HELPING BRIDGE GAPS BETWEEN INVESTIGATORS AND FORENSIC SERVICES

HELPING BRIDGE GAPS BETWEEN INVESTIGATORS AND FORENSIC SERVICES

One of the most notable capacity-building efforts last August was the training course for Judicial Police Officers (OPJs), which is a significant step towards enhancing the effectiveness of Mali's investigative units.

From 25 to 29 August, a training course was held to enhance the operational skills of 12 Judicial Police Officers (OPJs) in Police and Gendarmerie Investigation Units. The initiative aimed to improve investigative capabilities and foster collaboration between investigators and the Forensic Science Unit (PTS). This will improve the quality and impact of criminal investigations.

The course emphasized the importance of cooperation between OPJs and forensic technicians, while maintaining their independent roles. Participants were reminded to send all evidence to the DGPTS for analysis.

Interactive sessions allowed police officers, gendarmes, investigators, and forensic technicians to gain a better understanding of each other's work, thereby fostering a positive and dynamic learning environment. The training combined theory with practical exercises, focusing on drafting official reports, including interviews with minors, police requisitions, reports on search and seizure, and crime scene documentation. These exercises emphasised the importance of teamwork and the precise use of technical language.

By the end of the course, participants had developed a clearer understanding of the forensic unit's capabilities and how to harness them effectively to advance investigations, gather evidence, and support the pursuit of justice. This training was led by two of our experienced trainers: Driss Fenan, organised crime investigation Trainer from the Netherlands, and Larisa Virlan, crime scene investigation Trainer from Romania. Together, they brought their joint expertise to this capacity-building activity. Armin Benders, the Mission's Deputy Head of the Capacity-Building Component and Djibrilla Touré, the Capacity-building Component's Administration officer were also in attendance during the training.