By Denise Deason
A HIGH-TECH crime desk – using techniques similar to the hit TV show CSI – opened in Wyndham this week.
Using advanced technology and forensic equipment to link people to crime scenes, it is the latest police unit to be launched under the umbrella of the state-wide Project Clarendon.
The policing initiative was introduced in Victoria in 2003 and has so far seen 23 Crime Desks established.
Their TV counterparts are known as crime scene investigators but the police manning this real-life Crime Desk are called CSOs (crime scene officers).
CSOs are proving very effective in fighting crime, having helped to identify more than 2500 offenders for a range of offences including burglary, theft, and wilful and criminal damage in Victoria last year.
Acting Inspector Bill Weatherly has welcomed the opening of the Crime Desk, which will operate out of Werribee police station.
“The aim is to solve more crimes in the area and it does work,” he said.
“It can only be good for Wyndham.
“We’ve been pushing for a Crime Desk for some time and now it’s here.
“It will also free officers who were previously attending crime scenes to do other work in the area.”
The Wyndham crime desk has a sergeant in charge and is staffed by eight senior constables.
Their effectiveness stems from the fact they combine into one the roles of first response unit (previously patrol officers), initial investigation unit (CIU) and forensic services (scientific evidence).
The CSOs tackle crime by carrying out the following steps:
ATTEND and examine crime scenes.
IDENTIFY, photograph and lift fingerprints.
TAKE swabs for DNA.
SEIZE exhibits.
TAKE photographs of the components in the setting.
INTERVIEW witnesses, victims and complainants.
TAKE reports.
MAKE local inquiries.
IDENTIFY immediate suspects.
RESPOND to and report on crime trends.
Project Clarendon commander Terry Purton said crime desks had saved CIUs and divisional vans thousands of hours of work and allowed them to focus on other policing issues.
“With crime desks, there are now more scenes to which forensic capabilities can be applied, more evidence is being collected and there have therefore been more arrests, leading to a decline in crime against property,” he said.
“Having crime scene officers has proved a great time-saver.
“Before this, the uniform branch would attend a house burglary, then the CIU would come to investigate and the fingerprints branch would attend.
“Now it’s a one-stop shop.
“The CSOs attend, process the scene, speak to neighbours and discuss ways to improve home security.
“They then forward all the evidence and information gathered to detectives who conduct follow-up investigations, make the arrests, conduct interviews and present offenders before the courts.”
Judith Sutcliffe, of Wyndham Residents Our Police Our Community (WROPOC), said the group was “thrilled” the area now had a crime desk.
“It will meet the growing needs of a growing community,” she said.
“Our uniformed police will also be delighted because it will free them up to do other work.”
WROPOC welcomed the recently announced additional police numbers for Wyndham – an extra 19 officers, including the nine for the crime desk.
However, more were needed.
“We believe we need another 30 officers and that’s on today’s population figures,” Ms Sutcliffe said.
“With the continuing growth in population, this is an issue we will continue to look at.”
