WJEC Criminology Unit 3
Controlled assesment AC 1.1
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2023.
1. Scene of the Crime Officers (SOCOs) STRENGTHS: >Benefitted from
... [Show More] scientific advances in the field (DNA and AI)
>Analysis of the crime scene and the evidence can decrease likelihood of wrongful
convictions
>Undergo training to ensure they are capable of correctly dealing with materials
2. Scene of the Crime Officers (SOCOs) WEAKNESSES: >Risk of evidence
contamination though weather conditions or interference (possible misconduct)
>Lengthy process which is time consuming and costly without no guarantee of
conviction
>Problematic testimonies, inaccuracies or misleading
>Malpractice, deliberate or accidental, leading to errors
3. Scene of the Crime Officers (SOCOs) CASES: >Amanda Knox
Exchange student found dead in her flat in Italy, friend Knox suspected of murder.
Contamination of evidence, failures to document evidence, planted evidence to
falsely incriminate
>Stephen Lawrence
Young boy murdered in a racially motivated attack in London.
Failure to follow up on crucial evidence, loss of evidence and institutional racism
4. Forensic Scientists STRENGTHS: >Deal with specialized areas within the
investigation (Computing, Toxicology, Psychology and Dentistry)
>Scientific advances (DNA Profiling)
>Advanced analysis of evidence (Spectrometry)
>Highly accurate, decrease chances of injustices
5. Forensic Scientists WEAKNESSES: >Mistakes can allow injustices (wrongful
or failing convictions)
>Ethical issues due to the use of DNA as it involved the use of private information
>Expensive and time-consuming
>DNA requires records and cannot be compared without a suspect
6. Forensic Scientists CASES: >Sarah Payne
Young girl was abducted and murdered by a previously convicted pedophile Roy
Whiting
Used fibers from sweatshirt found in van to link to the presence of Sarah there,
found threads of school uniform on Velcro shoes
7. Police Officers STRENGTHS: >Quick responders to crime and undergo training to preserve scenes
>Arrest and detain powers [Show Less]