Bhubaneswar: Criminal investigations is all set to get a fillip following the govt decision to appoint crime scene officers in police stations across the state, Odisha Police said on Thursday, a day after chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s announcement regarding recruitment plans.
The govt plans to station one crime scene officer, with a science degree qualification, at each of the 685 police stations in the state. “These officers will be tasked with swift response to crime scenes, safeguarding the area for evidence preservation, collecting various evidence types including biological, digital and physical materials, whilst ensuring proper storage protocols,” director general (crime branch) Vinaytosh Mishra said.
The initiative aims to enhance collection of forensic evidence from crime spots, Odisha Police officers said. Currently, evidence collection is handled by regular police officers. For serious cases, police rely on forensic officials, leading to delays and increased chances of evidence contamination.
“A police officer is overburdened with various assignments. There are instances of erroneous and faulty gathering of samples by police officers because of their hectic work schedule. Through the appointment of dedicated crime scene officers, this issue can be addressed. These officers will not be assigned any other task,” said another officer.
The crime scene officers, holding science degree, will serve as a bridge between the investigating team and forensic experts. They will be professionally trained in collecting forensic evidence, documenting crime scenes and preserving crucial physical evidence. They will also be equipped with investigation tools and digital equipment to ensure thorough documentation of crime scenes.
“Forensic investigation is a key requirement in the new criminal laws. To achieve this, we need to have trained evidence collectors. They will be trained in photography, fingerprint collection, DNA sample preservation and handling of various types of physical evidence. They will also learn advanced techniques for blood pattern analysis and trace evidence collection,” the officer added.
Another officer said, “It’s like having a mini forensic unit in every police station. These officers will understand both the scientific and legal aspects of evidence handling. They will ensure that the chain of custody remains unbroken and that evidence reaches our lab in optimal condition for analysis.”