Our professionals will also participate in some special investigations, such as analyzing the blood spatter pattern at the crime scene. The chemistry department is responsible for handling various types of cases, especially crimes against people and property. This group of work can be roughly divided into three categories:
1. Exploration of Trace Evidence
2. Various chemical analysis
3. Fire scene investigation
In addition to handling the work of the laboratory, the professionals in this group will also be called to the fire site with suspicious fire causes to conduct on-site investigation and determine the cause of the fire.
Generally speaking, the analysis of chemical substances and alcohol content mainly adopts direct analysis method. However, the test of micro-contact evidence is relatively difficult and requires a lot of human resources. This work includes the inspection of trace substances such as clothing fiber, glass, lacquer oil and soil. Although the examination of micro-contact evidence will consume a lot of manpower and working time, the examination results often play an important role in the investigation of serious criminal cases, thus affirming the dedication and commitment of employees to this work. Established:
In early 2000, the Legislative Council proposed to amend three security ordinances, namely, the Dangerous Drugs, Independent Commission Against Corruption and Police Force (Amendment) Ordinance 2000. This motion was passed into law in June 2000 after more than 20 rounds of deliberation by members of the Legislative Council. The Dangerous Drugs, Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Police Force (Amendment) Ordinance 2000 stipulates that the Hong Kong Government Laboratory shall, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, set up a DNA database for persons convicted of serious arrestable crimes.
Scope of responsibilities:
The DNA database was established in the Hong Kong Government Laboratory from 5 June to 10, 2000. Its main task is to analyze the samples of convicted persons, suspects and volunteers who have committed serious arrestable crimes in order to establish, manage and maintain a computerized DNA database.
The criminal's DNA database is suitable for proofreading with unresolved data. The unresolved data are provided by the biochemical group, and the analytical techniques used by the biochemical group and the database group must be consistent to ensure the compatibility and comparability of the data.
DNA database has specific requirements for computer equipment, especially software, to ensure effective management. The team successfully adopted the software program of DNA indexing system (CODIS) developed by the FBI, and established a local DNA database. The system closely combines forensic medicine with computer technology and applies electronic DNA proofreading technology, which has become an effective tool to solve crimes.
Another major responsibility of the DNA Database Unit is to assist other law enforcement departments and the Security Bureau to implement the Ordinance smoothly and successfully. Therefore, it is necessary to set up a working group composed of representatives of the police, the Independent Commission Against Corruption and government laboratories to raise issues related to computers and statistics, equipment and tools, training and monitoring, and internal standards. A review group and a steering group composed of representatives from the above departments and the Security Bureau will monitor the progress of these working groups. The relevant (amendment) regulations came into effect on July 1 2006. The main task of the paternity test team is to use genetic testing to help verify the paternity claimed by the applicant in immigration cases.
The service target of the paternity test team is those who claim the right of abode and apply for a certificate of entitlement according to paragraph 2(c) of Schedule/KLOC-0 to the Immigration Ordinance. Applicants are required to apply for a certificate of entitlement in the manner specified by the Director of Immigration in a notice published in the Gazette under paragraph 2AB(2) of the Immigration Ordinance. As the evidence submitted by some applicants is insufficient to prove their parents' identity, the Hong Kong SAR amended the Immigration Ordinance to empower the Director of Immigration to require applicants and their claimed parents to undergo specified genetic tests to assist in the examination and approval of applications for certificates of entitlement. The Immigration (Amendment) Ordinance 200 1 came into effect in July 20001. The Director of Immigration published a notice in the Gazette specifying the procedures for genetic testing and designated the Hong Kong Government Laboratory to be responsible for this test.
Apart from assisting in the processing of applications for certificates of entitlement, other entry applications requiring verification of paternity are handled by the paternity test team.
The paternity test group used short tandem repeat (STR)DNA analysis technology based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Due to the high sensitivity of polymerase chain reaction, enough DNA samples can be extracted for analysis by collecting epidermal cells in oral cavity with cotton swabs. The paternity test group used 15 short tandem repeats in routine detection. Statistically, the probability of excluding irrelevant personnel by this technology is greater than 0.9999. The main function of physics group is to provide comprehensive physical testing services for other government departments. The scope of detection includes traffic accident reorganization related to the case, tire inspection, serial number recovery, counterfeit commodity identification, shoe print analysis, etc.
Traffic accident reorganization is to use different scientific fields such as mathematics, physics, automobile engineering and field investigation technology to find the cause of traffic accidents. Forensic examination of tires helps to find out whether the accident was caused by tire deflation or collision, thus providing useful information for further investigation. The recovery of automobile serial number is to identify whether the body and engine number have been changed, and restore the original number if possible. Identification of counterfeit goods refers to the use of scientific instruments to identify the authenticity of precious metals, gems and coins circulating in Hong Kong. At the same time, the team also handled a large number of cases related to theft, including preserving or matching traces of articles and shoe prints.
In addition, the Physics Section also provides consultancy services to provide professional advice to the police and other government departments on traffic accident investigation. The main purpose of this service is to provide impartial expert advice to the court in order to enforce relevant laws. Another task of the team is to provide training courses on accident investigation and traffic accident reorganization to relevant law enforcement units. Students can grasp the latest development from the course. Subordinate three groups:
1. Field investigation team
2. Quality management team
3. Training groups
Field investigation team:
The on-site investigation team provides 24-hour on-site investigation service for the police and other law enforcement departments. This service is carried out by a group of scientific forensic officials, who are subordinate to the professional service director of the laboratory. They all have many years of laboratory work experience and have been specially trained to become professionals in crime scene investigation.
In various countries, it is rare for laboratory staff to participate extensively in the collection of evidence at the crime scene. However, after years of practice in Hong Kong, it is considered that this system is superior and can ensure the quality of on-site investigation and evidence collection. Because the crime evidence at the scene is easily destroyed and lost if it is not handled properly or preserved properly, it will get twice the result with half the effort if qualified and experienced laboratory personnel conduct on-site investigation.
Scientific evidence collectors will investigate the general crime scene, in other words, they will appear in most crime scenes. However, some on-site investigations need specially trained professionals, such as traffic accident reorganization, reappearance of changed car numbers, fire investigation, blood spatter trace analysis, and drug-making scene. All the above-mentioned field investigations were conducted by colleagues in relevant groups. When necessary, the director of scientific verification will work with professionals to carry out exploration work.
In 2007, scientific forensic officials and professionals investigated 329 general crime scenes, 34 fire scenes, 123 traffic accidents/vehicles-related scenes, 8 scenes requiring blood spatter analysis and 2 1 drug scenes, and investigated 5 15 cases.
In addition to the duties of on-site investigation, the director of scientific forensic medicine also needs to write on-site investigation reports, study and introduce new on-site investigation techniques, and provide training for the disciplinary personnel of police and other departments.
Every successful forensic investigation begins with a professional on-site investigation. The employees in the team are very devoted to each site, often work overtime and perform tasks in the harsh site environment, which reflects their professionalism.
Quality management team:
The team is responsible for implementing and developing the quality management system of the government laboratory forensic affairs department according to the provisions of ASCLD/LAB certification and internationally recognized good laboratory measures.
The Quality Control Committee of Forensic Affairs Department is composed of Assistant Government Chemist of Forensic Affairs Department, two Chief Chemists of Forensic Affairs Department and the Senior Chemist of this group (the latter is also called Quality Control Manager of Forensic Affairs Department). Under the supervision of the Committee, the Section provides quality assurance guidelines to all forensic departments and assists them in implementing relevant measures, such as updating quality and training manuals. The Group also conducts annual quality audits and regularly reviews the entire quality system. The Department of Forensic Medicine has a group of quality auditors recognized by the American Association of Crime and Evidence Laboratory Directors, plus internal trained quality auditors, which make great contributions to the quality audit every year.
In order to ensure that the services provided by government laboratories meet the quality requirements certified by the American Association of Crime and Evidence Laboratory Directors, especially in terms of comparability and traceability between laboratories, this section is responsible for assisting all departments of the Forensic Affairs Department to hold internal verification ability tests on a regular basis and arranging to participate in international verification ability tests.
Training team:
The training team aims to maintain an efficient professional team and help achieve the development goals of the department. The training group also provides employees with different forms of learning opportunities, creating an environment conducive to the growth of employees and a culture of continuous learning.
In addition, in order to enable the industry to have a deeper understanding of the services provided by the department and thus strengthen our partnership, the training team will help arrange to receive visitors from other departments and give lectures and presentations on the business of the department. The Controlled Drugs Section is responsible for testing articles suspected of being controlled by dangerous drugs, drugs and poisons, antibiotics or chemicals.
In terms of laboratory tests, the articles involved may be abused drugs seized from drug addicts, a large number of Chinese medicines seized from unlicensed clinics or unauthorized hawkers, and evidence seized from illegal drug manufacturing workshops. The main customers are the Pharmaceutical Affairs Department of the Hong Kong Police Force, the Customs and the Department of Health.
In order to eliminate possible mistakes in laboratory testing, the Section made every effort to improve laboratory technology and implemented strict audit procedures to ensure the highest accuracy. Each article will be systematically screened to see if it contains controlled drugs, and then its composition will be determined by infrared spectrum and/or mass spectrometry, and finally its content will be verified by chromatography or spectrum. All the results should be reviewed twice. The work scope of forensic toxicology group can be divided into three parts: toxicology analysis, urine analysis and drunk driving.
The Toxicology Analysis Unit is responsible for providing comprehensive drug or poison analysis services to the police, clinical pathologists (Hospital Authority) and forensic doctors (Department of Health) to handle criminal cases with suspicious deaths and involving drugs or poisons. The exhibits handled by this group are mainly biological samples such as blood, urine, stomach contents and liver. Toxicological evidence found at the crime scene, such as poison and drugs, will also be submitted for testing.
The work of the urine analysis team includes regularly collecting urine samples of drug addicts receiving methadone treatment. In addition, the group is also responsible for urine analysis of drug addicts (mainly teenagers) and criminals living under surveillance to monitor whether their urine contains opium or non-opium drugs. The urine analysis team provides services to the Department of Health, Social Welfare Department, Hospital Authority, Correctional Services Department, Police Force and other drug rehabilitation institutions.
In line with the government's amendment to the Road Traffic Ordinance, the Drunk Driving Unit was established in December 1995. According to the regulations revised on 1999 1 October1day, anyone who breathes more than 22 micrograms of alcohol per 100 ml (equivalent to 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 ml of blood or 60 milligrams per 100 ml of urine). When the police conduct a breath test, if the test subject's breath contains 22 to 37 micrograms of alcohol per 100 ml, he can request that blood or urine samples be tested for alcohol instead of breath test results, and these samples will be submitted to the drunk driving team for analysis. The above three groups also provide professional advice on toxicology and pharmacology of drugs and alcohol to courts and other clients. The document authentication section provides comprehensive document authentication services for the judicial and law enforcement departments in Hong Kong, such as handwriting authentication, signature authentication and typing, checking altered documents, and authenticating documents, such as identity cards, credit cards and passports.
The team promises that 80% of handwriting analysis cases can be completed within 66 days and 80% of suspicious documents can be completed within 33 days. Most of the workload of the Documents Division comes from the Hong Kong Police Force, and the rest comes from the Immigration Department, the Independent Commission Against Corruption and other organizations.
In the past ten years, this group has done a lot of research and published many papers on Chinese handwriting identification, and is recognized as a leader in the field of Chinese handwriting analysis.