Scene Log
Definition
The contemporaneous record of every person entering and exiting the inner cordon, with time stamps and roles; the foundational chain-of-custody document for the entire post-blast investigation.
- Documents controlled
- Time-stamped register of everyone entering and exiting the inner cordon
- Chain-of-custody role
- Foundational document for the entire investigation
- At trial
- Most heavily challenged document by the defense
Common questions
What information goes into a scene log?+
A scene log records the name, designation, time-in, and time-out of every person who crosses the inner cordon, plus their purpose for being there. Time stamps are critical because they anchor the chain of custody and establish who had access to evidence and when.
Why is the scene log such an important document?+
The scene log is the foundational chain-of-custody document for the entire investigation. It is also heavily scrutinized at trial, making it the single most attacked document by the defense. Any gaps, missing entries, or inconsistencies in the log can undermine the credibility of the investigation.
Who is supposed to maintain the scene log?+
The scene log must be a contemporaneous record, meaning it is kept in real time as people enter and exit the cordon. This ensures accuracy and shows continuous oversight of the scene, which is why it carries so much weight as evidence.
Related terms
- Crater Glass
- Glass fragments recovered from within or immediately adjacent to the blast crater, originating from the device container or adjacent glazing; distinguished by...
- Expanding Concentric Search Grid
- The systematic spatial framework for post-blast scene searches, consisting of concentric rings at measured radii from the seat of blast, divided into...
- Finished Sketch
- Off-scene drawing made later, to scale, with legend and compass. The courtroom version.
- Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS)
- A field-deployable analytical technique that separates ions by their mobility in an electric field at atmospheric pressure. Used for trace explosive detection...
- JESIP
- Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Programme (UK); the framework mandating co-located multi-agency command with a shared decision log from initial response, applied to...
- Paint Transfer Analysis
- Forensic comparison of paint layer sequences (primer, base coat, lacquer) on near-field surfaces against reference samples to identify the vehicle or container...
- Render-Safe Procedure
- The action taken by a qualified EOD or bomb disposal team to make a blast scene or live device safe from secondary...
- Rough Sketch
- On-scene freehand drawing with measurements, not drawn to scale. Made in the duty diary in pen, never erased.
- Seat of Blast
- The precise point of initiation of the detonation, identified from the convergence of crater geometry, witness-mark vectors, damage gradient, and residue concentration.
- Sieve Recovery
- The process of collecting and dry- or wet-sieving soil and debris from the crater and innermost grid zone through 2 mm and...
- Three-Tier Perimeter
- The cordoning standard. An inner cordon around the body and evidence, a middle cordon around the search area, an outer cordon around...
- Triangulation
- A measurement method that fixes an evidence item's position using two distances from two fixed reference points.
Explained in these topics
- Post-Blast Scene: Search Grid, Fragment Collection, Seat of BlastThe contemporaneous record of every person entering and exiting the inner cordon, with time stamps and roles; the foundational chain-of-custody document for th...
- Securing and Documenting the Crime SceneTime-stamped register of every person who crosses the inner cordon. Names, designation, time-in, time-out, purpose. The single most attacked document at trial.