"OPERATION (your school)"
Mock Murder Investigation
This programme is a 2-day event and involves a murder scenario, investigation, lab analysis, a visit to the local university, and the presentation of evidence in court. Students learn the basic concepts of forensic science and have the opportunity to develop their observation, teamworking, and presentation skills.
The goal of this enrichment course is two-fold. The first is to provide students with an awareness of how the natural sciences such as biology, ecology, and geology can be applied to crime scene investigation. The second is to demonstrate the role of the expert witness in court, stressing that one does not have to be a police officer or a lawyer to actively participate in criminal justice.
Day One of the course consists of a scenario: the Head Teacher has gone missing and is presumed murdered and buried somewhere on the school grounds. The students break into groups, each group assigned a particular task. By the end of the day, each group will have collected evidence, conducted an analysis, and been instructed in the process of writing an expert witness statement for court.
Day Two the students are brought to the local university for a morning session concerning how to study forensic science, what universities offer those degrees, and what sort of careers are available. The students get a tour to see university in action, then have a break for lunch. The afternoon session provides students with a taste of the court room experience. Each group will have elected a representative to be examine and cross-examined by university law students. After all the evidence has been produced, the jury decides which of our 3 suspects is guilty.
The programme is designed for 30 students, usually around Years 9 & 10, however the project has run well with students as young as Year 6 and as old as sixth form. A high level of ability is not nearly as important as a high level of enthusiasm!
If you are interested in having a mock murder investigation at your school, click here for contact details.
Use the "Pictures & Programme Feedback" link on the left to see pictures from past projects.