KARACHI A briefcase containing the basic set of tools required for collecting forensic evidence from a crime-scene by investigators is hardly ever taken out from the police offices where it has been safely kept for the last six years, it has emerged.
All station investigation officers (SIOs), who head the investigation section of their respective police stations, in the city were given “criminal investigation kits” six years ago.
But in the absence of basic skills required for using the “investigation kits”, the SIOs generally did not bring the kits to crime-scenes for collection of forensic evidence, a senior police officer, who requested anonymity, told Dawn.
Similarly, investigation officers rarely took pictures of crime-scenes despite the fact that digital cameras had been provided to the SIOs to document scenes of homicide, robbery or other crimes, the senior officer said.
“I am not sure whether these cameras are still kept at police stations or they have ended up in the personal use of the officers,” he remarked.
However, the officer said, there were instances in the past when the investigation kit was employed in high-profile cases or when senior officers insisted on the use of kits to collect forensic evidence. He cited the case of famous artist Gulgee and his wife, who were murdered in December 2007, saying that the investigating team did collect the evidence with the kit though only after a senior investigation officer asked them to do so.
Basic tools
Investigation kits contain all the relevant paraphernalia required to collect fingerprints, a band (string) that is used to cordon off a crime-scene, measuring tapes, a compass, a packet of gloves, a set of plastic bags to keep evidence unspoiled, a magnifying glass and a card with measurements of different bullet casings printed on it.
Besides, a crime-scene processing file containing sketch sheets, walking pattern sheets, footprint graphs, footprint tracing sheets and cartridge diameter sheets are part of the criminal investigation kits.
The investigation kits were handed to the SIOs in 2004-05, a few years after the bifurcation of the police department into investigation and operation wings and allocation of funds for the new investigation set-up.
However, redundant investigation kits show the lack of awareness and training on the part of investigation officers. Although police investigators often undergo training in collection of fingerprints, such workshops are still not a regular feature.
A senior officer associated with the investigation wing told Dawn that except for fingerprints collection, there was no rocket science involved in crime-scene investigation.
“The investigation kit contains some very basic tools that can help put the investigation in a correct direction.”
But, unfortunately, most investigation officers were unaware as to how the kits were used at crime-scenes, he added.
The officer was of the view that investigation was in fact real policing, but most resources were directed towards the operations wing of the police department that had always remained the focus of the authorities concerned. He went on to add that inefficient personnel, who were deemed unfit for the operations wing, were transferred to the investigation wing.
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