9 February 2010
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International Forensic Science
Symposium List of co-ordinating laboratories
Laboratory Overview: The Forensic Science Service (FSS) enjoys a reputation as one of the world's leading providers of forensic science, based on impartiality and quality. The purpose of the FSS is to serve the administration of justice principally by providing scientific support in the investigation of crime and expert evidence to the courts. It aims to do so with efficiency, effectiveness and economy. The FSS provides a national service to the 43 police forces in England and Wales, other police forces such as the Ministry of Defense Police and British Transport Police, as well as the Crown Prosecution Service, and Customs and Excise. In addition, it also offers services to private, public and overseas customers. The FSS continues to work in partnership with its customers to ensure the contribution of forensic science to the prevention and detection of crime is maximized. This partnership continues to strengthen. It operates from six laboratories across the country - Birmingham, Chepstow, Chorley, Huntingdon, London and Wetherby - and employs around 1800 staff. The FSS maintains its quality accreditation (UKAS NAMAS M10 and BS EN ISO 9000 series) and continues to extend it to new scientific areas. For the past 30 years it has run a research facility which has been responsible for many significant forensic science breakthroughs and innovations - particularly in the application of DNA technology. The FSS pioneered the use of DNA profiling in forensic science and set up the
world's first national criminal intelligence DNA Database - launched in April
1995. The Database matches DNA samples from scenes of crime and matches then
with individuals or other crimes. There are around 700 matches per week from
the Database, with more than a 40 percent chance of a stain found at a crime
being matched to a name.
Laboratory Overview: The FBI Laboratory is one of the largest and most comprehensive accredited forensic laboratories in the world. In addition it is the only full-service Federal forensic laboratory. The laboratory examines evidence free-of-charge for law enforcement agencies and provides expert witness testimony in court regarding the result of the forensic examinations. The mission of the FBI Laboratory is to support the Federal, state, local and international law enforcement agencies through five interrelated activities: (1) scientific analysis of physical evidence submitted for examination and expert testimony in court; (2) operational and technical support to investigations; (3) research, development, and deployment of new forensic and investigative technologies; and (5) training programs and symposia for crime laboratory practitioners and law enforcement personnel. In September 1998, the FBI obtained accreditation by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors' Laboratory Accreditation Board. Accreditation has been provided in the following disciplines: controlled substances, DNA, serology, firearms/toolmarks, latent prints, questioned documents, toxicology and trace evidence.
Laboratory Overview: The Special Testing & Research Laboratory is one of eight laboratories in the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Laboratory System. The laboratory is primarily responsible for the analysis of samples submitted in support of DEA's intelligence programs. Additionally, research is conducted to develop and refine profiling procedures for heroin, cocaine, and amphetamine type stimulants. Since international experts in forensic drug reside at this laboratory we provide technical support to other DEA Laboratories and all of DEA's foreign offices. This laboratory is also responsible for DEA's Computer Forensics Program.
Laboratory Overview: The National Enforcement Investigations Center (NEIC) is the technical support center nation-wide for U.S. EPA enforcement and compliance assurance programs. As a Division of the Office of Criminal Enforcement, Forensics and Training (OCEFT), NEIC supports the environmental enforcement community through expertise in field activities and engineering evaluations, forensic laboratory activities, information management, technical analysis and training, and in the courtroom. NEIC scientists, engineers, analysts, computer specialists, and environmental specialists conduct complex or high profile investigations and provide litigation support. The NEIC staff of experts, in teams or individually, implements solutions designed to meet the evolving needs of our customers. The NEIC mission is national in scope and encompasses all major environmental laws and regulations. The Center view is to the future; NEIC leads in developing innovative techniques, practices, and procedures and transferring this technology to others with environmental enforcement responsibilities. Engineers and scientists provide a broad spectrum of technical evaluations including proper design, operation, and maintenance of waste management systems. These evaluations enable NEIC to provide engineering and scientific input during litigation, such as in development or compliance evaluation of consent decrees. The NEIC laboratory is a recognized center of expertise in forensic environmental chemistry. The Center has established a reputation for providing laboratory analyses of the type and quality needed to support complex and unusual enforcement efforts. NEIC evaluates other laboratories that analyze samples to determine compliance with environmental statutory requirements.
Laboratory Overview: The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms is one of 13 U.S. Department of Treasury bureaus. Its laboratories began work in 1886 and are among the oldest US Federal laboratories, second only to the Department of Agriculture Laboratory. The Mission of the ATF Laboratories is: 'To provide the accurate and authoritative scientific information needed by the Bureau in protecting the public and collecting the revenue.' The Laboratories have supported the enforcement of a wide variety of laws ranging from the Oleomargarine Act (1886), the Smoking Opium Act and the Harrison Narcotics Act (1914), the prohibition of the manufacture of distilled spirits for beverage purposes (1917) and more recently the Gun Control Act (1969) and the Organized Crime Control and Safe Street Act (1970). In 1984 ATF Laboratories became the first Federal laboratories to be accredited by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB). Today, there are three Forensic Science Laboratories - Washington, Atlanta, and San Francisco. They provide a full range of forensic services, specializing in explosive and fire debris analysis, and firearms examinations.
Laboratory Overview: On November 27, 1943 legislation established the mission of the Scientific Police Laboratories (LPS) to examine, test and analyze physical, chemical and biological evidence from crime scenes as requested from different Police services, the Gendarmerie, the Parquet (the court), or the Judge in charge of a criminal investigation. There are five LPS locations in France - Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Paris, and Toulouse. Each is responsible for work in their geographic region. All of the laboratories work in the following fields - biology, questioned documents, handwriting, ballistics, toxicology, drugs, explosives and arson, and chemistry (GSR, paints, fibres, glass, soil, metals, glues/adhesives…). In 1995, an audio/video department named Laboratoire d'Analyse et de traitement de Signal, was created in the headquarters of the French forensic science service. It is responsible for working on audio and video analyses and mobile phones.
Laboratory Overview: DIFS is the national crime laboratory for the State of Israel. Its staff of 180 sworn police officers also has professional responsibility over a national network of some 200 evidence technicians who are tasked with evidence collection at scenes of crime. The DIFS Serious Crime Mobile Laboratory also collects evidence which is forwarded to DIFS laboratories for examination. Today DIFS provides a full range of forensic examinations for physical evidence, including DNA, the use of advanced methods for latent fingerprint detection, and the latest systems for ballistics comparison. DIFS experts regularly testify in Israeli courts, and they have also been asked to appear in foreign courts as well. DIFS provides investigative psychology assistance to the police through its programs in polygraph, criminal album, memory recall, and photo-composites. The Division also holds national responsibility for Disaster Victim Identification (DVI). As part of an effort to maintain high professional standards, DIFS participates in the proficiency test program of the Collaborative Testing Service (CTS). Quality assurance and accreditation programs are also being developed. Every laboratory looking towards the future must consider new ideas and approaches. In DIFS practical research to answer forensic needs is an integral part of work, and publication of results in professional journals is encouraged. DIFS has also hosted international forensic conferences to provide for information exchange.
Laboratory Overview: The Australian Federal Police (AFP) was established in 1979 as an amalgamation of the then Commonwealth Police and the Australian Capital Territory Police. The AFP is the principal law enforcement agency through which the Commonwealth of Australia pursues its law enforcement interests. The AFP is unique in Australian law enforcement in that its functions relate both to community policing in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and to investigations of offences against the Commonwealth both in Australia and overseas. The AFP has a national head office in Canberra and six regional offices - Adelaide (Central Region), Brisbane (Northern Region), Canberra (ACT Region), Melbourne (Southern Region), Perth (Western Region) and Sydney (Eastern Region). Liaison officers are located in 13 countries and a representative is attached to Interpol in France. The AFP's mission is 'To provide dynamic and effective law enforcement to the people of Australia'. Forensic Services provides a full range of forensic support to the AFP and to other government agencies in Australia. This support includes crime scene examination, toolmarks, firearms and ballistics, fingerprints (detection and identification), biology (serology and DNA), document examination, and criminalistics (fibres, paint, glass, fire debris analysis, explosive residue detection, vehicle examinations, etc.). The main Forensic Services laboratory is located in Canberra, with smaller forensic teams located in each of the AFP's regional offices. Forensic Services obtained laboratory accreditation in 1996 with both the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA), Australia, and the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB). The Forensic Services' mission is' To provide services that are fault-free, timely, and independently based on the sound application of scientific method'.
Laboratory Overview: The Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) is the only forensic science laboratory in the Netherlands . The NFI was founded in 1999, as the result of the merging of the 'Gerechtelijk Laboratorium' (1945) and the 'Laboratorium voor Gerechtelijk Pathologie'- the forensic pathology lab -(1948). The new forensic organization provides a broad range of forensic services: pathology, toxicology, biology (DNA), drugs, chemistry, paint, glass, fibres, soil, fire cause and debris analysis, explosives, firearms, gunshot residues, environmental crime, toolmarks and impressions, accident reconstruction (forensic engineering), handwriting, questioned documents, forensic linguistics and acoustics, image analysis and digital technology (digital evidence and computer crime. The three major tasks are:
The Netherlands Forensic Institute was accredited in 1994 (Gerechtelijk Laboratorium) by the 'Raad van Accreditatie'conforming to the criteria of EN45001 and ISO/IEC guide 25 and the relevant criteria of ISO 9001 and ISO 9002.
Laboratory Overview: SKL, the National Laboratory of Forensic Science in Sweden is part of the Swedish Police but is an authority of its own when dealing with forensic casework. The National Police Board, under the Ministry of Justice, finances the major part of the laboratory budget, but the laboratory has also other sources of income from other government authorities, insurance companies and private companies and persons. SKL was from the start a part of the National Institute for Criminalistics that was founded in 1939. In 1964, when the Swedish Police Forces were joined into one force, the organization was changed to its present form. SKL deals with investigations of all Interpol evidence types except toxicology. During the last decades the workload has increased drastically and that has caused an increase of personnel from about 100 in 1990 to the present 175 employees. SKL is also responsible for the training of scene of crime officers and the development of the scientific support units of the Swedish Police. SKL is accredited according to EN 45001.
Laboratory Overview: The BKA was established in 1951 as a federal authority directly answerable to the Interior Ministry. The BKA Law governs its responsibilities and activities. According to this law the BKA is to:
It also has to maintain the facility to carry out all aspects of forensic services, to undertake research and to be able to provide expert reports demanded by the courts, prosecutors and police organizations. The forensic science institute employs about 260 people, who are divided in 5 groups covering the following subject areas: physics and chemistry, firearms and toolmarks, biology and toxicology, documents and handwriting, linguistics and voice recognition. A quality assurance system is being set up in the institute.
Laboratory Overview: The Forensic Science Division of the Zurich Canton Police (in German: Kriminaltechnische Abteilung KANTONSPOLIZEI ZÜRICH) holds a special standard among the different state forensic science services, due to its unique forensic document laboratory. It provides a full range of forensic document services, specializing in handwriting, technical documents examinations as well as security documents/ID documents checking. The questioned documents laboratory of the Zurich Canton Police supports law enforcement agencies and courts nation-wide. It is the consultant of Federal and State Authorities for the emission of new security documents. It is active in several national working groups on forensic documents concerns and has provided international expertise on handwriting as well as technical documents issues.
Laboratory Overview: The National Research Institute of Police Science (NRIPS) was established in 1948 and is affiliated with the National Police Agency. The mission of NRIPS is (1) to examine, test and analyse physical, chemical, biological, and psychological evidence from crime scenes as requested by local police services, prosecutors' offices' and the judge in charge of a criminal investigation; (2) research, development and deployment of new forensic technology; and (3) training programs and symposia for crime laboratory practitioners and law enforcement personnel. NRIPS covers the following fields - biology, questioned documents, handwriting and counterfeiting, image processing, forensic acoustics, traffic and mechanical accidents, fire, firearms, explosives, drugs, toxicology, chemical weapons, chemistry (paint, fibres, glass, soil, metals, glues/adhesives) and psychology.
Laboratory Overview: The IPSC was created in 1909 as the first university institute delivering a degree in forensic science (criminalistics) under the direction of A. R. Reiss. Courses in forensic photography, scene of crime investigation and identification started a few years earlier and the founder was involved in casework from 1903. It has remained active in many areas of Criminalistics over the years (founding member of the International Academy of Criminalistics in 1929), before specializing in the area of questioned document examination (QDE) and document security in the 40's to the 70's. In 1954 a masters program in criminology was first introduced. In the 80's active development into research has created a dynamic advancement for the school. The Institute is dedicated to four types of activities The first being training and education with a four year undergraduate program in forensic science, 3 postgraduate (MSc) programs (QDE; chemical criminalistics; criminology) and 2 doctoral programs (forensic science; criminology). This activity is the responsibility of 6 academic staff. The second is active research through the doctoral programs with main emphasis on the use of forensic science in criminal intelligence (narcotics; burglaries; organized type criminality); identification (fingerprints/marks; tool/footmarks; trace evidence); fire investigation and QDE. At present 6 research positions are financed by nationally financed grants obtained on a competitive basis, beside eight other state-financed positions. The third is continuing education for police, magistrates, and customs with regular workshops and courses. The fourth being casework in areas of research on request from investigating magistrates or government official bodies. This finances 5 to 6 positions, but all groups are active in a limited amount of casework. This activity is useful in feeding research with problems or data.
At each laboratory, services are provided in Alcohol/Toxicology, Biology, Chemistry, Documents and Firearms & Toolmark Identification. A centralized service in counterfeit currency, travel documents and credit cards is provided from the Ottawa laboratory. In addition, the majority of the training, quality assurance measures and research and development is done or co-ordinated from the Ottawa laboratory. Legislation has recently passed, creating a DNA Data Bank to be administered by the RCMP from its Ottawa laboratory. Accreditation against the ISO Guide 25 standard amplified for forensic testing of all six laboratories is proceeding.
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