Securing the Crime Scene
A main procedure the FAO must follow when attending the crime scene is to preserve the scene, this is done through securing it. Crime scene tape is used by the FAO to secure the scene as this gives a line that none authoritative figures are not allowed to cross, examples of these being the press, relatives, neighbors etc. When the scene is secured this means there is only one point of entry that people are able to enter from, a police officer is placed at this point of entry with the crime scene entry log to ensure everyone is accounted for and no-one that is unnecessary can enter the scene. The FAO may also decide to use a tent when securing the scene, this may be used when the scene is located out doors. By using a tent it limits the views of people that aren't supposed to be at the scene it also helps to preserve any evidence in difficult weather situations. By the scene being secured correctly this can contribute to valid evidence collection as it ensures that all evidence is kept safe and can not be tampered with or stolen by unauthorized personnel. It also ensures that no evidence is contaminated or ruined e.g. by the weather if a tent is used when it is raining this will prevent the rain touching the evidence.
Securing the Crime Scene within the Soham Murders
The crime scene was known to police on Saturday the 17th of August nearly two weeks after the girls went missing. The crime scene was at a near an air base at Mildenhall in Suffolk. As soon as the police where told where the two bodies had been found they reported to the 999 call immediately by attending the scene and securing it to ensure no contamination occurred. Tents where used as well as tape at the crime scene due to them being located in such an open public place, by placing tents over the bodies of the girls this ensured that press and other agencies weren't able to take images of the scene and publish them. Below is a picture of how the tents where placed and the area the crime scene was located in.