Puntland CID takes part in first online crime scene investigation workshop

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Garowe, 28 April. Officials from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Puntland police service have taken part in an interactive online workshop on crime scene investigation this month, supported by police and legal advisors from the EU Capacity Building Mission in Somalia (EUCAP Somalia).

The course covered the technical aspects of evidence search and seizure, and legal requirements for crime scene investigation.  The head of the CID, General Ibrahim Ali Hassan, CID officers, and legal interns sponsored by EUCAP Somalia, who are working in the Puntland Ministry of Justice, Religious Affairs and Rehabilitation, were among those who took part in the course.

Speaking during the opening of the workshop, General Hassan said the online training was a positive development for his department.

“I am pleased that EUCAP is continuing with their support on capacity-building needs this way, and also to see engagement and information sharing between my officers and the legal interns. We continue to require this type of training and look forward to further workshops like this,” he said.

The one-day course included presentations on the difference between crime scene investigation and crime investigation,  as well as on crime scene management, commonly used forensic methods in crime scenes, and how to document crime scenes and collect forensic evidence.

Simon O’ Connor, Senior Police Advisor with EUCAP, said gathering the technical and physical evidence the right way is key for criminal justice procedure and rule of law.  “The preservation of evidence, the responsibilities, rules, and regulations for systematic working are key factors in securing a crime scene.  This is important because if handled incorrectly or contaminated, the evidence could be rendered invalid and hinder a prosecution,” he said.

Shucayb  Mohamed Adam, one of the legal interns who took part, said the workshop provided a real understanding of crime scene management and how to apply it in a practical way. “I really enjoyed the informative method of delivery, and the chance to interact with professionals from different fields, who have the same interest in learning how to manage and investigate a crime scene,” he said.

It is aimed that further workshops will be delivered online to the Puntland police force and the CID, as part of EUCAP Somalia’s support to security and police training amidst COVID-19 response in Somalia.

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