GQEBERHA – The importance of crime scene preservation cannot be overstated or overemphasized and the first responders’ action, or lack thereof will either help in the investigations or hamper/destroy crucial evidence.

In many instances, the latter plays out and critical evidence is lost because the first responders at crime scenes are usually civilians or private security companies. SAPS Humewood with the assistance of the Provincial Criminal Record Centre felt there was a dire need to educate the communities to assist them in establishing a water tight cases through crime scene management.

A workshop was held on Saturday 25 February 2023 with three neighbourhood watches, CPF members, private security companies, metro police and 13 new constables. In-depth information was done by WO Phillip Bekker, a crime scene expert. During his presentation, he focused on the response from first responders as it is important for them to know what to do, until the necessary role players arrived at the crime scene. He emphasised the importance for first responders at a crime scene to know what to do and what not to do. Private security companies often arrive at crime scenes prior to the arrival of SAPS and they needed to know exactly how to preserve a scene.

Everyone who attended, thoroughly enjoyed the work session and left knowing what to do in the future at crime scenes so investigations could lead to the arrest and successful prosecution of suspects.

Educational work sessions such as this, will prevent the risk of contaminating evidence as investigators try to avoid contamination at all costs.

Source: South African Police Service