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New police lab to help solve ‘knotty’ cases

Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police Major-General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina has visited the new premises of the Forensic Laboratory and Criminology Department of the Dubai Police, due to be completed by October — though it will only be handed over to the Dubai Police in January 2015.

Al Mazeina said the new building, which was now 15 per cent complete, was considered one of the significant projects that would help in police efforts to catch criminals involved in complicated cases. UAE nationals would be trained by international specialist institutions to be able to work efficiently.

The three-storey building covers an area of 36.8 square metres and would be the first-of-its-kind modern laboratory in the GCC, with the most modern equipment. The building was also capable of being expanded in the future.

A Dubai Police delegation recently visited Holland and the US to get a first hand look at the latest technology being used in such laboratories, the organisational structure of the department, and how to deal with evidence in a laboratory.

He said that the Dubai Police had purchased new specialist laboratory tools, in an effort to both protect evidence and staff.

The three tools are devices to extract information from the slides and damaged equipment, a so-called CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense) related to the reduction of the dangers of exposure to radiological and nuclear and chemical crimes, as well as a video camera device to record and measure the performances of police trainees who are present during the investigation of any crime.

The police also announced that they intended to fly in experts from the United States and the Netherlands to take advantage of their expertise to improve Dubai Police’s forensic capabilities, especially in major issues.

Al Mazeina said the Dubai Police were eager to make the new forensic laboratory one of the best in the world, noting police had sent 60 young Emiratis abroad to become scientifically qualified. After graduation, they will work in the Dubai Police General Department of Forensics and Criminology.

The Dubai Police have also planned a number of courses to upgrade skills of the staff. He said that new laboratory will include capabilities to conduct a wide range of examinations, including hair and fibre analysis, image analysis, handwriting examinations, firearms tests and document forgeries. The department will also included the ability to test for body traces, a specialised criminal evidence department and a social criminal evidence department.

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