What is the main focus of law enforcement at criminal incidents?

The main focus of law enforcement at criminal incidents is scene control. Controlling the scene is essential for ensuring the safety of all individuals present, including victims, witnesses, and officers. Scene control involves securing the area to prevent contamination of evidence, managing the movement of people in and out of the scene, and establishing a safe perimeter. By maintaining control, law enforcement can preserve the integrity of the investigation and facilitate the thorough collection of evidence afterward.

While evidence collection, suspect apprehension, and witness interviewing are critical aspects of law enforcement’s broader mission, these activities typically occur after or concurrently with establishing scene control. Without proper control of the scene, evidence could be lost or compromised, and the overall investigation could be negatively affected.