In South Africa, it is of great concern that the first people to arrive at a crime scene are often not qualified to investigate the crime scene. The DNA Project accordingly advocates that the SA public should and must familiarise themselves with the proper procedure when securing a crime scene in order to ensure proper identification, preservation, and collection of biological evidence that could render a criminal’s DNA profile. An Investigating Officer has only one chance to collect proper evidence at a crime scene, and this job is regularly thwarted by the destruction of a crime scene due to the negligence and /or ignorance of all or some of the public, emergency services, private security guards and lower level police officers, who arrive at the crime scene before the Investigating Officer has a chance to uplift evidence.

Evidence not identified at the crime scene loses its value due to degradation and/or destruction caused by factors such as the environment, or contamination of the crime scene. The failure to collect evidence as well as evidence not collected under the correct protocols, may render erroneous results, if in any facts at all!

Whilst it is alarming and horrendous that there exists a need in SA to have to educate people on what to do in the event of a crime, whether they are a victim themselves or come across a crime scene,  the following information may ensure that the criminal is brought to justice through the proper collection of evidence.

Remember that Knowledge is power and Empowering…