Crime Scene for

Field Rangers

Ian
Maxwell

Wherever

he steps, whatever he
touches, whatever he leaves, even
unconsciously will serve as a silent
witness against him.
Physical evidence cannot be wrong, it
cannot perjure itself. Only human failure
to find it, study and understand it can
diminish its value Professor Edmond Locard

Aims of Crime Scene

Investigation
Who,What,Where.When,Why,

How
What is identity of the animal
What is the history of the
animal
What is the cause of death or
injury
Where was the crime
committed
When was it committed
How was the crime
committed
Why was it committed
How was it committed
Who committed the crime

Types of Crime Scene

Active
Crime in progress
Illegal Entry to reserve
Armed Follow-Up
Active Snares and
snare lines
Investigation

Passive
Decomposed carcass
found in situ at site of
non-natural death
Animal parts found
and people not
present
Equipment used in
poaching found
,people not present

Active Crime Scene

Active Crime Scene

Active Crime Scene

Active Crime Scene

Passive Crime Scene

Crime Scene
Armed Follow-Up & Tracker
DogsSafety & Training
Ranger
Assessment of violence and weapons

used
Tactical and Combat Tracking Formation
Ascertain the correct spoor
Asses the number of subjects
Record spoor patterns
Asses Age of Spoor
Descriptions
History of activities & known local
contacts
LNDAT TO HQ
Return to SOPs when follow is
terminated

Using Tracker
Dogs
Dogs can locate
subject
Evidential value
Evidence must be
strongly corroborated

If You Cant Find It K9 IT

Passive Crime Scene

Crime in Progress
Pause
Make Observations
Assertive arrest

Possible that not all

subjects have left the

scene
Consider evidence
techniques
handling/collection/
Secure Scene and
location & firearms
leave two people to
de-activation
protect scene
Follow-Up if subjects Remove subjects from
leave the scene
scene immediately

Starts of as
PASSIVE Crime
Scene

Adaptive Crime
Scene

Tracks of Subject
found at head
end where dehorned
Tracks were fresh.
Upgraded to
ACTIVE SOC.
Tracks located by
tracker on road
Courtesy of KWS

Tracker dogs
deployed
Subjects arrested
Footwear pattern
matches SOC

Investigation at SOC
A Crime Must Have Been Committed or
Attempted

Safety
Fast Water
Zoonosis
Chemicals used for
poisoning
Firearms and ammunition
Sharp edged items
All liquid blood and body
fluid
Location

Approach
Management
Action
Preserve
Evidential
Values
Liaison with
Investigator,
Police and
other
authorities

Approach To Secure Crime

Scene
Establish Controller& Establish secure
Investigator
Estimate time since
crime committed.
This will effect
approach.
Contact Police
Wildlife Department
Establish the best
route into the scene

radius around SOC

not less than
100metres, crime
will dictate this.
Witness may be a
suspect.
Photograph bystanders

Management of Secure
Crime
Scene
until Investigator Arrives
Contact supervisor &

investigator& follow
instructions
Maximum of two
approach the scene.
Mark approach and exit
from SOC
Nothing should be
touched
Scene must be guarded

Are the perpetrators

still nearby
How old is the carcass
Have the horns been
removed and how
How many people
were at the scene
In which direction did
the perpetrators leave

Must Be Track and Clue Aware

Action Taken on Arrival at

SOC
Evidence investigation is a scientific procedure

& Rangers can only operate within their level of

expertise.
Secure the scene with cordon
One person in charge of access
Two for security
On instructions from investigator conduct
varying degrees of search
Attempt to get vet to establish cause of death.
Photograph scene and record facts including
location

Action at SOC/Gathering
Exhibits
Firearms/making

Paper
Clothing
Hair
Tissue
Poison Containers
Other weapons

safe
Fired and unfired
cartridges
Bullet Heads
Casts/Imprints
Wet Blood/Fluid
used in crime.
Dry Blood/Fluid
Packaging &
Documentation
Large Objects
Must be Trained in Exhibit Collection &
Documentation

Report Writing
The least interesting

part of the
investigation
Often overlooked
The Pocket Note Book
Statements
Contemporaneous
notes
Maps/drawings

Reports
4 copies:
AUSA
BICE Office
NPS HQ
ORPI
DUE within 2 working
days of incident
HQ need the report for
processing

Special Skills
Management of a Crime Scene

until a technician arrives.

Liaison with Police.
Gathering of Evidence and
Exhibits
Packaging and marking of
exhibits
Firearms DE-Activation without
destroying evidence
Scene of Crime management
remotely controlled by
investigator
Photography
Maps and sketches
Wildlife DNA Sampling

The Dreaded Message

Do The Best You

Can
specially trained in clue and
Every Ranger should be

track awareness
Every patrol should carry a
basic scene of crime pack
including animal DNA
sampling kit.
Able to manage SOC within
level of skill
Health & safety especially
poisons
Basic Field Forensics and
evidence gathering including
animal DNA sampling
Report writing
Liaison with police and other
authorities

Thank you

Questions
? Maxwell
Ian
Ian@shadowhawk.co.
uk