Preserving evidence at crime scene
169 Preserving evidence at crime scene
The responsible officer at a crime scene must ensure that nothing in the crime scene is unnecessarily touched or moved—
until all necessary forensic and technical examinations are finished; or
unless there is a possibility that the thing could be damaged, interfered with or destroyed if it is not moved.Examples of when evidence may be damaged or destroyed if a thing is not moved—
1 if the arrival of the investigator, or an authorised assistant or specialist officer will be delayed and the scene is exposed to the weather
2 if falling or threatened rain may damage fingerprints that may be on a knife left on the ground
This Act’s bill:Explanatory memorandum
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