When police investigate a crime, they must gather and review information to figure out what happened. This can include examining the place where the offence took place, talking to witnesses and people involved, and collecting physical evidence. Based on what they find, police may make a report to Crown counsel recommending that charges be laid.
The police have a duty to protect all people who come into contact with them. This includes the public, witnesses and the accused. To do so, the police will take steps to keep everyone safe and protect their privacy at all times. They will only talk to you if they have your consent or it is in the interests of justice.
They will also collect physical evidence such as fingerprints, blood or saliva. They will put this in a special bag and document it. This helps prevent it being tampered with. They may also look at electronic evidence like phone records and internet searches.
In the case of a murder or other serious offences, police will send it to a crime scene investigation unit (CSI). The CSIs use science and techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy and chemical analysis to help identify suspects and establish their identities. They also photograph crime scenes, the evidence and any deceased victims. They then make detailed notes and document everything.
Often, they will be able to identify the offender from the crime scene. This might be easier if they are still at the scene, but it is possible for criminals to leave no footprints or other conclusive evidence. The police will then follow all reasonable lines of inquiry until they find something that points them either towards or away from a suspect. In many cases investigations don’t result in prosecution. They will instead be recorded accurately for intelligence purposes to identify crime patterns, support victims and reduce risk of crime.
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