PUAPOL024B Conduct investigations

Release: 1

PUAPOL024B Conduct investigations

Modification History

Unit Descriptor

This unit covers the competency to apply investigation processes in accordance with jurisdictional law, policy and procedures.

Application of the Unit

The application of this unit in the workplace - the environments, complexities and situations involved - will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

This text will be useful for the purposes of job descriptions, recruitment advice or job analysis; where possible, it will not be too job specific to allow other industries to import it into other Training Packages, where feasible.

Licensing/Regulatory Information

Pre-Requisites

Nil

Employability Skills Information

The required outcomes described in this Unit of Competency contain applicable facets of Employability Skills. The Employability Skills Summary of the qualification in which this Unit of Competency is packaged, will assist in identifying Employability Skill requirements.

Elements and Performance Criteria Pre-Content

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a Unit of Competency.

Performance Criteria describe the required performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the Required Skills and Knowledge and/or the Range Statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the Evidence Guide.

Elements and Performance Criteria

Elements and Performance Criteria
Element	Performance Criteria
1	Maintain and evaluate operational direction	1.1	The investigation is conducted in accordance with the investigation plan
1.2	A process of continual assessment is applied to review and evaluate progress, and new directions planned and implemented in response to unforeseen events
1.3	The conduct of the investigation is sufficiently adaptable/flexible to allow for contingencies
1.4	Regular briefings and debriefings of all relevant personnel are conducted to ensure the sharing of information
2	Collect and analyse information relevant to investigations	2.1	The relevance and reliability of information sources are assessed in accordance with organisational guidelines
2.2	Relevant information is legitimately collected, analysed, and documented to further the investigation
2.3	Evidence from incoming information is identified, secured and controlled in accordance with organisational guidelines
2.4	All information obtained from crime scenes and throughout the conduct of the investigation is assessed to determine relevance
3	Seize, process and manage exhibits	3.1	Exhibits are identified, seized and documented
3.2	Continuity and security of exhibits is ensured to maintain integrity
3.3	Handling, recording, storing and disposing of exhibits complies with legislative and administrative procedures
4	Identify and investigate subjects and suspects	4.1	All organisational avenues of inquiry and investigative procedures are considered and utilised to identify subjects and suspects
4.2	Investigative techniques are selected and applied, in accordance with jurisdictional laws, policies, guidelines and established 'Codes of Ethical/Professional Conduct'
4.3	All relevant information is applied to identify and locate persons relevant to the investigation and eliminate persons who are not
4.4	Profiles are assessed to identify further avenues of inquiry
4.5	Persons are interviewed in accordance with organisational policies and guidelines
5	Develop subject profiles	5.1	Enquiries are conducted to develop subject profiles
5.2	Movements of profile subjects relating to the offence are identified and recorded
5.3	Profiles of subjects' antecedents are established and recorded
5.4	Risk or threat assessment levels are determined and recorded to inform subsequent action
5.5	Liaison is established with other appropriate agencies to facilitate development/identification/analysis of profiles
5.6	Profiles are recorded, documented and securely distributed, to inform relevant operatives in accordance with organisational policy
6	Implement responses to investigations	6.1	Briefings/debriefings are conducted to inform relevant stakeholders of past and subsequent actions
6.2	Relevant recommendations regarding the investigation are developed and forwarded to the delegated person for consideration/implementation

Required Skills and Knowledge

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.
Required Skills
oral communication (listening, establishing rapport, negotiation, conflict resolution) written communication, in particular the capacity to provide clear comprehensive, accurate and chronologically sequenced written documentation analytical techniques, in particular application of logic and reasoning to identify and select avenues of inquiry and substantiate these choices decision making and problem solving basic investigation methods and skills preparation and submission of documents operational safety
Required Knowledge
EEO Anti-discrimination Act Disability Act government and policy environments within which operations will be conducted different types of criminal activity and their elements available resources which may need to be deployed to support the investigation security issues and classifications correct interpretation of all applicable laws, policy and procedures Legal and ethical considerations in investigations which involve juveniles and indigenous people investigation principles and the range of investigation techniques available knowledge of case management systems and the range of contexts in which they can be applied court procedures and evidentiary requirements in provision of briefs of evidence for use by the prosecution ethics, professionalism and cultural diversity role and functions of other agencies who work with policing in the conduct of investigations methods and process for subject/suspect identification and profiling general background appreciation of pathology the impact of the police role on individuals and groups regarding law enforcement

Evidence Guide

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit	To demonstrate competence in this unit, processes used in the investigation must meet organisational policies and procedures and jurisdictional law Consistency in performance Evidence for competency in this unit must be gathered over time and across a range of workplace or simulated situations
Context of and specific resources for assessment	Context of assessment Evidence should be gathered over a period of time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments Specific resources for assessment No special requirements
Guidance information for assessment	Information that will assist or guide assessment will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

Range Statement

RANGE STATEMENT
The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.
Investigations may include	multi-disciplinary approaches and may have criminal and/or coronial purposes
Unforeseen events may include	withdrawal/reduction of allocated resources critical evidence
Resources may include	human, physical and financial and may include other agencies, such as: other police organisations National Crime Authority Criminal Justice Commissions other government departments/agencies non-government agencies such as financial institutions and insurance companies
All relevant personnel may include	team members, investigation supervisors sources of information may include: witnesses/victims/informants, suspects internal/external agencies surveillance provided by self or from other legitimate sources
Information may be utilised in relation to	task allocation information analysis identification of data collection plans linking of information
Exhibits may include	the individual items of evidence that could be presented to a court and may be required for viewing by: judicial officers prosecutors defence counsel expert and non-expert witnesses for audit purposes
Seize incorporates	the lawful procedures that permit seizure of property/goods including the procurement and execution of relevant warrants
Processing of exhibits may include	forensic examination such as document examination photography, finger prints technical services presentation in court viewing by the prosecutor and the defence
Avenues of inquiry need to consider	financial practicalities physical human and legal constraints
Investigation techniques may include	using other sources of information such as media doorknocks forensic examination/analysis informants/informers listening devices and other covert surveillance techniques search and search warrants computer interrogation/data retrieval
Suspect identification methods may include	line-ups photographs fingerprints witnesses body samples (blood, hair, skin, fluids, cell scrapings, etc) handwriting analysis admissions/confessions circumstantial evidence modus operandi (MO)
Methods to establish last known movements may include	direct evidence from witnesses reconstructions analysis of physical evidence database inquiries time and movement analysis analysis of known habits
Sources from which to compile antecedents may include	collection of evidence from witnesses financial profiles police databases public databases, backgrounds of family/friends forensic/medical reports employment history
Persons may include	suspects informants witnesses juveniles people with disabilities people from different cultural backgrounds
Subjects may include	vehicles premises vessels
Operational plan may be	formal Informal documented
Other agencies may include	Interpol other police organisations government departments charities financial institutions hospitals forensic agencies crime stoppers neighbourhood watch defence forces Australian Securities Commission Trade Practices Commission law society legal practitioners complaints committee Australian Taxation Office
Profiles may include	simple or detailed formal or informal victims offenders witnesses financial and industrial organisations
Profiles may include	physical description list of family and friends criminal antecedents, list of assets details of any debtors/creditors sexual identify sexuality sexual partners details of siblings race/ethnicity, vehicles, employment details qualifications, skills affiliations
Actions taken may include	investigation techniques arrest summons caution closing report coronial reports forfeiture of assets
Briefing/debriefings may be	formal or informal written or verbal
Recommendations could include	changes to law policy and procedures of both internal and external agencies
Persons relevant to the investigation may include	victims (individuals and/or companies) complainant next-of-kin neighbours legal representatives coroners police pathologists Immigration Department embassies Defence forces
Rights may include	caution legal representation interpreter silence notification of family/friends opportunity to make a written statement audiotape or videotape independent adult present (for juveniles) support person present (for indigenous peoples, intellectually disabled) being treated with dignity and respect during searches examinations

Unit Sector(s)