OSCE Mission in Kosovo helps to refurbish crime scene simulation room

An intent man in blue shirtsleeves dusts and lifts fingerprints from a broken glass and then moves to a device that looks like a microscope but is actually a camera suspended above a flat surface, surrounded by lights. Placing a small ruler next to the fingerprints, he takes a scaled picture to show their actual size and makes some detailed measurements. Finally, he downloads the photo onto a computer to compare it to possible suspects' fingerprints.

Haki Berisha, a Kosovo police sergeant, has been working for the police directorate of forensics for the past eight years, most of this time under difficult conditions and without the proper tools. Checking for fingerprints is one small element of his day's work, but without proper equipment even that can be quite difficult.

That's why Berisha is pleased about the new simulation room in the police education centre in Vushtrri/Vucitrn, about 35 km north of Kosovo's capital Prishtinë/Pristina, where he is receiving training together with other police officers involved in crime scene investigation. "It will help us to better train future forensics officers, and thus to better investigate and solve serious crimes," he explains.

Before the renovation

There was a crime scene simulation room in the centre previously, but it was not adequately equipped to properly train crime scene investigators. "The existing space was in very bad shape, dark with stinking walls and shabby furniture," says Heinz Schneider, the OSCE manager of the project.

Even worse, Schneider explains, the centre had no special materials to set crime scenes, such as artificial blood, bullets, plastic sheets or crayon, and there were no special crime scene dummies to properly mark the position of the victim.

"They used a shop window mannequin instead," says Schneider. "Now they have two proper dummies that can be positioned and formed in any way they want to clearly suggest wounds and injuries."

Lieutenant-Colonel Florie Hajra, head of the Kosovo police directorate of forensics, confirms that until now trainers used either ketchup or animal blood to set up a crime scene. "It was very unpleasant and difficult to clean the walls, mannequin and furniture afterwards," she says.

Appreciating the importance of a well-functioning simulation room, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo mediated between the centre and the Czech Government, which offered to donate 45,000 euros to renovate the room, and co-ordinated its transformation into a modern and functional facility.

Haki Berisha, a Kosovo police sergeant, demonstrates old (left) and new (right) police equipment at the handover ceremony of the crime scene simulation room in Vushtrri/Vucitrn, 19 June 2009. (OSCE)

After the renovation

Under the nine-month OSCE project launched in September 2008, old floors and walls were replaced by shiny, washable ones, adequate lighting was installed and tools and equipment procured. "A storage room for forensic chemicals has been equipped with a ventilation system to filter out toxic fumes that could cause health problems," Schneider says. Also, the centre now has sufficient material to train police officers who deal with the collection of physical evidence in real crime scenes.

"It makes a difference that we are now able to use new training equipment, like digital cameras, finger print lifting kits, false bullet holes, evidence bags and crime scene tape," Berisha remarks. "We don't need to worry about whether or not the camera is working properly anymore, but can concentrate on how best to take a picture that will enable proper analysis of the crime."

A closed-circuit television (CCTV) and audio system have been newly installed as part of the project. "Through the CCTV, the trainer can directly communicate and monitor the cadets in different training rooms and instruct them on how to better approach the crime scene," Schneider says.

One of the donations is a new device called an electrostatic dust print lifter, something the training centre did not have until now. It is a sophisticated tool that can trace invisible foot prints, not only on the floor but also on carpeting, a couch, practically anywhere.

Future plans

"Crime scene investigators play a critical role in verifying if, how and who committed a crime. Training in the proper collection of evidence is therefore of the utmost importance," explains Lieutenant-Colonel Hajra.

"With this in mind," she continues, "we have decided that every police officer will undergo basic crime scene management training, while for those who underwent training earlier, there will be a six-week refresher course."

The first group will begin training in September. Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the second phase of the project, which will be launched in two months' time. It will include the renovation of a classroom for 20 students, a darkroom for developing photos of evidence and a modern forensics laboratory, including some sophisticated lab equipment.

The last step of the project, according to Schneider, will be to train Kosovo police officers in the newest forensics technology. This will make the training centre the most modern facility in the Balkans.