Area Canvass

Area Canvass

Purpose:

- Often links exist btw scene of crime + offender, victim and witnesses

- methodical area canvass highly likely to ID/ contact off, assoc of, signif w/, evidence, exhibits

Responsibilities of OC area canvass

Reports to OC inves and must ensure canvass is conducted thoroughly and recorded accurately.

 

Results are efficient use of resources + return of info manageable.

Objectives

WOE-I

- ID Witnesses

- ID Offender

- ID + locating Evidence

- Gathtering Information

Other benefits

POOES

- Promoting awareness of sig occur.

- Obtain: key info for inv/ lines of enq

- Opportunity for early arrest

- Eliminating unID’d veh/ persons

- Sightings: v./ o. before or after event, property/ veh, potential witnesses

Reconnaissance

* OC: investigation, area canvass, suspect attend scene, recon + conduct appreciation

 

* provides clear perspective when referred to in stx’s/ briefings

Appreciation

Before canvass, OC AC + OC inves to do initial apprec to determine whether full AC phase, method, timing of enq’s

WHY???

On occasion, police recruits seconded to augment staff numbers

Timing of canvass phase

* Initial canvass at first attendance

* Formal canvass follows + revisits req

* AC conducted at same time as orig offence occ to capture people regularly using area.

Identifying location parameters

SLAAP

Scene: sites where v. o. w. were present, where offences occurred, where veh, PROP, exhibits found

Location: where v. last seen alive, freq by v., of similar/ prev incidents ID’d by intel

Access + egress routes to + fr scenes

Areas where off may have lain in wait

Premises w/in line of sight of scenes

 

Behavioural science unit/ criminal or geographic profilers can assist with setting parameters or ID’g locations where susp likely freq/ reside

Risk assessment

OWLL

Violent Offenders

Wanted person

Groups with Linguistic/ cultural needs

Local incidents/ issues

Identifying time parameters

- offence (times btw when it occurred)

- scene (times ppl visited scene)

- sightings (of v. off. w.)

- previous resident + visitors at scene

- cons. of ppl’s varying work times

Identifying witnesses

- events linked to incident under inves

- sightings of v/ off before/ after event

- sightings of other potential witnesses

- sightings of relevant property/ veh.

Resources and canvass tools

SAGL

Street maps

Aerial photos

Geological information

Local council records

Team briefings

TEASES

Take FWS when required

Emphasize need for throroughness

Advise staff of action to take

Stress that questionnaire is a guide

Ensure all forms completed

Summarise situation + duties/ respon.

Monitoring progress

OC AC to review forms:

- evaluate quality of work + provide QA

- ID lines of enq – highlight to 2IC

- monitor ongoing progress of canvass

- facilitate detailed recordg of progress

Master record to show:

- Which addresses visited, occupants interviewed, Doc completed, any relevant comments made.

Points to consider

- use of experts e.g diverse ethnic area

 

- use of aid memoir + script

* staff have access to all info needed

* relevant info may incl news times, sig events to job memories

 

- leaflets – letter drop w contact info for when ready to comm with police

 

- other options – alt approach

*media

* poster campaign

* mail drop

Debriefing

- key locations where door to door enq

- parameters of initial police activity

- Q’s asked, any issues

- records completed

- people spoken to and address

- intel gained/ NIA checks/ veh details

Final report

Phase OC submits report to OC inves

Report should include:

- significant findings highlighted

- summary of all action taken

- any action o/side orig phase strategy

Part A forms

Records details:

Street name

House number/ Flat number

Pers details of all residents

Pers details of ppl visiting add at time

Veh’s used by all residents + visitors

Part B forms

Records details:

Personal

Home

Work

Answers to specific Q’s

 

Evidential info by witness recorded in FWS

On receipt of a Part A form relating to someone no longer in area, OC AC

- Submit report req pol interview pers.

- Attach 2 copies of part B to report

- Give orig report + 2x part B to 2IC

- Attach duplicate report to relevant part A form as record of o/stding nq

Relevant info forthcoming – inves member must:

- obtain FWS

- note FWS made on part B form

- advise OC AC and 2IC

- give part B form to OC AC