In this module you will be introduced to forensic strategies and investigative skills that are applied to process crime scenes. The Investigative Skills module consists of an assortment of lectures, laboratory practical sessions and practical sessions at the ‘Crime Scene House’. This module is designed to give you an insight into the methods used during the examination of crime scenes and the processing of evidence recovered from the scene. In addition to physical evidence, you will also gain an insight into the collection of evidence from victim and witness statements.
In the lectures you will cover the theory on topics including, but not limited to, advanced photography, forensic strategies, scene documentation and quality assurance. The practical session will not only put into practice some of the content covered in lectures but, they will also include learning processing evidence from challenging scenarios.
Finally, you will have a combination of lectures and practical sessions that teach you the interviewing process of victims and witnesses of crime.

1. Portfolio (40%) – Students will compile a portfolio of work based on the practical elements in semester one; including forensic photography, evidence enhancement and processing (LO’s 1-3).
2. Mock scenario simulation statement and reflection (30%) - The students will be required to attend a crime scene scenario, answering questions, resolving problems and taking actions to facilitate changes in circumstance. Students will complete an MG11 statement and a reflective piece following the mock scenario. This will test the students’ knowledge on forensic strategies and crime scene processing (LO’s 2, 3, 4).
3. Portfolio; interview elements (20%) – Students will create a portfolio of the interview elements of the module. The portfolio will contain a witness statement, victim statement, disclosure form and an exhibits list (LO’s 5).
4. Mock court room (10%) – Students will attend a mock court scenario where they will present and be cross examined on the outcomes of the victim and witness interviews (LO’s 6).

You will be taught through a series of lectures and applied tutorial sessions, this will lead to an active approach to developing skills in investigation. There will be opportunities to work together with other members of the peer group to draw conclusions from problem-based scenarios.

1. Define and describe techniques involved in processing and managing crime scenes.

1) Knowledge and understanding
2) Learning

2. Employ specialist techniques using mock scenarios, to process crime scenes, injured parties and forensic evidence.

5) Problem solving
7) Application

3. Identify and apply the principles of appropriate forensic strategies to forensic investigation scenarios. 3) Enquiry.

7) Application

4. Evaluate and illustrate an understanding of quality assurance procedures in a forensic investigation context; including the relevance of International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) protocols. 2) Learning.

4) Analysis

5. Communicate through role-play, the necessary techniques of interviewing witnesses and victims of crime within legal requirements.

6) Communication
7) Application

6. Review and verbally communicate the outcome of victim and witness interviews.

6) Communication

Access to laboratories with subject specific equipment and resources
Access to the ‘Crime Scene House’
Digital cameras (as available at the University)

Ackley, C.N. (2011). Investigative and Forensic Interviewing: A Personality-Focused Approach. London: CRC Press
Beaufort-Moore, D. (2009). Crime Scene Management and Evidence Recovery. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Bull, R. (2009). Handbook of Psychology of Investigative Interviewing - Current Developments and Future Direction. Oxford: Wiley - Blackwell
Fisher, B.A.J. and Fisher, D.R. (2012). Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation. Boca Raton: CRC Press
Jackson, A.R.W. and Jackson, J. (2016). Forensic Science 4th ed. Harlow: Pearson
Petraco, N. (2005). Illustrated Guide to Crime Scene Investigation. Boca Raton: CRC Press

Crime scene processing…there is more to it than ‘bagging’ evidence. This module will introduce you to forensic strategies and investigative skills that are applied to process crime scenes. You will learn the concept of forensic strategies, crime scene processing, imaging and management and, how to process evidence from complex scenarios. You will then put this theory into practice in a laboratory environment and at the ‘Crime Scene House’. The module will build on knowledge obtained from previous years of study, as well as providing you with techniques and skills that can be developed in your subsequent years of study. The skills and knowledge gained in this module can also be applied to future careers within a forensic investigation capacity.