Uganda Police inadequately trained in investigating crime scenes
EDITOR—The scene has become all too common —a pool of blood, a dead body lying in it, Police and UPDF officers, security personnel and a crowd of horrified bystanders crisscrossing the crime scene.
EDITOR—The scene has become all too common —a pool of blood, a dead body lying in it, Police and UPDF officers, security personnel and a crowd of horrified bystanders crisscrossing the crime scene.
With the grizzly murder of Maj Gen James Kazini, one didn’t know whether a UPDF general had been murdered or whether there was a circus at the scene of crime in Namuwongo!
I am no expert on Police work, but I have enough common sense to know a few things:
First, when an officer of the law arrives at a crime scene, his or her first task ought to be sealing off the place.
The intention is to secure evidence systematically. At this stage the officer is only using his eyes, ears, nose, some paper and a pen. At this time he does not allow anyone except forensic experts into the crime scene.
The second stage is to define the extent of the crime scene. If the crime is a homicide, as was the Kazini case, the crime scene should have been the house and the entire neighbourhood —including his car which was parked outside —and any other areas that might later turn out to be part of the crime scene.
Every Tom, Dick and Harry was milling around with the body of Kazini lying in a pool of blood without any due care.
The evidence in such a case is likely to be lost. When law enforcers take time to respond, and the quality of that response is mediocre, a sense of hopelessness and disrespect for the agents sets in.
How on earth can the press be the first on the scene and capture the crime scene without any obstruction from the Police.
A few things are glaringly evident here: There is inadequate training of crime scene investigators in the Uganda Police Force. Money, vehicles and arms are not enough!
Michael Ocen
Kampala
With the grizzly murder of Maj Gen James Kazini, one didn’t know whether a UPDF general had been murdered or whether there was a circus at the scene of crime in Namuwongo!
I am no expert on Police work, but I have enough common sense to know a few things:
First, when an officer of the law arrives at a crime scene, his or her first task ought to be sealing off the place.
The intention is to secure evidence systematically. At this stage the officer is only using his eyes, ears, nose, some paper and a pen. At this time he does not allow anyone except forensic experts into the crime scene.
The second stage is to define the extent of the crime scene. If the crime is a homicide, as was the Kazini case, the crime scene should have been the house and the entire neighbourhood —including his car which was parked outside —and any other areas that might later turn out to be part of the crime scene.
Every Tom, Dick and Harry was milling around with the body of Kazini lying in a pool of blood without any due care.
The evidence in such a case is likely to be lost. When law enforcers take time to respond, and the quality of that response is mediocre, a sense of hopelessness and disrespect for the agents sets in.
How on earth can the press be the first on the scene and capture the crime scene without any obstruction from the Police.
A few things are glaringly evident here: There is inadequate training of crime scene investigators in the Uganda Police Force. Money, vehicles and arms are not enough!
Michael Ocen
Kampala