender’s hurry to leave they have left proof of who they are. 

What I’ve described to you is a pretty standard week in the life of a Crime Scene Investigator. I hope this has given you an insight into the range of jobs and scenes we attend. Our role is a really important part of the investigative process and we cannot afford to leave any stone unturned. Even the smallest piece of evidence might be the key to a conviction and taking a dangerous criminal off the streets so they cannot continue to harm other people.  

I’m now off for a few well-earned rest days…  

Hope you’ve enjoyed reading. The next blog is from our principal investigator who will be letting you know about what you can do to help us if you ever find yourself a victim of crime. 

Thanks everyone,

Phill

Focus on...Crime Scene Investigation - 'the highs and lows'

Phill Pemble - CSI

Hi all,

So a typical day… not sure there’s such a thing for a CSI but here goes;

(I’ve removed all references to date, time and location in case any investigations are on-going and to prevent victims from being identified)

I literally got through the door of the office as a Detective Sergeant (DS) came in to let me know of a sudden, unexplained death.

Someone had stopped breathing, paramedics were in attendance and although they made every effort to resuscitate, they had not been successful. As we had details on the individual and knew some of their history, there were some concerns as to the cause of death. I rushed down to the scene along with the local DS and DI (Detective Inspector) and started the examination. During this time other officers began their neighbourhood and family enquiries. 

As always, the first thing I did was photograph the scene before taking a closer look at the body. This obviously isn’t a nice part of my job but it has to be done. If it was a relative of mine I would want to know that the police had done everything they could to determine what had happened. In this case I did not find any suspicious circumstances, so I passed the investigation over to the local coroner. We located some drug taking paraphernalia at the scene which officers seized so they could find out who had used it and what drugs were involved.

Shortly afterwards, I moved onto a shed break-in. With incidents like this I speak to the victims first to establish the circumstances. They were able to show me how they believed the offender did not activate their security light. I took the evidence back to the lab for analysis and spoke to the victims again about extra home security measures they could put in place to help them feel safer and reduce the risk of being targeted again. Any hits from my evidence is fed back to the officer investigating the crime and, if appropriate, shown to the Crown Prosecution Service to help put offenders before the courts.

Another job came in, this time a very difficult one. We received a report of an alleged rape. I know the effect that this type of crime can have on victims having spoken to many over the years so I pay extra attention to even the smallest detail, sometimes it’s all that’s needed to secure a conviction. 

Officers on patrol quickly arrived at the home of the person who made the report to obtain a statement and I sealed off the area where it was reported to have happened and began searching. With reports like this I could be looking for a range of things, so the available light is a huge issue. It was getting dark quickly so I made the decision to leave and return again in the morning.  

Before I leave you for today, I would like to mention crime scenes and the taped off areas you may come across from time to time. 

Please don’t be alarmed when you see this. Even if a CSI is not there, you will see a police car or officer patrolling just to make sure no one tampers with the scene. I will seal off areas

for a range of offences from drug taking to assaults; some may stay up longer because of diminishing light, workloads, dense areas and so on.

They may look alarming but it is critical we make sure any evidence is located so our officers have the best possible
opportunity to bring an offender to justice.

Thanks for reading.  Tomorrow’s blog – ‘you have to detach yourself from the reality’

Phill

Focus on...Crime Scene Investigation - '12 years at a glance'

Victim's burnt out vehicle

Phill Pemble | Crime Scene Investigator

Afternoon,

Hope you all had a nice evening yesterday.

I have a few memorable jobs from the last 12 years, too many to go in to fully, but the main ones that stick in my mind are:

Jan 2006 – the murder of a couple at their home in Swale

Footprint in the property

I spent nearly two weeks at the main crime scene piecing together what had happened. It was winter, and freezing cold, but both my colleague and I worked tirelessly and managed to produce a computer generated reconstruction. 

We painstakingly covered every inch of the scene to find fingerprints, shoe-marks and DNA evidence. 

Together with the reconstruction the court and jury were shown what happened on that day. It later secured the conviction of a local man and a jail term of two life sentences.

Footprint in the snow

 

See part of the reconstruction that showed the jurors how the offender gained access to the property - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fosdWH4wMcI

Feb 2012 – fatal industrial accident

An unmanned fishing boat was recovered near Whitstable, having nearly collided with another vessel. RNLI were tasked with searching the area as were RAF search crews. A body of a man was later recovered from the sea near to where the boat was found. 

As our officers had identified that a second man was supposed to be on-board the vessel I worked with our marine unit to examine the boat in case a crime had been committed while others searched for the missing person. 

This was an unusual crime scene and I learnt a lot from the experience. Unfortunately the second man’s body was later recovered in the Thames Estuary.

 

February 2006 – Tonbridge robbery

A huge case for Kent Police. If you managed to not catch this on every news channel at the time, a group of offenders wearing latex masks and dressed as police officers kidnapped an employee and his family before gaining access to a cash depot and stealing £53million. This was a serious and organised crime involving kidnapping and live firearms which is not something we usually come across in Kent. 

Although not involved in the main crime scene, I was tasked to

work on several additional ones. I examined cash and bags that had been recovered by our officers following the robbery itself, as well as one of the vehicles used by an offender and a vehicle used to hold the staff member's family. 

Evidence collected included DNA on a cigarette butt found at the bottom of a black bin liner that matched one of our suspects, DNA on ripped up latex masks that also placed two more at a scene, and a mobile phone covered in fingerprints, securing the conviction of three offenders.

Seven people were convicted in total and jailed for 183 years combined. Forensic evidence is always crucial - through thorough searches and detailed scene preservation our findings in this case in particular proved vital, a great success for our team.

July 2010 – methamphetamine production in a residential garage in Whitstable

This again was unusual for Kent and after the find was located, I worked alongside other specialist agencies including the Serious and Organised Crime Agency’s Hazardous Lab team and Kent Fire & Rescue Service to dismantle the production facility. 

Meth ingredients are often toxic and volatile, for example acids, red phosphorous and ammonia, and we all needed to take extreme care to ensure the safety of not only ourselves but the surrounding residents before deeming the area usable again. 

Coming up tomorrow - a day in the life of a CSI. I’ve put together a few blogs to give you a real insight into a typical day. 

Phill

Focus on...Crime Scene Investigators - 'CSI Miami doesn't come close'

Phill Pemble | Crime Scene Investigator 

Joined Kent Police 2001 

‘CSI Miami doesn’t come close!’ 

Hi everyone, 

I’ve been a CSI at Kent Police for nearly 12 years now and I really enjoy my role. I think it’s fair to say that the public are fascinated by the work I do, mainly due to the numerous television programmes showing how glamorous it is all supposed to be. However, the reality is very different! 

So… if you would like a true insight into the job, let’s go. 

A week usually starts off with a few late shifts (2-11pm), followed by some day shifts (10am-7pm) and culminating with early turns (7am-4:30pm). We also provide out-of-hours cover for serious or major incidents. It is rare that I am tucked up in bed reminiscing about my day at 9pm as seen on TV!  

Our offices do not have muted lighting and steel worktops, it does not take 30 seconds to get a DNA result nor do we have a make-up artist on hand or walk around in lab coats. However, we do have police tape, pop-up tents and white paper suits and, on occasions, you will find us addressing colleagues by their surname, so I guess there are some similarities! 

Day to day we cover the area we’re based at (mine being Swale) and give assistance to each other when needed.  I attend crime scenes ranging from minor criminal damage, serious (and sometimes sexual) assaults, theft from vehicles and serious organised crime – whenever there are forensic opportunities, we’ll be there. 

When a call comes in to our Control Room they take all the details and tag CSIs if they believe there may be forensic opportunities for us at the scene. When I start a shift I look at the system that shows me exactly where I need to be and which incident I need to attend first.  I also have a work phone that I use to check for new jobs when I’m out of the office, so although my working day could start off fairly relaxed it can invariably end up far busier than first thought. 

Being a CSI is so interesting; no two days are ever the same. Interacting with victims and helping them through difficult situations is very rewarding. And of course the evidence I collect can be one of the main reasons a criminal is put behind bars - that is the icing on the cake.   

As with many roles within the police service there’s a constant learning curve as you encounter new situations. You need a calm, clear head, be able to empathise with victims, an ability to think laterally as situations may not be as straight forward as first thought as well as be able to communicate comfortably with everyone you come into contact with, from victims to coroners as well as senior investigating officers. 

Tomorrow I’ll let you know about of my most memorable jobs, including the infamous Tonbridge Robbery, as well as cases where our DNA and fingerprint evidence secured convictions for murderers and drug producers.   

I’m extremely proud of the work we do – seeing the relief on the faces of victims when justice is delivered and an offender is jailed always stays with me and is the motivation behind everything we do. 

Stay tuned for more… 
Phill