Agent Provocateurs can also be used when collecting further evidence. An agent provocateur is a member of a police force which will ensure that a criminal will carry out a crime in order for them to make an arrest. However an agent provocateur can also be a member of the suspect’s group which may have been asked by the police to carry out an undercover investigation lead by the police. This method of surveillance can be helpful as the suspect will may trust the undercover person enough to carry out a crime and tell that person. However if the suspect were to find out that they were being investigated by an undercover police officer or friend this could become dangerous as this person will be seen as a traitor. Thus the suspect may involve members of their group which may turn violent.
Alternatively the police themselves can follow a suspect in order to identify the places that the suspect visits; these may include places in which they may commit a crime or accomplice’s houses. This could lead to a possible conviction of the suspect and any other members of the group involved. If the police were to follow the suspect to a possible crime scene the police would be able to interrupt this and take the suspect in for question. Thus being able to question the suspect about past crimes which the police suspect they were involved in.
The National Crime Intelligence Service (NCIS) can also be used to collect potential evidence although the NCIS is mainly used to gather intelligence information on the more in depth cases such as terrorist attacks much like the Echelon system. The NCIS will gather information on future attacks which will involve proving the suspect is guilty in order for the plan to be carried out, thus the NCIS rarely get involved in the investigations as they will only hand potential plans over to the police in order for them to investigate further.
The National Crime Squad is a section of the British Police force which is mainly involved in organised crime such as drug trafficking. The NCS works closely with the NCIS in order to prove that a suspect is guilty of a crime which has been committed. The NCS will be called into serious crimes against the public such as murders or kidnappings; they will then take over the case until a suspect is proven to be guilty. The evidence collected by the NCS can be added to the MO of the suspect in order to help with getting a conviction against the suspect.
Interpol was created in 1923 to assist with the international police organisations. The two organisations can work together in order to provide a conviction against any international suspects which may have move to a different country to avoid being caught. Interpol can also offer the use of international intelligence in order to track the suspect down and collect any evidence. This evidence collected can also be checked by the two organisations carrying out the investigations thus proving that all evidence collected is in fact relevant to the case and may lead to a prosecution.
Crime stoppers is a telephone hotline which is given to the public to help with any possible criminal behaviour occurring. The public will be asked to phone in with any possible leads to a case which cannot be investigated further due to lack of evidence. The evidence given to the police from the public will then be overlooked and possibly added to evidence already found. Due to the public knowledge of this system the public feel more inclined to help as they can see each case on the television. However because of the public involvement many prank calls maybe received which could cause false information being followed.
Profile of the Suspect
The prime suspect in this case is a close associate with the victim, the suspect is known to be a drug dealer which may be the reason why this crime was committed. The suspect is known to be violent when drugs are involved which may fit in with the threatening note found at the crime scene. As the suspect was a close associate to the victim this may indicate that the victim in fact let the suspect in as thought.
To produce this profile of the suspect I looked at the evidence and produced a possible modus operandi which can be found attached to this assignment. I then began looking into the victim’s friends and family noting any individuals which may have a possible gain out of the crime. This is where I found the prime suspect. I matched the suspect with the modus operandi, I then prepared a plan of questions in order to interview the suspect.
Modus Operandi of the Suspect
- Class word- The class of person that may have committed this crime may have been involved in drugs. May have been a drug dealer. Drugs found at the scene may have been connected.
- Entry- No forced entry was found indiciating the victim may have known the suspect. Front or back door may have been used.
- Means- Front or Back door was possibly used for entry as no forced entry was found.
- Object- The suspect may have committed this crime for possible gain as a threatening note was found indicating a threat if money was not paid. Drugs were also found at the scene which may be a possible cause.
- Time- At the time of the crime the victim was known to be in the building which suggests the suspect may have planned the attack.
- Style- Suspect may have imitated a professional worker in order to gain entry to the building thus gaining trust from the victim.
- Tale- The reasons may have been to warn the victim using the letter or to scare the victim.
- Pal- the way the crime was committed indicates no other accomplices were present at the time of the crime. No further fingerprints or DNA was found.
- Transport- No evidence of the use of transport was found at the scene.
- Trademarks- No obvious trademarks were found however the threatening note could have been left for the police to find.
Task Two
Interview Technique- PEACE Model
The PEACE model identifies the steps needed in an interview structure to make it successful, these steps being planning and Preparation, Engage and Explain, Account, Closure and Evaluation. These steps were presented to the police in two guidebooks (guide to interviewing and interviews rule book). The guidelines which were stated in these books were not made mandatory but represented the best way to interview a suspect. The police were also asked to attend a 5 day training course which showed the police the steps of the PEACE model to insure all police officers would use the correct techniques during all interviews taken place.
Planning and Preparation
Planning is the mental process of getting ready to conduct an interview whereas preparation is the considering what needs to undertaken before the interview process begins. This would include the sort of location, environment and the administration needed whilst interviewing. All interviews are needed to establish the facts and evidence recovered from a scene and interview a suspect to obtain evidence from them to disprove or prove that they were involved in the crime committed. This will also allow the testing of evidence and give all suspects the opportunity to give an explanation.
Engage and Explain
At the beginning of an interview this step allows the person being interviewed the choice where they wanted legal representation before and during the interview. An appropriate relationship between the interviewer and interviewee must be engaged which may occur from a proper introduction at the beginning of the interview. The explanation consists of the interviewer giving reason why the person is being interviewed. The person being interviewed will also be required to relive the event of which they are being questioned about.
Account
Appropriate questions must be asked during the interview without any leading questions however the person being interviewed is allowed legal representation which will ask leading questions regarding the questions asked by the interviewer. The person being interviewed is allowed to maintain their right of silence during the interview and this needs to be maintained by the police interviewing. In the earlier booklets released to the police regarding interview techniques, these booklets contained two techniques which the police used, these being the ‘cognitive approach’ and the ‘conversation management’. The cognitive approach was to be used when interviewing witnesses and victims as the cognitive approach would be easier on the interviewee.
Closure
When finishing an interview closure is essential. When closing an interview the interviewer needs to cover 3 main subjects, these being explaining to the interviewee what may happen later on in the case meaning what further action may be taken. The second being answering any questions that the person may have regarding the interview. The third is preparing any further action which will need to be attended to after the interview has taken place.
Evaluation
The PEACE model requires the interview process of evaluation to have 3 stages. All information gathered from the interview must be evaluated; all gather information prior to he interview will be evaluated alongside all new information. The third stage would be a type of self-evaluation whilst interviewing the suspect. Whilst interviewing the interviewer will be required to take a full transcript of the interview along with an audiotape, these will be evaluated and used as evidence in court.
Interview Questions
- Before this interview begins do we need to informed of any hearing or speech difficulties?
- If so could you specify your needs.
- Do you need any other help whilst giving your statement such as a translator?
- Have you had any legal help before entering this room?
- Would you like us to provide a lawyer for you? If not you can ask for legal help anytime during this interview.
6. Are you comfortable? Are you comfortable with the layout of the room?
7. Would you like a drink? tea, coffee, water?
8. Are you hungry?
We can stop this interview whenever you feel you need a break.
Before we continue with this interview I must advise you that you are being cautioned and questioned about the suspected murder of Mr Sam Pepper.
As long as you feel comfortable and happy with this interview going ahead we will know go ahead and caution you:
“You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you may later rely on court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.”
You are not under arrest. This interview is being recorded for future reference which may appear in court at a later date. Please make all responses clear and fluent.
- Do you understand why we have brought you in for questioning?
- You are being questioned about the suspected murder of a Mr Sam Pepper which occurred at 270 Leek road.
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Where were you on the morning of the 22nd of May?
- Could you give us an alibi with someone that can account for this?
- Do you know the victim a ‘Mr Sam Pepper’?
- Have you been to the victim’s house?
- Could you explain how your fingerprints were found at the crime scene?
- How could your fingerprints have gotten at the crime scene?
10. Have you ever seen a gun at 270 Leek Road?
11. If so can you recognise this gun? (Show the picture of the gun)
12. Have you ever handled this gun found at the address?
13. Could you explain why we found your fingerprints on the gun found at the scene?
14. Were you aware that a white powdery substance later found to be Cocaine was located at the scene?
15. Can you explain why we found this?
16. Who did the substance belong to?
17. Did you ever handle this substance?
18. Could you explain why we found samples of your fingerprints on the bag containing the substance?
19. Were you at the house on that day?
20. Could you explain why evidence shows that you were at the scene?
- Would you like to make any differences to the answers you have made during this interview?
- Do you have any questions regarding this interview?
We will know look at this interview and the evidence we have collected and keep the relevant information we have gathered from you for further investigations into this case.
We will inform you if any other questions need to be asked or if you will be charged in relation to this case.
Task Three
In order to gain as much information as possible from the suspect the PEACE interviewing model was used to ensure that the suspect was at ease. In order for the interviewee to feel at ease the interview must be conducted in a light manner with no threatening behaviour from the interview. Myself and my colleague aimed to make sure the suspect was comfortable and noted any requests that he may have needed. We acted in a friendly manner to initiate a one to one basis with the suspect in order for them to feel relaxed. We began the interview insuring the suspect was not under arrest however he still needed to cautioned. We applied the health and safety guidelines making sure the suspect needed no assistance with the interview and ensuring the suspect that the suspect could stop the interview at any time.
We began the interview with reminding the suspect that he was being questioned over the suspected murder of Mr. Sam Pepper. He gave us an alibi of being at his place of work at the time of the murder however this was later checked out to be false. The suspect admitted knowing the victim and stated that he had been to the victim’s house around a month before the crime was committed. The suspect felt that he would now need legal representation so the interview was stopped whilst his legal council was arriving.
Once the representation had arrived the interview was immediately started. He explained that his fingerprints and his gun may have been found at the scene as he had been there a month earlier. He stated that the gun found at the scene seemed to look like his own yet he never took it out of the house unless he was going hunting. To explain how his fingerprints had been found on the bag of cocaine he stated that the victim had offered to show him the bag as he had said he had never seen drugs. He could not explain why the drugs were found at the crime scene and seemed shocked that the victim had drugs in his household. He did not know who the cocaine had belonged to.
If reference to the note found at the crime scene he admitted that he had wrote the note as tests had shown that the handwriting found on the note matched the suspects writing. He claimed to have only written the note as the victim had owed him a large amount of money and the suspect planned to scare the victim in to giving the money back.
With later reference to the fibres and hairs found at the scene the suspect later admitted to have had struggle with the victim which had begun after the victim was not prepared to pay the suspect back. The suspect admitted to have taken his gun to the scene in order to further threaten the victim and through the struggle the gun had gone off and shot the victim.
The suspect was then arrested for the murder of the Mr. Sam Pepper.
Due to the system of Modus Operandi I was able to study the behaviour of the suspect and was able to match the suspect’s behaviour when related to crime. The victim had known the suspect which ensured easy access to the house to commit the crime. The suspect knew that the victim would be at the house at that time of day as they were friends. The class of the suspect matched the class word in the MO as the suspect was a known dealer which may have provided the drugs found at the crime scene as his fingerprints were found on the bag containing the cocaine. The suspect may have committed the crime in order to back the victim back for not responding to his threats. From the interview taken with the suspect he indicated no other individuals were involved in committed this crime, this fits with the crime scene as no other fingerprints or DNA was found at the scene. No obvious trademarks were left at the scene as the suspect was known to the police and may have suspected he would be contacted first.
The physical evidence found at the scene has also helped this case as DNA and fingerprints were found at the scene indicating that the suspect had in fact been at the scene that day. The note that was proved to the be suspect’s handwriting also helped as it proved that the suspect had threatened the victim at an earlier stage and showed that he had a violent side. The gun found at the scene was later proved to be the suspects indicating the suspect had lied during the interview stating that it looked like his own gun yet he never took it out of the house.
Without the evidence collected at the scene and through the interview the suspect would not have been questioned and later admit that he had killed the victims, thus showing that the collection of evidence is crucial in solving a case.
