Observation, reporting and evidence handling
This section covers observation, reporting and evidence handling. The exam tests whether your notes and reports are accurate, objective and usable, and whether you preserve evidence without contaminating it.
Observation and notes
- Record time, date, location, people, actions, words and conditions. Distinguish what you saw, heard or smelled from what you think.
- Use a notebook contemporaneously, in permanent ink. Do not erase; cross out errors with a single line, initial and date them.
Report writing
- Write chronologically, factually and completely: what happened, what you did, who you told, and what happened next. Avoid speculation, labels and emotive language.
- Include CCTV, witnesses and exhibits. Submit reports on time.
Evidence handling
- Preserve the scene. Do not move items unless necessary for safety or to prevent loss. Record who accessed the area.
- For CCTV, secure the footage promptly and record the chain of custody. If trained, bag and label physical items; otherwise call a supervisor.
Worked example: You find a damaged fence and fresh footprints. You photograph the area if authorised, note the time, seal the gap with temporary fencing, and record who entered. You do not walk over the footprints. Reasoning: your priority is safety and preservation, not investigation.
Traps: writing opinions as facts; making late notes; deleting CCTV; posting about an incident online; failing to record timestamps or continuity.