Advancing the capacities of the Police Directorate (UNDP Montenegro)

Duration

January 2021 – October 2023

Beneficiary/ies

Police Directorate of Montenegro/Forensic Center  

Donor/s

Multi Partner Trust Fund 

Funding Amount

USD 664,812

Funding gaps (if any)

N/A

Objective/s

The objective of the project is to improve the capacities of the Police Directorate of Montenegro in the entire investigative cycle and in particular to advance the custody chain in order to improve investigations of crime committed with explosives in order to achieve regular convictions. The project will focus on the development of standard operating procedures, accredited procedures and methods, thus directly contributing to the sustainability of the project.

Contributing to the Roadmap goal/s

Contributing to the Roadmap overall targets

Goal 1:

• Ensure standardization of procedures and practices in the area of arms control and FAE investigations.

Goal 3:

• Prevent trafficking of FAE through improved process, equipment and training of targeted law enforcement units.

Key activities implemented up to date

• Consultant hired to carry out desk research and a gap analysis in the area of crime scene and forensic laboratory investigations of explosion incidents and explosives within the Police Directorate/Forensic Center of Montenegro.
• Procurement process finalised and contract signed for the procurement of the specialised equipment for the Forensic Center. 3D Scanner and PC were delivered to the Forensic Center.
• Training of personnel from the Crime Scene Investigation Unit of the Forensic Center was held in March for six professionals who are now able to use the equipment. Further advanced training for 3D scanner will be organised in Q2/3 based on the need identified together with the beneficiaries.
• Lab scales for the Arson and Explosives are delivered to the Forensic Center and are being used.
• Based on internal review of the existing SOPs which were presented to the consultant, SOPs are revised by the consultant and are submitted for approval to the beneficiaries.
• Liquid Chromatograph with mass spectrometer (LCMSMS) was delivered to the Forensic Center. Six professionals trained to use the LCMSMS from in March 2022.
• Special packages for explosives were delivered to the Forensic Center, which are to ensure safe handling and transport of explosive evidence material from crime scene to Forensic Centre on examination.
• 41 professionals (40 men and one woman) from CSI Units from all of the CSI centers trained on the previously developed or revised SOPs, as well as on the use of 3D scanner.
• Based on the review of the existing AEL SOPs by the project consultant, revised SOPs were reviewed and approved by the beneficiaries, Quality Assurance Unit and the Head of Forensic Center.
• Additional equipment delivered to the Forensic Center: Container for storing explosive material, Device for measuring speed of explosive detonation, Anti-static clothes, Anti-static surface, Anti-contamination rug, Digital device for measuring voltage, Stopwatch for measuring time.
• 14 professionals (one female and 13 male) from the CSI units from the Forensic Center and local Security Centers trained on Crime Scene Investigation applicable to Gender Based Violence cases.
• Advanced training on application of 3D Scanner and software for documenting the scene of the explosion, the use of firearms and the morphological analysis of blood traces finalised for 6 professionals from the Crime Scene Investigation unit of the Forensic Center.
• 7 Professionals (one female and 6 male) from the Arson and Explosives unit trained on ISO Standards (ISO/IEC 17025:2017).
• Chamber for examining validity of explosives delivered and professionals trained how to use it.
• SOPs for the Chemical Lab developed  and will be finalised and approved in Q1 2023.
• Preparation of documents for validation of method of Chemical laboratory finalised in close cooperation with professionals from Chemical Lab. It has been approved by Forensic Center Quality Management. Training of professionals and validation of the method on LC-MS/MS device was organised for all professionals from the Chemical Lab.
• The project equipped the Crime Scene Investigation unit with the specialized equipment consisting of quadcopter, video borescopes, post-blast crime scene investigation kits, evidence vacuum sweeper and tamper-evident sealing tapes.
• All documents for the accreditation of a method of the Arson and Explosives Laboratory have been finalized, pending final approval by the Forensic Center. Likewise, the validation plan for the accreditation has been completed and the validation process Is to be conducted in Q3.
• The remaining specialized equipment was delivered for the Chemical Lab, including laminar flow cabinet, orbital shaker and ultra-pure water system.
• Training of professionals on using Quadcopter organised for 8 participants (7 men and one woman) on the issue of forensic application of aerial photography in CSI and processing the recorded material.
• All accreditation documents jointly developed (by Forensic Center (FC) and the international consultant) have been approved. The validation plan has been completed by the consultant and the process of validation was finalised in Q3. Necessary small equipment for the process of validation of method (ohmmeter and rheostat) procured. Material for the validation experiment was provided by the FC. The validation report completed, as well as the action plan.
• End-user training for operating the instrument for measuring the detonation velocity VOD 815 delivered by international consultant for 2 participants (2 men)
• In line with the regular dynamics of the official (surveillance) visits of the Montenegrin Accreditation Body (ATCG) to FC (the next visit is planned for spring 2024), FC will in the meantime apply for the accreditation of the mentioned new method of examination of the electric detonator and the lab itself. According to the regular procedure, ATCG will conduct the assessment of the lab and the method (document review and on-site assessment, as part of the visit, including witnessing and interviews), supported by a technical assessor. Eventual non-conformities will be identified by ATCG (a regular and very frequent case) and eliminated by the lab. Finally, the ATCG accreditation committee will evaluate the results of the assessment and decide on the granting of accreditation.
• Training on measurement uncertainty calculations in LC-MS/MS quantitative analysis of TNT was delivered for 4 participants (one men and three women) from the Chemical Laboratory.
• A new method for HPLC-MS/MS qualitative analysis of TNT was developed in the Chemical Laboratory in Q1. The method was based on procuring a sophisticated analytical device and other essential lab equipment, adequate training, and development of SOPs bolstered by a project-engaged consultant, who also established the method and prepared and led its validation.
• Since the chemical lab is already accredited, accrediting this new method will have the character of extending the accreditation scope, and it will be carried out simultaneously with and in the same way as it was explained above for the physical explosives/explosions lab.