IV. Conduct of an Investigation IV. Conduct of an Investigation 46. This Section of the Minnesota Protocol describes the strategies and practical steps that should be taken in an effective investigation of a potentially unlawful death. These represent good practice in any investigation notwithstanding the specificities of local laws, practices and procedures. The general guidance offered in this Section is complemented by sections providing detailed guidelines on, respectively, crime-scene investigation, the conduct of interviews, the excavation of graves, the conduct of an autopsy, and the analysis of skeletal remains. A. General Principles of Investigations 47. In any investigation, the preservation of life – the lives of both the public and the investigative team – is paramount. All activities should be risk assessed, especially when being carried out in areas affected by conflict. Members of the public and the investigation team should not be unduly placed in harm’s way. 48. The overarching strategy of any investigation should be methodical and transparent, and all legitimate lines of inquiry into potentially unlawful death should be pursued. Depending on the circumstances, both routine investigative steps and highly specialized techniques may be required. A hierarchy should be established that includes accountability for all the decisions the investigation team takes. 49. An investigation may gather many different types of material, not all of which will be used as evidence in a judicial proceeding. Nevertheless, all materials and observations relevant to the investigation should be secured, recorded and logged. This includes all decisions taken, information gathered, and witness statements. The source, date and time of collection of all material must also be logged. B. The Investigation Process 50. When a report or allegation of a potentially unlawful death is submitted or brought to the attention of the authorities, an initial investigation should be conducted to identify lines of inquiry and further actions. This includes identifying all sources of potential evidence and prioritizing the collection and preservation of that evidence. All relevant witness statements should be collected, including but not limited to accounts of events provided by law enforcement personnel. Once a significant body of evidence has been collected and analysed, preliminary conclusions should be developed and compiled into a single report. The report should detail the lines of inquiry pursued and the outcome of these inquiries, and should recommend further inquiries that may advance the investigation. 12 The Minnesota Protocol on the Investigation of Potentially Unlawful Death (2016) 51. A detailed analysis of information known about the circumstances of the death and those believed to be responsible should be provided in a written report. The report should include the following key information: the identity and official status of the individual making the initial report; the circumstances under which the report was made; the identity(ies) of the victim(s) (if known); the date(s), time(s) and location(s) of the death(s); the location(s) of the victim(s); the method(s) of causing the death(s); the individual(s) or organization(s) believed to be responsible; the underlying reason(s) for the death(s); and other specific details. Areas in need of further investigation should be identified. An overall strategy for locating and gathering further material to support the investigation, and potential judicial proceedings, should be developed. A plan should be made for evidence collection.