SEESAC Helps Western Balkan Authorities to Assess Their CSI Units’ Capacities

During November and December, SEESAC conducted dedicated field visits to the four Western Balkan jurisdictions – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia – aimed at assessing the capacities of the Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) units and creating a baseline for further support in their capacity development in terms of advisory support, training, and equipment.

These assessments will result in a report with recommendations as well as an action plan for further preparation of the jurisdictions for ISO 17020 accreditation. Following the implementation of the forthcoming recommendations and the action plan, a request for accreditation could be initiated to the respective institutions by the authorities.

To review the CSI units’ capacities, the methodology deployed revolved around assessing their facilities, equipment, institutional and administrative capacities, the legislative background, and especially standard operating procedures and other relevant documents as well as the quality manuals.

The assessment of the CSI units’ capacities of Kosovo* and North Macedonia will be conducted in January.

SEESAC is supporting the CSI units to strengthen their capacities in the framework of the regional project Support for Enhancing the Fight Against the Illegal Possession, Misuse, and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in the Western Balkans funded by the European Union through the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA II).

*References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of the Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999).