1 Crime scene to court

This diagram is a flowchart illustrating the process of a criminal investigation, from an incident to the courtroom.

The diagram is organised into a sequence of connected steps. In the Police Investigation section:

Incident occurs: An incident occurs when a possible crime or emergency takes place.

Crime reported or discovered: A crime is reported by the public or detected by the police.

Police Investigation: The police are typically the first authority to engage. They secure the scene, gather initial information, and begin the investigation, for instance, by collecting digital evidence.

Request Crime Scene Investigators (CSI): The responding officer or the Senior Investigating Officer assesses the scene and, if forensic evidence might help (e.g., fingerprints, DNA), they request the attendance of CSIs.

Collection of evidence: They carefully search for and recover physical evidence such as weapons, ensuring it is properly packaged and labelled.

This is connected to the forensic investigation section and then court. In the forensic investigation section:

Secure and assess the scene: CSIs secure the area to prevent contamination and assess what type of evidence may be present. They document the scene with photographs and notes before collecting anything.

Collect the Evidence: The CSIs carefully search for and recover physical evidence, such as fingerprints, DNA, fibres, and weapons, and ensure it is properly packaged and labelled.

Send Evidence to the Lab: Once collected, evidence is sent to the forensic laboratory for detailed scientific analysis, following strict chain-of-custody procedures.

Report CSI Findings: CSIs record their observations in a formal report, describing how and where each item was found and any relevant scene details.

The Forensic Lab Analyses the Evidence: Forensic scientists test the evidence using scientific methods to identify substances, analyse DNA, compare fingerprints, and interpret results.

The Lab Reports Finding: The lab shares its results with investigating officers to support the case. Forensic experts may also present and explain their findings in court as impartial witnesses.

Forensic Science Regulator: The Forensic Science Regulator ensures that all forensic work used in the criminal justice system meets high scientific and quality standards. They set guidelines, issues a Code of Practice, and checks that police forces, laboratories, and practitioners follow proper procedures. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/forensic-science-regulator