Investigative Process
In Ontario, it is the responsibility of the police service or the employer of the special constable/peace officer to report any incident that may fall under the SIU’s investigative jurisdiction.
However, anyone else – be it a member of the public, a coroner, members of the media, a medical professional or a lawyer - may advise the Unit of a situation they believe may require investigation.
The SIU’s investigation of an incident begins at the time of notification and entails a number of actions including:
- Examining and securing all physical evidence
- Seeking and interviewing witnesses
- Monitoring the medical condition of persons that have been injured
- Securing police equipment for forensic testing
- Consulting with the coroner if there has been a death
- Notifying next of kin in death cases
- Ensuring complainants (that is, those who have been seriously injured or are alleging sexual assault, and the families of deceased persons) are kept up to date
- Reviewing the results of analyses from outside agencies (ie.g. post-mortem reports, Centre of Forensic Sciences tests, etc.)