Detailed Twinning Light Project Fiche

Flexible reserve of unallocated institution building activities
Transition Facility 2006/018-180.01.08

1) Project type: Twinning Light

2) Project title: Chemical forensic traces TF 2006/IB/JH/05TL

3) Beneficiary: Central Forensic Laboratory of Polish Police (CFLPP)

4) Foreseen start of project activities: 1st quarter 2009

5) Project duration: 6 months + 3 months for the start-up and closure of the action

6) Overall objectives:
Improving the process of detection and examination of chemical forensic traces according to procedures observed in EU Member States. Elaborating unified examination procedures of selected chemical forensic traces to be implemented in Polish police forensic laboratories basing on EU guidelines.
7) Project purpose:
Exchange experiences and disseminate within the Polish police forensic laboratories knowledge in the scope of European experiences related to detection and examination of chemical forensic traces. Elaboration and implementation of the state-of-the-art methods of examination of forensic traces in Polish police laboratories basing on experiences of experts from forensic laboratories in other EU Member States.

8) Background and Justification

The factual situation and statistics for years 2000-200 demonstrate that organised crime, such as, in particular, manslaughter, terrorist attacks with use of explosive materials, extortions, robberies and theft are strictly and continuously the object of interest of law enforcement authorities. Combating organised crime is closely linked to the process of detection and in numerous cases refers to results of forensic examinations frequently constitute a sole evidential source in criminal proceedings. As distinctively expressed in the Hague Programme, “The Council is invited to encourage the exchange of best practice in investigative techniques as a first step to the development of common investigative techniques (…) in particular in the areas of forensic investigations and information technology security. In addition to fingermarks and biological traces, examination process of chemical traces coming from scenes of shooting incidents, incident with use of explosive materials or theft and burglaries, as well as traffic accidents. Forensic examinations start already at crime scene from carrying out a detailed crime scene examination aiming at detection of traces that may indirectly or directly link a perpetrator with the scene; subsequently, they will be confirmed by means of laboratory analyses.
EU Member States use unified examination methodologies as well as accredited procedures both for microtraces and other chemical forensic traces (GSR, O-GSR, contact traces of explosive materials, etc.). Polish police forensic laboratories are at the moment in the phase of implementation and further verification of the procedures. Because Poland is a member of the European Union implementation of examination procedures in police laboratories should be based on already verified solutions applied in police laboratories of other Member States and state-of-the-art technical (instrumental) solutions.
Training courses delivered so far within the scope of other Twinning projects have been first of all dedicated to organised crime in terms of intelligence and prevention activities with lack of seminars and workshops devoted to criminal forensic traces. Final remarks after every of the following Twinning programmes (Phare Twinning 99 “Fight against organised crime”, Phare Twinning 2000 “Twinning for the police services”, Phare Twinning 2001 “Twinning for the Police Services”, Phare Twinning 2003 “Fight against organised crime”) led to a conclusion that a series of trainings should be dedicated to forensic science, and in particular to chemical examinations of forensic traces.In addition to that attempts were endeavoured to expand Transition Facility 2004 practical twinning activities with participation of Polish experts in the area of explosive materials. Due to procedural reasons (lack of completed course in professional explosive devices neutralisation) it was impossible for Polish experts to join polygon exercises. Another project where there were attempts to carry out activities dedicated to forensic science was implemented within Transition Facility twinning 2006. CFLPP succeeded in joining in to the project in the area of Quality Assurance system implementation in the police forensic laboratories. However, the project did create means for trainings in the area of analysis of chemical forensic laboratories. Necessity of expanding knowledge and continuous development of forensic science in the world obliges CFLPP to implement more and more advanced methods of examination, which is reflected in setting up databases, such as DNA database or AFIS, and others. Chemical forensic traces play a very important role in investigation process and it is necessary to improve qualification of police officers in the scope of their detection, recovery and examination. In order to create potential for development of chemical forensic traces examination the best solution is to organise a series of trainings, seminars and workshops within the scope of Twinning Light project that would be entirely dedicated to forensic aspects of examination of such traces.
The document binding on development of forensic examinations is the EU Treaty, in particular Title VI “Provisions on Police and Judiciary Cooperation in Criminal Matters” (art. 30, point c, identifying necessity of “joint initiatives in the area of training and forensic examinations”). The issues of police cooperation in various research areas were also touched upon at the Conference of Representatives of MS Governments (Brussels, 13.10.2004) – Section IV “Area of Freedom, Security and Justice – section 5 on police cooperation”. The European Commission Communication to the Council and the European Parliament – the Hague Programme (Brussels 10.05.2005) set ten priorities for the following five years. One of the key tasks was “Partnership for European Restoration in the area of Freedom, Security and Justice”, and the expansion refers to the accomplishments in the area of the forensic science with special emphasis on examinations of chemical forensic traces.
Since the beginning of 1990s the leading European forensic laboratories have been exchanging experiences within the scope of the European Network of Forensic Institutes (ENFSI). CFLPP is a member of the following ENFSI Expert Working Groups: “Glass”, “Paints”, “Fibres”, “GSR”, “Explosives”. As stipulated in ENFSI Constitution, its purpose is “to ensure that the quality of development and delivery of forensic science throughout Europe is at the forefront of the world.” ENFSI guidelines aim at implementation of modern and unified analytical methods and “Best Practice” standards in all member laboratories. This particularly covers the chemical forensic traces. According to ENFSI policy (Status of accreditation policy QCC-ACR-001 of 16 June 2005), ENFSI wishes to promote consistent and reliable scientific evidence through the whole forensic process from scene of incident to court. As one part of this aim is the policy of ENFSI that all member laboratories should have achieved or should be taking steps towards EN ISO/IEC 17025 compliant accreditation for their laboratory testing abilities by the end of 2007. Therefore forensic laboratories will have to face a considerable challenge and participation in the Twinning light project concerning chemical examinations of forensic traces will enable performing the accepted commitments on the highest possible level.
9) Results
The expected results for the beneficiary are following:
- the Polish police experts acquainted with the state-of-the-art techniques or crime scene examination throughout organised seminars, workshops and study visits;
- the Polish police experts acquainted with procedures of detecting and recovering chemical forensic traces throughout organised seminars, workshops and study visits;
- new solutions in techniques of preparing samples for forensic examination indicated;
- knowledge on advanced methods of chemical traces examination acquired, expanded and disseminated within the Polish police forensic laboratories;
- new working contacts initiated;
- information on analytical and material databases exchanged.
The expected result of the project is to conduct 13 activities and train minimum 200 employees of the Polish Police. Moreover, 9 seminars, 8 workshops and 1 study visit shall be organized during the implementation of the project.
10) Implementation schedule:
component 1 Forensic traces
Scope of training comprises, as follows:
- improvement of techniques for crime scenes examinations
- methodologies of recovering traces for forensic examinations
- application of more effective examination techniques and methods in process of crime detection
- evidential value of expert opinion
- exhibits and materials databases
Activity 1.1 (month I)
Identification of requirements for the needs of training
Mission of STE from another Member State aiming at analysing the situation in Polish forensic science and gathering necessary information in order to ensure achieving the substantial goals of subsequent individual components.
- 2 working days x 1 STE, Poland, Chemistry Department of CFLPP
- translation of documents + 1 interpreter
Activity 1.2.1 and 1.2.2 (month I)
Examinations of crime scenes and techniques or recovering chemical forensic traces
- statistics and types of incidents relating to detection of microtraces
- procedures of crime scene examination
- procedures of detection and recovery (technical and in terms of legal proceedings) of chemical traces in laboratory and field conditions
- types of microtraces recovered for subsequent forensic examinations
- verification of traces and preliminary examinations
- databases
- Seminar with workshops (work in groups) for 60 officers of Polish Police
- 2 trainings x 5 days x 30 officers (each training) + 2STEs (for each training) + 1 interpreter (for each training)
- Poland
- translation of training materials and lectures
component 2 Microtraces
Scope of training comprises, as follows:
- statistics and types of incidents in connection to which microtraces have been detected (such as glass, fibres, car paints, plastic, etc.)
- procedures of detection and recovery of microtraces
- examination in laboratory and preparing samples for examination
- methods of instrumental examinations used in identification and comparative examinations of microtraces
- databases
Activity 2.1 Glass (month II)
- glass in forensic examinations – statistics of incidence
- procedures of detection and recovery of glass traces on various substrates
-forms filled in upon recovery of evidential and comparative glass
-forensic opinions in identification and comparative examinations
-evidential value of expert opinion in glass examination
- methodology of glass examination – colour and hue, elemental analysis (XRF ED, µXRF ED, LA ICP-MS, SEM)
- quantitative analysis of glass
- GRIM 3 and comparison of GRIM 2 and GRIM 3 instruments
Seminar + workshop for 15 officers for CFLPP, voivodeship police laboratories, laboratory of Metropolitan Police Headquarters
- 3 working days x 15 officers x 2STEs + 1 interpreter
- Poland
- translation of materials and lectures
Activity 2.2 Fibres (month V)
- detection and recovery of fibres
- preliminary laboratory examinations (pre-selection, fibre finder)
- preparation of samples for examination
- identification examinations (electron microscopy, heated stage, pirolytic methods, FTIR, Raman)
- comparative examinations (MPV UV-VIS, FTIR, Raman, TLC, electron microscopy)
- identification of fibres affected by thermal factors and biodegradation
- databases
- interpretation of results considering incident circumstances, types and colour of fibres, number of fibres found, quality of work, statistic analysis of results
- examinations aiding in determining evidential value of expert opinion – population studies and objective focused research
Seminar + workshops for 15 officers from CFLPP, voivodeship police laboratories, laboratory of Metropolitan Police Headquarters
- 5 working days x 15 officers x 2STEs + 1 interpreter
- Poland
- translation of materials and lectures
Activity 2.3 Car paint coats, plastic, glues and rubbers, paints (month II)
- statistics and types of incidents where traces of car paint coats have been recovered
-frequency of occurrence of traces of plastic
- methodology of detection and recovery of traces fro examination
- preparing samples for examination
- identification and comparative examinations of car paint coats (microscopy, Raman, pirolytic methods, FTIR, SEM EDX, MPV UV-VIS etc.)
- identification and comparative examinations of motor vehicle plastic parts
- damages of car paint coats resulting from using of various paint removers (identification potential)
- evidential value of expert opinions in cases related to traffic accidents
- databases
- EUCAP
Seminar + workshop for 15 officers from CFLPP voivodeship police laboratories, laboratory of Metropolitan Police Headquarters,
- 5 working days x 15 officers x 2STEs + 1 interpreter
- Poland
- translation of materials and lectures
component 3 Explosive materials
Scope of training comprises, as follows:
- types of explosive materials and devices
- types of initiating devices
- procedures of post-blast investigation from the forensic perspective
- instrumental examinations of explosive materials, post-blast traces and contact traces of explosives
- databases
Activity 3.1 (month III)
Explosive materials and devices
- types of explosive materials
- types of explosive devices
- initiation techniques
- procedures of detection and identification of explosive materials in polygon conditions
- type of electronic devices used in constructions of home-made explosive devices
- types of ammunition (grenades, mortar bombs, mines, etc.) and fuses
- explosive materials in the light of EU legislation
- sources of explosive materials and devices
Seminar
- 3 working days x 25 police officersx 2STEs + 1 interpreter
- Poland
- translation of materials and lectures
Activity 3.2 (month IV)
Forensic aspects of examination of scene of incident with use of explosive material (device)
- statistics of incident with use of explosives
- procedures of post-blast investigation
- recovery of traces from scene of explosion
- reconstruction of explosive devices
- neutralising dangerous explosive charges and chemically unstable substances
- forensic opinion and its defending in court
Seminar + workshop for police 30 officers (work in task groups)
- 5 working days x 30 police officers x 4STEs + 1 interpreter (on selected days 3 interpreters may be needed)
- Poland
- translation of materials and lectures
Activity 3.3 (month III)
Examination of explosive materials, post-blast traces and contact traces of explosives
- state-of-the-art methods of preparation of explosive materials samples to instrumental examinations (SPE, SPME, SFE, solvent extraction)
- state-of-the-art instrumental techniques in examination of explosive materials (GC/MS/ECD/TEA, EC/MS, LC/MS, etc.)
-contamination and methods of recovering evidential material
- procedures in handling contact traces of explosive materials
- classical chemistry
Seminar + workshop for20 officers from CFLPP, voivodeship police laboratories and laboratory of Metropolitan Police Headquarters,
- 3 working days x 20 officers x 2 STEs + 1 interpreter
- Poland
- translation of materials and lectures
component 4 Gunshot residues (GSR, O-GSR)
Scope of training comprises, as follows:
- procedures on scene of shooting incidents
- EU legislation in the context of possession of firearms
- detection and recovery of GSR and O-GSR
- forensic examination report – degree of categorical character of expert opinion
- databases
Activity 4.1 Inorganic GSR and Organic GSR (month IV)
- statistics of cases related to use of firearms
- types of ammunition
- procedures of detection and recovery of traces
- GSR examination procedures
- chemigraphy
- evidential value of expert opinion
- localising O-GSR on shooter, victim and obstacle
- techniques of trace recovery
- collection of comparative material
- marker typing
- examination procedures for O-GSR (TLC, GC/MS/TEA/ECD, HPLC, EC)
- O-GSR as complementary method for examination of inorganic GSR
- forensic examination report – degree of categorical character of expert report
Seminar + workshop for 7 officers from CFLPP, voivodeship police laboratories, laboratory of Metropolitan Police Headquarters,
- 5 working days x 7 officers x 2 STEs + 1 interpreter
- Poland
- translation of materials and lectures
component 5. Examination of forensic chemical traces – study visit
Practical training in laboratory, ensuring a possibility to become acquainted with practices and improving skills in the areas related to the following:
- advanced methods of preparation of samples for instrumental examination
- advanced instrumental methods for chemical examination of forensic traces
- analytical databases
- material databases
- contamination and techniques of evidential material
- good laboratory practice – organisation of labelling of evidence and chain of evidence
Study visits (month V)
1 study visit x 5 working days x 15 officers from CFLP, voivodeship police laboratories, laboratory of Metropolitan Police Headquarters x 1 interpreter for each task group, namely glass, fibres, paints, explosives and GSR (total: 3 interpreters).
- translation of materials and lectures
component 6. Recommendations and conclusion
Activity 6.1 Elaboration of recommendations (month VI)
- elaboration of improvements in performing crime scene examinations
- improvement in terms of quantity and quality of recovered forensic chemical traces
- improvement of analytical potential for examination of forensic traces
- setting up of fundamental substantial databases to enable extending examination potential
Workshops for 10 CFLPP officers
- 2 working days x 10 officers x 2 STEs
- Poland
- translation of materials and lectures +1 interpreter
Activity 6.2 Concluding remarks and conclusion of the project (month VI)
Mission of an expert of another EU Member State in order to summarise the course of implementation of each Activity.
- 1working day x 1STE - meeting with experts from CFLPP Chemistry Department
- Poland, CFLPP Chemistry Department
- translation of documents + 1 interpreter
11) Expert profiles
One expert among the following should act as the Project Leader.
The tasks of the Project Leader will be the following:
-to coordinate and supervise the implementation of the project,
-to motivate short-term experts,
-to launch own initiatives and help to the assumed purposes and assist STE’s work,
-to ensure that STEs know as much country’s and EU legal background,
-to organise study visits,
-to prepare an inception report and final report.
Specific requirements for individual components are as follows:
Component 1
-Higher education or university degree in relevant area;
-Experience in crime scene investigation management;
-Minimum 5-year experience in crime scene investigation and still professionally active;
-Experience in detection and technical as well as investigative recovery of forensic traces;
-Fluency in English (written and spoken) would be considered an asset;
-Basic tutorial skills.
Component 2
(2 STEs in glass, 2 STEs in fibres and 2 STEs in paints and plastics)
-Higher education or university degree in relevant area;
-Experience in crime scene investigation;
-Minimum 5-year experience in crime scene investigation and still professionally active;
-Experience in detection and technical as well as investigative recovery of forensic traces;
-Knowledge of state-of-the-art analytical methods;
-Fluency in English (written and spoken) would be consider as an asset;
-Basic tutorial skills.
Component 3
Expert with knowledge of explosives
-Higher education or university degree in relevant area;
-Minimum 5-year experience and still professionally active;
-Knowledge of explosive materials and explosive-related incidents;
-Fluency in English (written and spoken) would be consider as an asset;
-Basic tutorial skills.
Expert in post-blast investigation
-Higher education or university degree in relevant area;
-Experience in post-blast investigation;
-Minimum 5-year experience in post-blast investigation and still professionally active;
-Experience in detection and technical as well as investigative recovery of forensic traces;
-Fluency in English (written and spoken) would be consider as an asset;
-Basic tutorial skills.
Expert in construction of explosive devices
-Higher education or university degree in relevant area;
-Experience in incident scene investigation;
-Minimum 5-year experience in incident scene investigation and still professionally active;
-In-depth knowledge on explosives, construction of improvised explosive devices, electronic devices used for control of bombs, checking of suspicious objects;
-Fluency in English (written and spoken) would be consider as an asset;
-Basic tutorial skills.
Expert in chemical analysis of explosives
-Higher education or university degree in relevant area;
-Minimum 5-year experience in instrumental analysis of explosive materials, post-blast traces and contact traces of explosives, professionally active;
-Knowledge of state-of-the-art analytical methods;
-Fluency in English (written and spoken) would be consider as an asset;
-Basic tutorial skills.
Component 4
-Higher education or university degree in relevant area;
-Experience in crime scene investigation;
-Minimum 5-year experience and still professionally active;
-Experience in detection, analysis of GSR (IGSR /OGSR) and technical as well as investigative recovery of forensic traces;
-Knowledge of state-of-the-art analytical methods;
-Fluency in English (written and spoken) would be consider as an asset;
-Basic tutorial skills.
One STE can take part in more than one component provided that he/she has the required qualifications.
An advantage will be given to the offers incorporating ad-hoc experts from other EU Member States.
12) Institutional Framework, including beneficiary
Direct Beneficiary:
The Polish Police
Final Beneficiaries:
Project participants: experts from the Polish Police
The project coordinator and contact person:
super com. Aldona POLICHA, M.Sc., expert in CFLPP Chemistry Department, Al. Ujazdowskie 7, 00-583 Warsaw, Poland, Phone: +48 22 601 59 80, Fax: +48 22 601 55 56,
e-mail:
Project Leader:
subinsp. Marek BETLEJEWSKI, M.Sc – Head of Chemistry Department Central Forensic Laboratory of Polish Police, Al. Ujazdowskie 7, 00-583 Warsaw, Poland, Phone: +48 22 601 56 76, Fax: +48 22 601 55 56,e-mail: ;
Senior Project Officer:
Mrs. Elzbieta Sidorkiewicz, Adviser to the Minister, Department of European Union and International Co-operation – Office 844, Ministry of Interior and Administration,
5 Batorego Street,02-591 Warsaw, Poland, Tel.: +48 22 601 43 05, Fax: +48 22 601 41 07,
e-mail:
13) Budget including national co-financing
Budget item (€)
Expert fees 250 EUR per working day: 95 days 23 750
Project Management Costs (1,5 x total expert fees): 35 625
Experts per diems (217 EUR per day) calendar days: 121 days 26 257
International Transportation Costs of the STEs (average return flight 700 EUR): 22 flights 15 400
Local travel (50 EUR per day) working days: 95 days 4 750
Visibility costs 1 000
Audit certificate 2 000
Interpretation (350 EUR per day): 48 man days 16 800
Written translation (15 EUR per page): 300 pages 4 500
Unforeseen expenses 5 000
TOTAL cost of activities 135 082
Study visit cost
- 90 per diems for Polish experts (238 EUR) 21 420
- 15 fees for interpreters 5 250
- 18 per diems for interpreters 4 284
- 3 international transportations costs for interpreters (average return flight 700 EUR) 2 100
TOTAL cost (including study visit) 168 136
POLISH CO-FINANCING
15 international transportations costs for Polish experts (average return flight 700 EUR) 10 500
Polish co-financing for seminar venues, beverages, accommodation 13 500
TOTAL cost of Polish co-financing 24 000

14) Basic Implementation Arrangement

There will be a start-up report covering the first two months of the contract (submitted during the third month), plus a final report (templates and requirements as for standard twinning).
For the purpose of effective co-ordination of the project the Steering Committee will be held. StC will consist of the representatives from Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration, the MS partner, the Central Finance and Contracting Unit as well as the Administrative Office (Office of the Committee for European Integration). The responsibility of the organisation of the Project Steering Committee meeting lies with both Project Leaders.
Steering Committee will meet at least 2 times during the project implementation period in order to discuss and approve the reports presented by the MS and PL and decide on the timetable of the project and achievement of project results.
The main working language is English, reports and all official documentation must be prepared in English.

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