Crime Scene Management in Forensic Investigation: A Case Study of the Nigerian Police Force

Abstract

Research has shown that there is no perfect crime; or rather there is no crime without trace. That is why countries around the world have moved from reactive policing to proactive policing in a bid to reducing crime by apprehending and prosecuting criminals through evidence-based and result driven investigation. These they achieve through developing new techniques in forensics and crime scene management. In Nigeria the crime rate is on the increase, and most of the crimes are unresolved due to lack of evidence or in most cases innocent citizens are apprehended. These and other issues led the research on the topic, where issues of crime scene management in comparison with crime scene investigation in Nigeria, and the paper concludes that the bedrock of criminal investigation is based on proper crime scene management and that the problems bedeviling the Nigerian Police Force in investigation of crimes, is poor management of crime scene which is as a result of lack of motivation, adequate training, corruption and poor funding. These and other issues has led the Nigerian Police Force woefully fail in carry out their duties as stipulated in section 4 of the Police Act. The paper recommends the need for officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force to be adequately trained in crime scene management, trained in physical evidence to look out for in a crime scene that will aid forensic investigation and untrained officers should not be allowed to investigate crimes that require an expert to investigate. In carrying out research on the topic, the researchers adopted doctrinal method of research.