When examining the scene, what is the recommended approach to witnesses?

• A. Interview witnesses on the spot.
• B. Do not lose witnesses from the scene; ascertain identity.
• C. Release witnesses before securing the scene.
• D. Record names and addresses and let them leave immediately.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is to preserve potential evidence by keeping witnesses available for follow-up and correctly identifying them. At the scene, you don’t want witnesses to wander off before you’ve established who they are and how to contact them. This ensures you can later interview them, check consistency with other evidence, and build a reliable timeline of events. Interviewing witnesses on the spot can disrupt their memory and may not yield a complete or accurate statement, while releasing them or letting them leave immediately risks losing contact or important details. Merely recording names and addresses without securing their whereabouts or ensuring they stay for follow-up can leave you unable to obtain essential testimony. So the best approach is to not lose witnesses from the scene and to ascertain their identity.