Gathering of evidence?

[waynegohl]

I caught the end of Medical Detectives this morning and how the cops/FBI nabbed a killer and they discussed the evidence found at the scene and whilst watching this a news bulletin came to mind where our wonderful police were raiding a few places and they found some weapons and they even climbed on the thatch roof of a mud hut to retrieve a pistol. Whilst this is all good and well, none of the cops were wearing gloves and they were handling the weapons which would mean their fingerprints were on every weapon found.

Am I watching too much CSI Miami because the evidence has now been tampered with by the police themselves. Is it procedure for the cops to stomp all over an area where a crime was committed and to handle evidence with bare hands?

[Fransh]

CSI is a myth. In CSI each cop handles photography, the scene inspection etc. In real life you have one person for one specific task in Forensics.

[EnchanterG]

I want the job of wearing a black suit and donning glasses...

Does it have a medical plan, do you think?

8)

[VernD]

I found this very interesting article on evidence collection.

[waynegohl]

I found this very interesting article on evidence collection.

bookmarked, thanks man.

but I am still wondering why our cops pick up weapons with their bare hands.

[Fransh]

bookmarked, thanks man.

but I am still wondering why our cops pick up weapons with their bare hands.

Its called WELCOME TO SOUTH AFRICA!

[waynegohl]

Its called WELCOME TO SOUTH AFRICA!

yeah ain't that a fact.

[ave]

bookmarked, thanks man.

but I am still wondering why our cops pick up weapons with their bare hands.

I assume its because they found the weapons while raiding someone's house. So that would be proof enough for who owns them.
If the gun was lying in a gutter somewhere, or at a crime scene they would probably be a little more careful about finger prints

[VernD]

bookmarked, thanks man.

but I am still wondering why our cops pick up weapons with their bare hands.

I'd venture at . . . because they're not forensic experts.

Irrespective of whether the evidence is prima facie, it still should be be handled as little as possible, and definitely not with bare hands as that would possible contaminate the evidence.

[zophas]

bookmarked, thanks man.

but I am still wondering why our cops pick up weapons with their bare hands.

Because then they can say "Ok, Mr Criminal, I've contaminated the evidence for you, now get yer wallet and show me how grateful you are".