The Forensic and Judicial Expertise Center of the General Police Inspectorate (GPI) has received seven mobile forensic laboratories equipped with modern crime scene investigation kits that were handed over to territorial police inspectorates.

The cars were procured with the support of the U.S. Government, within “Support to Police Reform in Moldova” project, implemented by the United National Development Programme (UNDP) from Moldova.

“Equipping the forensic specialists with necessary tools and devices is essential for strengthening the investigation capacities of Police and its aligning to international standards. The mobile forensic laboratories donated today by our partners will enhance the capacity and quality of expertise and shorten the time spent for discovering a crime. Thus, citizens of Moldova will feel safer in their country.” mentioned Alexandru Pinzari, Chief of Police.

The mobile labs will be used to investigate different types of crimes. Being equipped with seven forensic kits and other tools it will possible to conduct crime scene investigation, identify and collect different types of evidences such as: biological traces, fingerprints, ballistic traces, transport traces, footprints and others. Moreover, these cars are equipped with four-wheel drive option enabling crime scene investigations in remote areas or in tough weather conditions.

“We are confident that the equipment here today, and the accompanying training we are providing, will bolster the capacities of the Police Forensic Lab and, more importantly, strengthen Moldova’s criminal justice system. The mobile laboratories have the added advantage of extending the reach of the state-of-the-art equipment to regions throughout Moldova. Of course, proper equipment makes a difference, but the hard work and dedication of Moldovan law enforcement personnel is an important factor in attaining ISO accreditation”, said James D. Pettit, the U.S. Ambassador to Chisinau.

During this event, forensic experts have made a demonstration of the newly acquired investigative capacities, mentioning the purpose of each kit and tool present in the vehicle.

“Our common efforts are about helping the Police to become a more professional and more responsive law enforcement body, serving the community and securing fundamental rights of all people of Moldova. Police forensic specialists perform approximately 18,000 crime scene investigations per year and therefore, it is crucial for them to have advanced instruments to identify, collect, preserve and process crime scene evidence. Taking the number of these forensic vehicles and the once we delivered to police last year, now one third of Moldova’s districts are fully covered with updated forensic services.”, said Dafina Gercheva, the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative.

The mobile forensic laboratories were handed over to district police inspectorates (PI) from Ialoveni, Causeni, Briceni, Singerei, Calarasi and PI Centru and Ciocana from Chisinau municipality. By using these vehicles, police inspectorates will be able to investigate and discover crimes faster, providing more qualitative and reliable evidences.

Besides mobile laboratories, forensic specialists have been provided with several types of specialized software to extract, restore and analyze data and information from diffident types of electronic devices. In addition, a van bought by the Police and used by forensic experts to disarm explosive objects and investigate the post-blast crime scenes was retrofitted and partially equipped with necessary tools with the financial support of the development partners. The Balti Unit of the Forensic and Judicial Expertise Centre has also benefited from the support, being endowed with necessary ICT equipment and furniture.

The total amount of the donation is 440 000 USD.

In June 2016, following the support of the U.S. Government and UNDP Moldova, other eight mobile forensic laboratories (three large mobile forensic labs were provided to the regional offices of the Forensic and Judicial Expertise Centre in the North (Balti), Centre (Chisinau) and South (Cahul), and five first crime response cars – to the district police inspectorates from Hincesti, Orhei, Drochia, Balti municipality and Riscani district of Chisinau municipality) together with a portable cyanoacrylate fuming system to develop latent prints and investigate large objects at crime scenes, were donated to the Police of the Republic of Moldova.