Packing, Sealing & labeling Exhibitable evidence by Police Investigator

General precautions by IO

• Put the date of Sealing without a miss
• If possible, the articles initiated by the witnesses and sealed in their presence
• When the articles are received at the police station, make an entry in the General Diary and also in the Property Register. The exhibit then should be packed and dispatched to Court or the expert concerned as quickly as possible.
• Before Sealing of the exhibits, check whether the articles in question were collected in the presence of at least two disinterested and respectable local witnesses under a seizure list. The officer seizing these should sign the Seizure List, and also take the signature of the witnesses in whose presence the seizure is made.

a. Excessive sealing should be avoided.
b. The exhibits contained in the package are fully padded with straw or cotton and do not come into contact with each other.
c. Cutting edges of a weapon should be secured with jute or cotton.
d. The package is secure and nothing can seep through or penetrate. Similarly, ants or other insects cannot enter the package.
e. Clean containers are used.
f. There is no possibility of explosion, leakage and evaporation.
g. The joints of the stopper with a bottle are sealed with melted wax to prevent leakage.
h. The container is strong enough to avoid damage in transit.
i. The label does not come off at any stage.
j. The exhibits in separate case are packed in separate sealed containers.
k. A copy of the forwarding memo with a list of the articles is placed in the box containing the exhibits.
l. The exhibits are sent by special messenger as far as possible.
m. The exhibits are sent as early as possible.
n. A list of the articles duly lettered and sealed is enclosed with the parcel.
o. A consecutive number with the description of the article is indicated in the forwarding letter, in the following manner:

• A dagger with 8” blade and wooden handle Marked A. The blade is suspected to bear blood stains.
•  A white terry-cotton shirt with some stains on the collar and the left pocket marked B.

Write Forwarding Letter:

A separate forwarding letter should be sent for every parcel. A copy of this letter should also be kept inside the parcel.

The forwarding letter should contain the following particulars:

a. The facts of the case in brief with special reference to its medico-legal aspect.
b. Date and mode of dispatch of the parcel.
c. An accurate description of the contents of the package, mentioning letters or fingers allotted to each item.
d. A duplicate list of the articles as mentioned in (m) under head Packing as above.
e. A facsimile of the seal used in sealing the articles.
f. A note regarding preservation, destruction or return of the article.
g. Points on which the opinion is required.
h. Court orders, if any, in connection with the sending of the exhibit.

Labeling:

Each article should have a label firmly attached to it, which should contain the following information:
a. Date and reference of the forwarding Memo.
b. Description of the article.

c. If it is blood, number of observed stains with their consecutive numbers or letters as marked on the paper stitched to each stain.
d. Name and designation of the forwarding officer.
e. Police Station, case number, date and seal of the Police Officer.