Success of Scene of Crime Officers: A Study on Police Perception

Scene of Crime Officers (SOCOs), in Karnataka are deployed by the Karnataka State Police to assist in the professional examination of crime scenes, including securing the scene, identifying, documenting, collecting, preserving, packing, and labeling physical evidence Scene of Crime Officers are a vital support agency for the Police department , having been recruited for the first time in the country by the State of Karnataka in 2021-22 with the objective of enhancing the quality of investigations under the department of the Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratory. Their role is very crucial in forensic investigations, assisting investigating officers in examining crime scenes and gathering evidence which includes protecting the crime scene and collecting evidence according to established standard operating procedures. This approach contributes significantly to building cases based on physical evidence gathered from crime scenes. There has been an emphasis on raising awareness among Police personnel about the importance and necessity of scene of crime officers, as well as their role and cooperation within every police station. The response from police personnel has been overwhelmingly positive, indicating a strong recognition of the value that Scene of Crime Officers bring to the investigative process.