RVIPF’s Detective Sergeant Wendell Ballantyne and Detective Constable Lesroy Simmons, proudly show their Forensic Crime Scene Certifications. Present were the Executive Director of the International Crime Scene Investigators Association Hayden Baldwin (middle) and Head of the RVIPF SOC Inspector Ashley Barrows (right). Photo: RVIPF

Officers of RVIPF’s Senior Management Team flank Detective Sergeant Wendell Ballantyne and Detective Constable Lesroy Simmons who proudly show their Forensic Crime Scene Certifications. Photo: RVIPF

Detective Sergeant Wendell Ballantyne and Detective Constable Lesroy Simmons both applied and received their professional certifications from the International Crime Scene Investigators Association (ICSIA).

Head of the RVIPF Scenes of Crime Unit Inspector Ashley Barrow noted that professional certification of Scenes of Crime staff is a requirement of all modern SOC Units.  “It is at the cornerstone of professionalising any SOC department and is essential in giving reassurance to the criminal justice system that SOC officers are competent as assessed by both their peers and an independent professional certification body,” he noted.

Inspector Barrows also noted that crime scene processing is multidiscipline requiring that professionals in the field have a working knowledge of all the disciplines in forensic science and applying that knowledge to document the crime scene, giving both the physical and testimonial evidence left at the scene.

In preparation for certification, each scene of crime officer had to submit four actual crime scene cases complete with photographs, list of evidence and a comprehensive report of the scene including detailed drawings. Candidates with successful submissions had to then pass a three-hour written exam, followed by a one-hour mock crime scene exam, a macro photography assignment and process three crime scenes before they are given the recognised certification.

The Forensic Crime Scene Certification is valid for five years.