A group photograph of the participants and facilitators
In a bid to eliminate dependence over circumstantial evidence, the Malawi Police Service through the Scenes of Crime Unit has initiated regional trainings to orient more scenes of crime officers starting from February 23, 2022.
Speaking during the opening ceremony in Zomba at Police College Officers Mess, the Deputy Commandant of Police College Senior Superintendent Senk Kalowekamo emphasized that professional management of scenes is crucial in gathering evidence for prosecution.
Kalowekamo who represented the Commissioner of Police responsible for Eastern Region Ms. Violet Magwaya, emphasized that it's high time the law enforcers possess special skills in managing scenes.
"In the course of duty, due to lack of expertise in managing crime scenes, we have distorted evidence that could have led to establish real authors of crime that is why some of the cases are still unsolved despite passing ages because we didn't professionally manage the scene" Said Kalowekamo.
Concurring with the Deputy Commandant remarks, Malawi Police National Coordinator for Crimes of Scene, Assistant Superitendent Gwendolyn Umali said during the course of time, law enforces have depended on circumstantial evidence in prosecuting other cases than the required hard evidence that could be sort through the scene.
Umali has expressed optimism that through training, there will be a change in investigations as participants will be equipped with forensic skills that will assist them to handle scenes of crime professionally.
"This training is more on imparting forensic skills that will assist participants in gathering much needed evidence from an actual scene of crime that will eliminate dependence over circumstantial evidence that have led us to arrest wrong authors of crime and failed to present proper evidence in court" Said Umali.
The two day training had brought together 18 officers across the region.
Scene of crime office is a special unit under the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).