The structure of the forensic methodology for investigating intentional destruction or damage of someone else’s property committed by arson

In the course of the research, it was established that criminal proceedings on intentional destruction or damage to someone else’s property, committed by arson, are complex for legal analysis and pre-trial investigation. This is primarily due to: the nature of fire and explosion as destructive processes that are accompanied by the destruction of many traces of the crime; their problematic nature in proving the person’s guilt (establishing the amount of damage, determining the causal link between the socially dangerous act and its consequences due to the variety of fire and explosion, proving intent, especially in the case of mixed criminal offenses); conducting certain investigative (search) actions; the insufficient number of investigators who possess special knowledge and skills in investigating these types of crimes. These difficulties are due to the peculiarities of counteracting this type of illegal activity, as well as the sophistication and variety of methods and mechanisms used to commit and conceal these crimes. The development of investigative methodology is an important stage in ensuring law and order and solving criminal offenses. It is a structured approach that contains principles, rules, and methods used by law enforcement agencies to detect, record, seize, use, and evaluate evidence. The main goal of developing the methodology is to establish the circumstances of the criminal offense, identify the participants in the event, prove the person’s guilt, and ensure the legality of the investigation process. A set of such elements forms the structure of the investigative methodology. The structure of forensic investigative methodology for intentional destruction or damage to someone else’s property, committed by arson, consists of the following interconnected parts: forensic characteristics; a typical list of circumstances to be established during the investigation; a typical algorithm of investigative (search), covert investigative (search), procedural actions, and other measures at each stage of the investigation, taking into account typical investigative situations; peculiarities of using special knowledge in criminal proceedings; preventive activities of the investigator; cooperation of the investigator in criminal proceedings of this category.