The US Embassy and the Bureau of International Narcotics & Law Enforcement (INL) through its grant Strengthening Criminal Justice Project (SCJP) are training members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and other members of the criminal justice system on bloodstain pattern recognition – a key forensics tool.
A release yesterday from the police force said that the training includes over 20 representatives from across the criminal justice system in Guyana. The training began on Monday and concludes on March 1, 2019.
The release said that bloodstain pattern recognition and analysis is an area of forensic science where experts scrutinise the size, shape, location, and distribution patterns of bloodstains in order to determine the events that occurred at a crime or sudden death scene.
This new skillset, the release said, will aid the police in solving serious crimes, including homicides and other investigations involving blood deposits. The weeklong training includes a mix of theoretical and practical sessions. Jon Forsythe, an expert in the field and a retired member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police with over 38 years of policing experience will lead the training.
The course, offered here for the first time,
will give GPF personnel the opportunity to gain in-depth exposure to knowledge on recognition of bloodstain patterns and their significance in criminal investigations. Participants will also learn about human anatomy, biology of blood, where the stain originated from, including the value of proper collection for DNA profiling.
All levels of justice sector officials will benefit from the training. In keeping with a comprehensive approach, the event will also include investigators, prosecutors, members of the judiciary and the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory.
