Forensic Expert Witness Training

Fiji Police Forensic Science Services officers are undergoing a five day Forensic Expert Witness Training facilitated by the New Zealand Institute of ESR - Science and Research (ESR) at the Fiji Police Academy in Nasova.

Opening the training this morning was the Chief of Intelligence, Investigations and Prosecutions, Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police (A/ACP) Sakeo Raikaci who acknowledged the New Zealand Government for supporting capacity training of Fijian Police officers considering the evolving criminal landscape.

“This training, I’ve been briefed, is aimed specifically to assist our laboratory staff in understanding the important part they play in helping the court understand complex and nuanced information regarding a case. By doing so, it will provide a sense of objectivity and credibility, and enhance integration with the legal team to enhance the strength of the entire case”.

A team from the ESR had, in 2017, conducted a scoping exercise in Fiji to identify critical areas of training in specialized field of forensics.

Since then, 6 officers from the Forensics Chemistry Unit were accredited as Cannabis Identifiers following a training conducted by the ESR NZ. 

A/ACP Raikaci said, “Our success is measured on the number of successful prosecutions in court, and that is where you all play a critical role".

The training ends on Friday and is facilitated by ESR Quality Manager Ms Anna Petricevich and Senior Scientist Ms Robyn Somerville.