KIGALI - More than 20 police officers, yesterday, started a week-long forensic course as the force moves to further enhance its methods of crime scene evidence collection.

The course dubbed ‘Forensic Awareness Plus’ conducted by experts from UK-based Key Forensic Services, aims at equipping the officers with new skills on crime scene preservation, evidence recording and recovery, packaging and storage of recovered material.

The officers are part of the 100 police personnel earmarked to undergo the same course. So far, 64 officers have benefitted.

While officially opening the training at the force’s head offices in Kacyiru, Kigali, Supt. Morris Muligo, the Director of Kigali Forensic Laboratory, noted that the National Police is faced with challenges related to gathering evidence at crime scenes due to tampering by the members of the public.

"This course is important in as far as providing enough evidence is concerned. We can not achieve fair justice without fair evidence and we can not get fair evidence if crime scenes are not protected,” Muligo stated.

He urged the officers to share the knowledge they acquire and ensure that traces of evidence at crime scenes are well protected.

Police also intends to offer a related course to other security departments like the army, prosecution and civilians.

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