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Maximising the Benefits of

Forensics to Law Enforcement

Simon Walsh PhD

Chief Scientist, Forensics

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Forensics

• Effective management of forensics must proceed out of a system-

wide awareness of its role and impact

This leads to a range of areas that forensic and law enforcement

professionals must comprehend and confront

• The relevant context is typified by distinct…

Technological,

Operational and

Socio-legal complexities

• The relevant context is investigative…

Seeking to provide answers to operational and legal enquiries

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Forensics

POLICE JUSTICE

FORENSIC SCIENCE

Walsh SJ. (2007) Current and future

trends in forensic molecular biology. In:

Rapely, R. and Whitehouse, D. (Ed).

Molecular Forensics. John Wiley & Sons:

London, pp. 1-20

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Forensics

POLICE JUSTICE

FORENSIC SCIENCE

Operational context:

• Mature users

• Mature technology

• Service driven (TATs)

• Outcome driven

Socio-Legal context:

• Expert Opinion

• Impartial

• Conclusive

• Address legal issues

Scientific context:

• Technology

• Scientific method

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Forensics

POLICE JUSTICE

FORENSIC SCIENCE

Operational context:

• Mature users

• Mature technology

• Service driven (TATs)

• Outcome driven

Socio-Legal context:

• Expert Opinion

• Impartial

• Conclusive

• Address legal issues

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“Forensics”: Pendulum Swing

POLICE SCIENCE SPECIALISED SCIENCE

FORENSIC SCIENCE

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Another Way to Think About it?

• Evidence items moving through multiple disciplines

• Repetition of core evidence examination steps

Segregated

• Disciplines operating separately in siloes

• Independent consideration of evidence

Independent

• Specialised skills dedicated to single discipline only

• Extensive quality assurance framework covering disciplines independently

Inflexible

• Stepwise analysis led to long turn-around times and backlogs

• Complicated customer interface frustrating for clients (investigators and courts)

Time Consuming

• Objective to produce sworn expert report and testimony

• Independent reports – multiple reports and experts in every case

Evidence-focussed

Traditional Forensic Business Model

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• Evidence items remain within a single laboratory precinct

• Core evidence examination steps executed once within 24 hours of submission

Integrated

• Default analysis involves multi-disciplinary expert teams working simultaneously

• Collective consideration of items facilitating knowledge-transfer and situational awareness

Collaborative

• Mandatory generic skills identified for all members

• Streamlined quality assurance framework eliminating duplication

Flexible

• Evidence recovery commences upon receipt or within initial 24 hours

• Single customer interface allowing clients direct access to experts

Responsive

• Collection and analysis of items uses potential intelligence value as first order consideration

• Intelligence officers embed with forensics producing forensic intelligence product

Intelligence-led

New Forensic Business Model

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WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO DELIVER THIS

REFORM?

WORKFLOW AND WORK PRACTICES (INTEGRATED, COLLABORATIVE, RESPONSIVE)

Exhibit Registry

Fingerprints Exhibit

Registry Biology

Exhibit Registry

Check seals

Unseal

Record Examine

Re-seal and

re-lodge

Check seals

Unseal

Record Examine

Re-seal and

re-lodge

Check seals

Record Store and

Issue

Investigator Investigator

Check seals

Record Store and

Issue

Check seals

Record Store and

Issue

Previous AFP Exhibit Workflow

Current AFP Exhibit Workflow

Check seals

Unseal

Record Triage

Exam

Rapid Lab Exhibit Team

Rapid Lab Triage and Search

Team CSI/Investigator

Forensic Intel Cell

Other Discipline

s

Biology Finger prints

Previous Workforce Organisation

Current Workforce Organisation

Current Work Practices

• Mapping resources to demand within existing resources

• Attendance at 100% of ACT burglaries within the hour of reporting during rostered shifts

• Adoption by CSIs of a broader investigative mindset with an equal focus on evidence and intelligence collection

Increased recovery of evidence and

intelligence

Forensic Initiators:

• Fingerprints (NAFIS)

• DNA (NCIDD)

• Shoe marks (SICAR)

• Toolmarks

• Glass

• Handwriting (FISH)

• Chemical composition of physical evidence

• Fibres

• The ‘fluff’

Other Initiators:

• MO

• Geographical location

• Target type

• Time of day

• Number of offenders

Current Work Practices

• Improved communication within forensics

• Greater interaction with ACTP with an Intelligence Officer embedded within forensics

• Enhanced relationships with DPP and ACT Magistrates

Enhanced internal and external relationships

Operational Impact (ACT Region)

Reactive to ACTP targets and priorities

>5,000 cases triaged in Rapid

Lab

>15,000 items processed in

Rapid Lab

Conducted

‘Drive Through forensics’

Significantly reduced

Turnaround times

Intelligence Products produced for ACTP

Reduction in property crime rates

Discovery of unintended benefits

Positive feedback from ACTP

Burglary Rates Per Capita 2010-2011

Australian Bureau of Statistics, “Crime Victimisation, Australia”, 2010-11 (cat no.4530.0),

http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4530.0Main+Features12010-11?OpenDocument

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NSW Vic Qld SA WA Tas NT ACT Australia

Australian Bureau of Statistics, “Crime Victimisation, Australia”, 2011-12 (cat no.4530.0),

http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/ProductsbyReleaseDate/371CB1F33E24E682CA2579AA000F2C7F?OpenDo

cument

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NSW Vic Qld SA WA Tas NT ACT Australia

Burglary Rates Per Capita 2011-2012

Burglary rates per capita 2008-2012

Australian Bureau of Statistics, “Crime Victimisation, Australia”, 2011-12 (cat no.4530.0),

http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/ProductsbyReleaseDate/371CB1F33E24E682CA2579AA000F2C7F?OpenDo

cument

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO DELIVER THIS

REFORM?

CONSULTANCY (FLEXIBLE & ADAPTIVE, INTELLIGENCE-LED)

Consultancy Model

“Operations support capability owners should be

consulted early during the planning stage to determine

how each can be best utilised. Through the consultative

process the investigator should nominate objectives

required and operations support will determine the most

suitable approaches for achieving those objectives”

AFP Investigations Doctrine

Consultancy Model

•Borrowing from Dr Maria (CIO, ACC)…

“Speak English”

−Clear understanding of outcomes sought, priorities,

considerations and constraints

“Know where you want to end up”

−What does success look like?

−Very important for scientists!

−Fit-for-purpose vs. Fully evolved

“The importance of agility”

−Rapid prototyping

−Culture of innovation, action-oriented leadership, try-fail

Capability Management

•Well-understood notion of capability

Team Leaders as capability advisors

−Gateway to services

•Well-targeted investment in S&T, R&D, skills &

competencies

Drivers for R&D

−Increased value to operations

−Increased efficiency of operations

−Intelligence-oriented

−Field-deployable

−Innovative

Example: National Forensic Rapid Lab (NFRL)

•National Forensic Rapid Lab (NFRL) processes seizures

from parcel post for drug identification

•NFRL aims to:

Provide actionable intelligence to investigators

Produce operational actions to prevent, disrupt and detect

importation and distribution of illicit and novel drugs.

NFRL

SIG 4 Example Handwriting Example

National Forensic Rapid Lab (NFRL)

• 350-500 items seized p/w

• Examinations consist of:

Record/Image

− Packaging/concealment method (digitise)

− Consignor/consignee details

− Country of origin & destination State

Scan & compare handwriting

− ‘FISH’ handwriting comparison software – 1 day TAT

Enhance and record latent Fingerprints

− Stand-alone ULP-ULP comparison - rapid TAT

Drug Identification & record drug net weight

DNA Collection (for Intell. confirmation only)

First 6 months

• Seized over 500kg drugs

• Same day examinations and

turnaround (~100 items)

• DHI >$125 million

• Novel Drugs average 1 p/w

Fingerprints and Intelligence

• The database contains latent prints that are:

Only collected from parcels post seizures

Unidentified and likely from overseas perpetrators (no NAFIS comparison)

• Between 30 March and 30 Oct 2013

1667 latent impressions added to database

• Simplified examination and search procedure

Able to process 100 latent fingerprints within a few hours

• Images undergo minimal processing by specialists

Vertically aligned, cropped and rotated (max. 1000 dpi)

Identifier number added

Fingerprints and Intelligence

• Searching on Fingerprint DB

No search parameters entered i.e. pattern type, code minutiae

Search algorithm produces a prioritised list of match candidates

• Confirmation of match

Single fingerprint expert examines the reported match

Intelligence link between seizures are reported to NFRL

− Not for court purposes

• 40% link rate for ULP-ULP comparisons

Second highest link rate behind package morphology

− 60% link rate overall

• Future state

Upgrade to automatic latent processing

− NFRL technical officers can upload

Apply to other scenarios (crime types)

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO DELIVER THIS

REFORM?

QUALITY (SCIENCE CREDIBILITY)

February 2007 Simon J. Walsh – Biological Criminalistics

Operational Quality

•No longer and administrative process

•Operational Quality is

Process Driven

Inbuilt – Not an Extra

Aligned with AFP Strategic Principles & Forensic Principles

−Eliminate Duplication

−Flexible

−Intelligence Led

−Integrated

• Designed by Forensics members

Operational Quality: Fundamentals

• Good Laboratory Practices

Standard Work → Increased Efficiency

Reduce Variation → Reduce Waste

• Manage Change

Adds Value

Visible / Traceable

Compliant

• Quality Metrics

• Integrated System

• Risk Based Flexibility

Members Expertise

Appropriately Applied

Knowledge Based

Fit For Purpose

Responsive / Adaptive

Documented

• Root Cause Analysis

Determine the actual root cause

Effective CAPA

Reduce Risk

Operational Quality: Concept

Detect Examination of scene / item for relevant forensic material

Record Record the condition, position & location prior to collection

Collect Collection of the forensic material (all / sampling plan)

Triage Assess & decide what analysis to progress

Analyse Generate scientific data

Interpret Interpret scientific data, form both opinion & factual result

Report Document interpretations as a formal statement of fact or opinion based

report - includes interim, court & intelligence reports

QMS Change Control, Risk Management, Document Control etc.

Future State

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO DELIVER THIS

REFORM?

NEW PURPOSE-BUILT FORENSIC FACILITY (ALL OF THE ABOVE)

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Summary

•Revised Forensic model

Best of both worlds

−Specialist, operationally focussed capability

•Built around…

Support to operations

−Disruptive effect

Enhanced capability

−Dynamic, innovative

Science credibility

−Risk-based, empowered

Questions?