United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa)
Eoin Young
15 April 2008
The Congolese National Police (PNC) held a closing ceremony in Kinshasa on 15 April 2008, for 37 PNC crime scene specialists who received six months skills training in forensic crime investigation methods and techniques, from their French Police counterparts.
The programme, funded by the French government, comprised of training in police procedures and methods to be used for the forensic investigation of a crime scene, such as the use of digital photography to record the crime scene, and the recording of various samples of evidence.
A mock crime scene investigation was set up, where the audience learned that the most important thing was the sealing of a crime scene by police, until forensic scientists arrived to conduct their investigation.
Other pillars of forensic police crime investigation include: the protection of all evidence, to leave a corpse untouched until examination and to not rush to conclusions about the cause of death.
Every forensic crime investigation must follow the same methodology and procedure as follows: the recording of the scene, the marking of the evidence, the recording of exact scene locations, the research of the evidence, the measurements of the whole scene taken, the examination of the corpse and finally the bagging of evidence for laboratory analysis.
PNC General Inspector Mr. John Numbi explained that in "the search for evidence, professional police needs discipline and training."
As he welcomed the support of the French government, he expressed his pride at "having well trained specialists for crime investigation."
He concluded by saying that in criminal investigations, "it is necessary to have a good understanding, coordination and a clear message," so that an investigation can take place under the best possible conditions.
The ceremony finished with the handing over of certificates to the participants.
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