Bomb-scene Management

‘The basic objectives of a bomb-scene manager are to facillitate the recovery of evidence and return the scene to the public domain as soon as practical. Within the London area the bomb-scene manager is a Detective Inspector from the Anti Terrorist Branch of New Scotland Yard who has received specific training in this field.
In the event of a bomb exploding within the Metropolitan Police area the first response will always be by uniformed members of the three emergency services, whose primary duties are preserving life, treating and removing the injured and extinguishing fires. Little can be done at this stage to preserve the scene until the withdrawal of the emergency services upon completion of their core functions; however, there is a growing program of communication whereby each organization is becoming more aware of the need to limit the disturbance of any bomb scene prior to the forensic examination.
Having been notified of a bomb explosion, the bomb-scene manager will attend the site, accompanied by an exhibits officer, and determine the best deployment of cordons. The cordons are essential to prevent any further disturbance to the scene and to ensure public safety. After discussion between the bomb-scene manager and the senior uniformed officer present, two cordons are deployed – outer and inner; their position is dictated by the geography of the scene. The inner cordon is placed beyond the limits of the explosion as determined by the blast and debris. Only the bomb-scene manager and his team of officers may enter this area until the completion of their forensic examination and evidence retrieval. The outer cordon is placed some distance from the inner cordon, allowing a safe working area for police and other members of the emergency services. The outer cordon is manned continuously by uniformed police officers to ensure security of the scene. At the same time the bomb-scene manager will speak directly to the explosives officer present to establish that the area is ‘safe’ and establish any views or opinions that the officer may have, particularly with regard to cordons and safety. Outside London, this role is performed by members of the 11th Ordnance Battalion (EOD), who provide 24hour cover. London is particularly fortunate in that the Metropolitan Police employs 12 ex-members of 11 EOD to fulfill this role. They also provide 24-hour cover and invaluable advice and assistance to the bomb-scene manager.
The exhibits officer will then evaluate the scene and determine appropriate paths of entry beyond the inner cordon; a police photographer will be summoned before any physical examination takes place. The photographs taken are extensive; the views are dictated by the exhibits officer. This process takes time, which allows the officers to plan what resources, in terms both of materiel and personnel, will be required to progress the forensic retrieval.
It is standard practice for all officers deployed as members of the forensic recovery team to wear protective clothing, hard hat, gloves and reinforced boots. The protective clothing is donned at the point of entry through the inner cordon and removed at the same point when leaving. This serves two main purposes. First, it provides a uniform standard of dress for all officers, making them identifiable to their uniformed colleagues manning the cordons and providing basic safety standards. Second, it ensures that no contaminants are accidently taken into the scene or ‘walked’ out beyond the inner cordon.
The investigation into the offense will have begun, a senior investigating officer appointed and the bomb-scene manager will liase with him or her, advising details of the situation and any avenues of investigation that can be undertaken immediately. Having reviewed the scene, the scene manager will then call for the appropriate personnel, a control van and equipment vehicle. Both these vehicles pass through the outer cordon to a convenient point at or near the inner cordon, along with vehicles that the team arrive in. On no account do they enter the area of the inner cordon. The team of officers will be fully briefed by the bomb-scene manager and, depending on the scene, one officer may be deployed in the control van to ensure permanent communications, to act as an immediate point of contact for other officers and to maintain a log of all events and persons entering and leaving. At this stage all deployed officers will don their protective clothing, which is kept for immediate use at New Scotland Yard.
Consultation also takes place with the Fire and Ambulance Services as to any hazards that may exist and any precautions which should be taken. It is common practice at the scene of a major incident for both of these services to leave one unit on scene after the bulk of personnel withdraw, as a safety back-up for those investigating the incident. This is an invaluable resource at the beginning of any investigation where there is a possible hazard to the officers deployed. When the scene is considered safe by the bomb-scene manager, and after consultation with these units, they also withdraw to their other duties. During any standby period the vehicles of these two services remain between the outer and inner cordons.
The safety and welfare of the forensic recovery team is the responsibility of the bomb-scene manager, who must carefully consider the advice given by the other rescue services. The main hazards arise from dangerous structures caused by the bomb blast and falling debris, particularly glass. Also to be considered are noxious gases and dust. In the event of the scene being severly polluted by air-borne debris, masks with filters can be supplied at short notice, allowing the forensic retrieval team to advance. In some cases additional advice with regards to health and safety may be sought from other agencies. In any large city, falling glass is an ever-present danger and, as a standard precaution, one or more officers are deployed as lookouts with the sole purpose of alerting the forensic team working in a potentially hazardous environment.
The bomb-scene manager and the exhibits officer will take an overview of the scene to determine if any immediate avenues of investigation are available. In particular, the scene will be examined to ascertain if the area and its surrounds are monitored by closed-circuit television (CCTV). If so, steps would be taken to retrieve the video, if one exists, in order that it can be evidentially examined by officers at New Scotland Yard.
Consultation and liaison play a major part during the bomb-scene manager’s deployment at the scene of a bomb explosion. The local police commander, either directly or through a contact officer, will be advised of the extent of the damage and the length of time the examination of the scene may take. This is vital in order that he or she can advise the local community accordingly, to minimize public concern. Consideration also needs to be given to disruption to the local community, diversion of bus routes, resulting traffic congestion and possible station closures, if any are within the cordoned area. If it is necessary to close a railway station, the bomb-scene manager would liase direct with the British Transport Police in order that they can issue notices and advise the appropriate railway operators.
Members of the media will now have arrived at the scene in large numbers and will be held in a designated area outside the outer cordon. On the whole they will respect cordons and police instructions in a good-natured manner, but, as they work to restrictive deadlines, pressure is placed on the local police commander for information and photographs. Where possible, the bomb-scene manager, together with the exhibits officer, will provide a route of access whereby nominated members of the media can be escorted to a vantage point in order to film or take photographs. Having done so and been briefed by the police commander, the media representatives will invariably withdraw until the following day, when this exercise may have to be repeated. This is also a useful opportunity for the police to consider making public appeals through the media.
The next stage in the management of the scene is to zone the inner cordon. The zones depend on the geography of the area and the spread of debris caused by the blast, and are defined on a map drawn by the exhibits officer. The zoned areas are then ‘white taped’ within the inner cordon and designated by number. The purpose of zoning is to ensure that every part of the scene is meticulously examined using a methodical approach, and only on completion of the examination and clearance of the first nominated zoned area will the forensic team move to the next.
If, during the initial rescue phase, bodies are discovered, they are left in situ for the forensic team to recover. Where the body or body part lies in a sheltered area, it should be left uncovered; however, if within the public view, even if at a distance, it is normal practice to cover the body with whatever material is to hand. Life must be pronounced extinct by a medical practitioner, even in the most obvious cases, and details of the doctor and the time life was pronounced extinct are relayed to the bomb-scene manager. Taking into account the distress such a fatality can cause to family and friends, steps are taken to recover the body as soon as it is practical to do so, and in such a manner as to accord the deceased such dignity as the circumstances allow. At this stage there should be close liaison with the local coroner, who may wish to examine the scene and the body in situ. This is normally arranged through the coroner’s officer.
Having established the location of the body, bodies or body parts within the zoned areas, the exhibits officer will clear an approach route to the body, white taping the cleared route for the assisting officers to follow when called for. Before the body is touched, a photographer is summoned and the body photographed in detail. The photographer is provided with protective clothing and footwear which he or she dons before entering the inner cordon. Having taken the photographs, which may include polaroids, the photographer will leave the scene using the cleared approach/exit path and remove the protective clothing when leaving the inner cordon. If life has not been pronounced extinct, or it cannot be ascertained when and by whom, a doctor will be called and escorted to the body by the approach path. Once again the doctor will be provided with footwear and overalls before entering the inner cordon, and removes them on leaving. During this process the exhibits officer makes careful notes of what takes place. If the body has been covered, the body will first be photographed as found. The covering will then be removed by the exhibits officer, sealed in a bag and identified with a unique number. The body is then photographed further, particular attention being paid to the face, injuries and overall position of the body. If the body is covered in debris, this is gradually removed, the body being photographed at each stage.
The exhibits officer will then examine the body, ensuring that no items of visible evidence are apparent, and then proceed to ‘bag’ the body before it is removed. While in most cases the identity of the deceased is known, or believed known, it cannot be assumed that the deceased is not the person responsible for, or connected with, the explosion and therefore steps are taken to ensure that any evidence is preserved and contained with the body. In order to do so the exhibits officer will separately bag both hands, both feet and the head of the deceased in nylon bags sealed with tape. The entire body is then wrapped in a plastic sheet, which is sealed. The body is then placed in a body bag and removed from the scene. This method of ‘bagging and sealing’ ensures that no evidence or contaminants are lost from the body during removal. Each stage of this process is carefully noted by the exhibits officer and the body identified by number. When the body is removed, the debris from under the deceased will be collected by the exhibits officer, carefully placed in a bag and logged. Further bodies are dealt with in an identical manner. In the case of body parts, such as arms and legs, there is no requirement for a doctor to pronounce life extinct, otherwise the procedure is the same. In situations where a body has been severed but the parts remain in close proximity, they must be treated separately. Identification of which body parts belong to which body is a matter for the pathologist.
The body, once removed from the scene, is accompanied by an appointed officer to a designated mortuary. Before any postmortem examination takes place, the body is X-rayed to determine the location of any fragments or splinters within the body which may be linked directly to the bomb; these are of vital importance to the investigating officers. The same officer will identify the body to the pathologist and be present throughout the postmortem examination to receive any items of evidential value. A procedure exists for insuring that the integrity of the exhibits is maintained.
During the investigation, one or two officers with specific skills and knowledge compile a detailed map of the bomb-scene area, on which will be plotted evidential finds. The map shows in detail debris, the positioning of vehicles, bodies and any other physical or geographic areas that may have some relevance. These officers also have the responsibility of preparing a briefing note on the incident for other interested agencies and identifying as rapidly as possible the nature of the device and its component parts. This is particularly important in efforts to ‘backtrack’ the investigation to the purchase or acquisition of each part of the bomb, which may lead to the apprehension of those responsible.
Depending on the location and the sensitivity of the investigation, screens can be called for; these can be rapidly erected and allow the forensic recovery team to perform their duties with some degree of privacy. The bomb-scene manager will also consider the use of tents to protect the scene from inclement weather and to prevent any loss of evidence which could occur. Self-inflating tents can also be used as a body-holding area before removal to the mortuary, or as a work station for the forensic recovery team. If there is any doubt as to whether this equipment is contaminant-free, new equipment will be called for.
As most investigations at a bomb scene last some time, at least part of the investigation will take place during the night. To facilitate this, lighting with its own power source can be used. However, in the event of rain or wet ground, particularly on tarmac surfaces, light reflection can lead to vital evidence being missed by the naked eye. In such cases it may be necessary for the bomb-scene manager to suspend that part of the recovery and deploy the forensic recovery team on another aspect of the investigation, rather than risk losing evidence. It may even be prudent to stop the forensic recovery completely until daylight permits further progress. Another factor to be taken into account by the bomb-scene manager is that, while lighting may be sufficient to enable work to be carried out, other areas will be placed in deep shadow, which may increase the nature of potential hazards due to the lack of visibility outside the work area.
The examination of each zoned area begins with a walk through by the forensic recovery team, walking in line abreast to see if any parts of the device are visible to the naked eye and can quickly be retrieved. Behind the line is a nominated officer, to whom any item is passed; the item is then sealed in the appropriate bag and identified. Having completed the ‘walk through’, the area is then painstakingly swept with brooms. All items of debris and loose material are swept into piles; then, time and the nature of the bomb dictating, the debris is either sifted at the scene by hand, in order to single out component parts of the device, or shovelled into bags, which are then sealed and placed in boxes for a more detailed examination later. All the equipment used by the officers during this process is either brand-new or has been sterilized before use to avoid any suggestion of contamination. Each zone is dealt with in a similar fashion, except for the seat of the explosion itself. Any vehicles within a zone are inspected in detail for fragments of the device or items of evidential value. Once the area surrounding a vehicle has been cleared and the vehicle examined, it is then moved to a cleared area so that the ground shielded by the vehicle may be searched. The removal of vehicles can present their own difficulties, particularly if large and locked. In such cases, cleared, taped paths are created to allow access for removal vehicles. The decision as to when and how to use such equipment is only made after taking into account contamination issues and the possible loss of evidence.
As each zone is cleared, the local authorities, after consultation, can be allowed to move in to begin the clearing-up process. This only takes place if the geography of the scene allows them a controlled entrance and exit with no possible overlap to the areas not yet examined. The contamination issue would be considered in detail.
This process takes considerable time, which, depending on the scene and the spread of damage, can last many days. One of the essential duties of the bomb-scene manager is therefore regularly to update the senior investigating officer and the local police commander, to facilitate contact with the media and to inform the community and other interested agencies.
The forensic recovery team must be supplied with sufficient food and drink during what may be a lengthy investigation. To avoid loss of manpower and time-wasting, the food is brought to a convenient area within the cordons, preferably adjacent to the control van. Hot and cold drinks are particularly essential.
The zone requiring the most painstaking search is the actual area of the bomb site itself. The area is swabbed and the swabs are despatched to the forensic explosives laboratory so that scientists can determine the nature of the explosives substance and advise the investigating officers accordingly. Under the direction and control of the exhibits officer, the forensic recovery team, on hands and knees, conduct a fingertip search of the entire area. The area is then swept and the debris collected. The crater at the site of the explosion is dealt with by the exhibits officer in a step-by-step process. This involves measuring the crater and then removing all loose debris, which is treated as a single exhibit. The crater is then once again measured and then the entire area is excavated normally to at least 0.3 m, depending on the ground. This again is treated as a separate exhibit. The entire process is photographed during each phase.
Any vehicles that may be of evidential value to the forensic scientists or supply clues for the investigating officers (normally vehicles in the immediate vicinity of the bomb or vehicles that had the bomb inside or underneath) are removed for forensic examination. The area surrounding the vehicles is cleared, as previously explained, and the vehicle is then lifted by mechanical means and placed on a large tarpaulin. A second tarpaulin is placed over the top and the entire vehicle is parcel wrapped. The vehicle is then loaded onto a transporter and taken to the forensic explosive laboratory for a detailed examination. This method of packaging ensures that any evidence from the vehicle is contained within the tarpaulins and no outside contaminants can be added. A nominated officer will accompany the vehicle to the laboratory and hand it over to a liaison officer to ensure continuity of the evidence trail, which is the case for all items submitted for examination.
The entire process is meticulously recorded by the exhibits officer from his or her arrival on the scene until the forensic team’s withdrawal. Every item is bagged and numbered and each stage of the process carefully logged and noted. It is these notes which the exhibits officer will later rely on, should he or she be required to give evidence in court. Throughout the forensic retrieval process liaison is maintained with the Forensic Explosive Laboratory, seeking advice according to circumstances. If necessary, scientists can be asked to attend the scene and advise as to evidence retrieval and best practice. This assistance can be of vital importance in determining the correct method of retrieval and submission for examination.
No bomb scenes are the same; they can vary substantially in size and impact. Each will have unique difficulties for the bomb-scene manager and team to deal with. In some cases it may be necessary to summon fingerprint experts to examine areas that, if disturbed, may lead to the loss of evidence. Once again, protective clothing will be provided. In many cases serious damage may have been sustained by the various utilities, causing large areas of disruption to the community and a serious hazard within the scene. Experts will be called to repair or isolate such damage and their operations must be facilitated in order to provide a return to normality as soon as possible. The scene of some explosions may encompass areas of high priority or sensitivity, which once again may produce areas of difficulty that must be resolved. Consideration will also be given, in certain conditions, to call for an air exclusion zone, as the down-draft from helicopters can prove extremely dangerous to those on the ground. In the event of rain, it may be necessary to seal drains to prevent evidence being washed away, and, again under certain circumstances, the local authority may be called upon to open drains, culverts, etc. so that they may be fully examined.
When the forensic retrieval is complete the entire area is once again photgraphed from numerous angles and vantage points. The scene is then handed back to the local police commander.