All items of evidence must be recorded on an evidence of custody document. What is this document used for?

The evidence of custody document is essential in maintaining the integrity of the evidence collected during an investigation. This document is specifically designed to track the chain of custody for each item of evidence, detailing who handled the evidence at each stage and how it was transferred between law enforcement officers.

By documenting each transfer, the chain of custody is preserved, ensuring that the evidence can be reliably traced back through all the individuals who interacted with it. This tracking is critical in the legal process, as it helps to authenticate the evidence presented in court, thereby supporting its admissibility. Without a properly maintained chain of custody, evidence can be called into question, potentially jeopardizing an entire case.

The other options, such as summarizing the case report, recording witness statements, or labeling crime scene photographs, do not serve the same purpose as the evidence of custody document. Each of those processes requires different documentation specific to their tasks and does not directly relate to the tracking of evidence handling.