ICYMI: What to do – and NOT to do – at a crime scene
Leave the scene undisturbed if possible.
Port Shepstone police have issued a warning to the public regarding the preservation of crime scenes.
A crime scene includes the area surrounding the immediate crime scene and can cover a large area.
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Police spokesman, Captain Petros Mpinge said this is where investigators gather evidence to prove that a crime was committed, identify the criminals and link them to the crime scene.
“Preserving a crime scene means that the evidence collected, such as hair, sweat, saliva, dust and fingerprints, will be of a better quality, thereby ensuring a higher conviction rate. Therefore crimes scenes must be preserved and uncontaminated.”
At scenes where windows have been removed or damaged, it is advisable to wait for officers from the Saps Local Criminal Record Centre to arrive and process the scene for fingerprints and/or DNA.
Captain Mpinge warned the public to limit their movement at the crime scene.
“Leave the scene undisturbed if possible. Don’t move around the scene to establish what damage or losses have been incurred. When reporting the crime, provide details of where you can be reached should police need more information before they arrive at the scene.
“Every person at or in the vicinity of a crime scene, is a potential witness. Tell the police everything you know, no matter how insignificant you may think it to be,” he said.
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