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by Sarath Malalasekera

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the USA conducted a four day workshop for Sri Lankan Policemen on "Supervision and Management of Crime Scene" at the Police Headquarters recently.

Personnel and Higher Training Deputy Inspector General of Police, Chandra Fernando introducing the FBI team to the participants said that the FBI Senior officers are here to train local investigators in modern methods of investigation into violent crime.

The workshop which is being conducted under the auspices of the Embassy of the United States of America, is a welcome step forward. The American Embassy has in the past helped the Sri Lankan Police in a big way by inviting large batches of Police officers to the United States for courses of instruction on 'post-blast' investigation, 'crisis management' and 'emergency response'.

The FBI expert team comprised Diane Adkins, Detective Lorren Leadmon, Special Agent, John Kuchnta, Supervisory Special Agent, Bob Richards, Assistant Legal Attache, Tim Dwyer and Special Agents, Chris Henderickson and Pau Pullin.

"Participants from the CID, TID and other Territorial Units are fortunate to be able to follow this program, which is being conducted by experts from the FBI, who have not only distributed a lot of material among the participants, but also brought into the country a lot of electronic teaching aids to enable the participants to assimilate knowledge readily," DIG, Chandra Fernando said.

DIG Fernando said that the subject of peace talks is on the agenda of both the Government and the LTTE and it is more likely today than ever before to reach fruition due to the greater commitment displayed by both parties to the conflict which has ravaged the country for nearly two decades, policing in Sri Lanka will of necessity have to enter a new phase in the near future. During the past two decades there had been two insurrections, one in the southern part of the country when armed youth challenged the authority of the State and terrorism in the Northern and Eastern parts of the country which threatened the sovereignty of the country.

These displays of Anti-Government activities dictated the need to change the priorities of policing drastically from its traditional role of prevention and detection of crime to maintaining the security of the community. During these periods of civil unrest thousands of youth not only lost their lives but also were physically incapacitated. This necessitated changing the role of the police to a para-military role and a large segment of the police service was formed into platoons to perform the security function, the DIG said.

DIG Fernando emphasised that the changed or new role of the police, therefore, had left them with very little time to do criminal investigations in a proper manner in order to bring criminals to justice. Due to the constraints of time, the need arose to obtain confessions from suspects in criminal investigations sometimes using methods that were a violation of their fundamental rights. There was then very little or hardly any time to devote to the scientific investigation of crime.

During the past three decades there has been an increase in violent crime in Sri Lanka and the Police clearance rate fell to some extent. Since the peace talks are likely to result in a permanent solution to the conflict that had ravaged the country for nearly two decades now, the need will arise in the near future for the Police to familiarise its officers with the modern scientific methods of analysis and investigation of crime in order to provide the community with a more efficient and effective service, which, in turn will serve as a deterrent to the criminally inclined persons who engage in such activities.

DIG Fernando further emphasised that during the crisis period special laws were enacted to protect the community when suspects could have been detained for long periods which it is not possible today. The police now have to act within the framework of the normal laws of the country and utilise every section of the statutes in order to curb and deal with rising violent crime. Therefore, the Policemen today need a better training in scene of crime investigation, interrogation of suspects, interviewing of witnesses and use of forensic aids in crime investigation.

"I thank all the officers from the FBI, from the very bottom of my heart and also thank Mr. Phillip Furstenberg of the American Embassy in Sri Lanka, for having identified the need to conduct this course in Sri Lanka, DIG Fernando added.

CID, DIG C. L. Ratnayake addressing the FBI Experts and the participants said that it is a privilege to participate with the FBI team as the FBI is one of the best investigators in the world.

"Obtain the maximum benefit of this course to improve the knowledge about the international methods to control crimes. Learning from the FBI expert is very essential, "you all are very fortunate," DIG Ratnayake said and added that "you all must become professional in crime detection".

A member of the expert FBI team said that it is very vital the participants who complete this course should develop a similar course so that the knowledge they have gained could be given to other officers who have not had the opportunity to participate in this program. 

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