What should be done to separate witnesses at a crime scene?

To effectively manage a crime scene and maintain the integrity of witness statements, witnesses should always be separated until they can be interviewed. This is important because having witnesses discuss their accounts with one another can lead to the contamination of their testimonies. By keeping witnesses apart, investigators can ensure that each individual recounts their personal observations without influence from others. This approach helps to preserve the reliability of the information provided, as it reduces the risk of witnesses altering their stories to align with what others may have said.

This practice is fundamental in criminal investigations, as discrepancies between accounts can be indicative of truthfulness or deception, and any shared information could obscure the clarity of those details. Therefore, maintaining separation until formal interviews are conducted is a critical step in crime scene management and ensuring accurate data collection.