Stage 1: What should happen first?

On the evening of January 7th 1898, you hear that a healthy woman of thirty eight (Annie Holmes) has suddenly died in bed at her house on East Road, St Neots. She suffered in great pain. Mrs Holmes's young daughter Annie watched her mother die. You may not know it yet but the doctor was called but could do nothing to save her. Two local women have also already visited the house to straighten out the body and prepare it to be put in a coffin for burial.

If you decide to investigate you would also find that there is a glass of water and a candlestick on the bedside table in the room where Mrs Holmes died. Under the bed is a note on chemist's paper. On the outside the note says 'One Dose, Take as told'. On the inside 'Take in a little water: it is quite harmless. Come over in a day or two'. With the note were some grains of powder.

Now YOU DECIDE what to do next.

1. Before you start download the answer frame stage 1 so you can record your decisions.
   
   
2. Below are a number of things you could do as a police officer. Select which actions you would carry out as a police officer in 1898 and which actions you think you would carry out as a police officer today. Record these on the answer frame:
   
   
   1. Do nothing
      
      
      
   2. Do something straight away
      
      
      
   3. Pop in and take clues away
      
      What do you see in Annie's room? Would it be a good idea for you to take these away to examine them?
      
      
   4. Call in an ambulance team
      
      Would there be any reason to call in an ambulance team?
      
      
   5. Seal off the room
      
      This means that you leave the bedroom exactly as you found it, you do not touch anything and you stop other people from entering without police permission.
      
      
   6. Check with Annie Holmes’ doctor
      
      Would there be any reason to find out who Annie Holmes' doctor is?
      
      
   7. Contact social workers
      
      Is there any reason to contact the local council who have social workers that help people out?
      
      
   8. Call in the police surgeon
      
      Would you decide to call in the police surgeon (a type of doctor who works with the police) and ask them to sign a form agreeing that the person is dead? The form does not say how they died.
      
      
   9. Contact the family liaison officer
      
      Family liason officers are trained colleagues who can deal directly with the family of Annie Holmes.


3. Once you have recorded your answers:
   
   Click on the links below and record for each one if it is an action that would have been possible or likely in 1898 and which ones would be carried out today.
   
   Are there any things that suprised you?
   
   
   1. Do nothing
      
   2. Do something straight away
      
   3. Pop in and take clues away
      
   4. Call in an ambulance team
      
   5. Seal off the room
      
   6. Check with Annie Holmes’ doctor
      
   7. Contact social workers
      
   8. Call in the police surgeon
      
   9. Contact the family liaison officer