Investigating a crime of rape relies heavily upon physical evidence, which provides the court with tangible objects that are not subject to memory loss. The recognition ofphysical evidence plays a critical role in the investigation process. The first step of crime scene investigation is to conduct observation to locate valuable physical evidence; a task that depends on the skills of the investigating officer. The more common types of physical evidence that could link a suspect to the crime were identified in this study. This dissertation endeavours to provide crime scene investigators with answers on how to conduct observation at a rape crime scene. This research is based on interviews and a literature study, and will furnish insight and information about the observation process at rape crime scenes. The findings of the research may generate guidelines for crime scene observation. Recommendations and conclusions are indicated in the final chapter. / Police Practice / M. Tech (Forensic Investigation)

The main purpose of this research is to assess the utilisation of the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) in rape crime scenes. First responders need to attend to the crime scene and secure it as soon as possible. Other role-players such as the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) investigator and LCRC fieldworkers should be activated by the first responder to the rape crime scene. Ideally, role-players should be activated as soon as the case is reported to the first responder. Members of the LCRC are responsible for recording the crime scene by taking photographs, making video recordings and drawing sketch plans of the scene. The LCRC is also responsible for processing the rape scene for physical evidence such as fingerprints, blood, hair, semen and saliva. The crime scene is a major source of information as far as physical evidence is concerned. The body of the victim is also a major source of physical evidence. It is therefore essential to have the rape victim examined by a medical examiner and the crime scene to be processed by the LCRC fieldworker timeously, in order to secure physical evidence that could be used to individualise a suspect. The discovery of physical evidence could place the suspect on the scene of crime and link such suspect to the crime committed. The physical evidence could also assist in corroborating the version of events from the victim. The physical evidence could also be used to exclude suspects as well. This dissertation seeks to highlight the importance of having the LCRC processing rape crime scenes for physical evidence and to emphasise the responsibility of the first responders to activate LCRC fieldworkers to process the scene of incident timeously, in order to maximise physical evidence recovery. / Criminology and Security Science / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

A First Responding Officer plays a significant role at the crime scene. Failure to handle the crime scene in accordance with official directives such as the South African Police Service National Instruction 1 of 2015 and National Crime Combatting Forum Instruction 10 of 2015, which are regarded as guiding tools for the successful administration of a crime scene, may jeopardize a case. The crime scene is also regarded as the primary source of information that can assist the investigation. When the crime scene is handled in accordance with the SAPS official directives, the suspects can be more readily identified. Furthermore, the investigation can be concluded successfully whereby it may be beneficial for the community. / Mohlankedi wa maphodisa wa mathomo yo a fihlago lefelong la bosenyi o raloka tema ye bohlokwa fao tiragalong ya bosenyi. Go palelwa ke go laola tiragalo yeo ya bosenyi ka go latela ditaelo tsa semmuso tsa go swana le Taelo ya Bosetshaba ya bo 1 ya 2015 ya Tirelo ya Maphodisa ya Afrika Borwa (SAPS) le Taelo ya Bosetshaba ya bo 10 ya Seboka sa go Lwantsha Bosenyi ya 2015, e lego tseo di bonwago bjalo ka ditlabelo tseo di hlahlago maphodisa go laola tiragalo ya bosenyi ka katlego, go ka senya molato. Lefelo la bosenyi le lona le bonwa bjalo ka mothopo o bohlokwa wa tshedimoso wo o ka thusago dinyakisiso. Ge lefelo la bosenyi le ka laolwa go latela ditaelo tsa semmuso tsa SAPS, bagononelwa ba ka utollwa gabonolo. Godimo ga fao, dinyakisiso di ka phethwa ka katlego fao e lego gore se se ka hola setshaba. / Motlhankedi yo o tsibogang la ntlha o na le seabe sa botlhokwa kwa lefelong la bosenyi. Go retelelwa ke go diragatsa mo lefelong la bosenyi go ya ka dikaelo tsa semmuso di tshwana le Taelo ya Bosetshaba ya bo1 ya 2015 ya Tirelo ya Sepodisi sa Aforikaborwa (SAPS) le Taelo ya bo 10 ya 2015 ya Foramo ya Bosetshaba ya Twantsho ya Bosenyi, tse di tsewang e le didiriswa tsa kaelo tsa tsamaiso e e atlegileng ya lefelo la bosenyi, go ka nna matshosetsi mo kgetsing. Gape lefelo la bosenyi le tsewa e le motswedi wa ntlha wa tshedimosetso o o ka thusang ka dipatlisiso. Fa tiragatso ya mo lefelong la bosenyi e dirwa go ya ka dikaelo tsa semmuso tsa SAPS, go ka supiwa babelaelwa ka bonako. Mo godimo ga moo, dipatlisiso di ka konosediwa ka katlego mme seo se ka nna mosola mo baaging. / Criminology and Security Science / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)