New Delhi, Aug 30 : Delhi Police have made the use of tools for forensic investigation mandatory in any case that carries the possibility of a sentence of more than six years.An order was handed down by Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora in this regard and has instructed all sub-inspectors inspectors, and ACPs to be aware of their responsibilities when it comes to the removal of evidence from the scene of a crime.
This is carried out in an effort to increase the number of convictions and also to link the criminal justice system with the forensic science investigation.
“The option of making forensic investigation mandatory and legal for these crimes was taken to make the conviction rate to a higher level according to the guidelines of recent directives of the Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Delhi Police have already integrated the criminal justice system with the forensic science investigation and has also partnered with the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), Gandhinagar, to help and train investigators to build solid and sane cases against accused people,” said a senior police official.
The standing order, which was reviewed by IANS and IANS, is aimed at providing guidelines for the use of tools for forensic investigation in crimes that can be punished with a sentence of greater than six years for the investigating officers (IOs) of Delhi Police.
To satisfy the requirement of the mandatory use of tools for forensic analysis, Delhi Police had in the past provided mobile crime squad vans in every district.
“In addition one mobile forensic vehicle will be allocated to each district in order to offer forensic and scientific assistance immediately to IOs in require.
The vehicles will be equipped with scientific equipment and a sufficient numbers of forensic specialists will be positioned in each van.These mobile forensic vans will not fall under the administrative oversight of police officers, but are an independent entity that is accountable to the courts of law.” reads the order.
The vans will be at the crime scene of crime at any time when requested by the SHO or investigating officers of any unit or branch.
A few guidelines have been issued to police officers.
“Whenever an incident is reported, it is apparent to the SHO or the IO that an crime with penalty of more than six years could be reported, and certain evidences forensically based are to be removed from the site of the crime, he shall ask the mobile forensic mobile van to go to the scene,” read the first instruction.
The second directive is stated that the IO will make an official request to the person in charge of the mobile van for forensics to visit the scene of the crime and take the forensic evidences that are at the scene.
The third step is about the DD entry and the recording of the ststements of the person in charge of the van for forensics in the event that it is required.
“The responsible person of the van for forensics must investigate the scene and remove the evidences.He will accurately record all evidences with the assistance of his team including the packing and labelling.If the vehicle is forensic and taking all the evidence with it to further analysis and examination The IO must record the statement of the person in charge for this purpose and note it in the case diary.” the instructions reads.
The IO will be required to draft an order to seize the items following the inspection and removal of the evidence.The memo will then be filed with the Malkhana of the police station in question.
Then it will be forwarded to the FSL and CFSL within two or three days.The IO will note all of these in the diary of the case.
“If it is possible, witnesses from outside are also invited to be a part of the proceedings of the lifting of evidence forensic and their testimony will be recorded in this regard,” read the fifth instruction.
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