The investigation stage of police work is an important part of the law enforcement process. It includes interviewing witnesses and victims, collecting physical evidence such as fingerprints and blood and conducting forensic examinations on electronic data like cell phone records and online searches. All the information gathered is presented to Crown counsel for them to decide whether or not to lay charges.
The protection of the lives and safety of the public must always take priority. However, once the immediate issues at a crime scene are under control investigators must be able to systematically preserve and collect the evidence they need to build a strong case. This is a significant challenge because there is no room for error. Throughout history and even in current judicial reviews, it is clear that investigators often fall short because they follow the wrong line of inquiry or fail to critically assess key information and evidence.
For this reason, it is crucial that you understand how a pre-arrest investigation works and are well prepared to provide a statement or undergo a medical examination. This will give you an opportunity to share information that might help the police solve the case. You should expect to be treated with sensitivity and respect by the police officers who interview you. They will likely ask you a series of questions and provide you with a copy of the leaflet, ‘Information for victims of crime’. If you do not speak English they will call an interpreter for you.