Dubai police to digitalise forensic photography unit

In a bid to keep abreast with the ever developing world of sophisticated crime, Dubai Police is updating and digitalising its Forensic Photography unit, considered one of the best in the GCC.

Lt Col Jassim Rabia Alawadhi, Director of the Crime Scene Department at Dubai Police, told Gulf News that forensic photography plays a vital role in criminal investigation, providing essential evidence and clues to crime and helping in the investigation of a range of accidents.

Alawadhi added: "Criminal investigation basically depends on physical evidence, and forensic photography is very strong evidence used in the courts and by police to arrive at the truth."

Dubai Police's department and laboratories for forensic photography are equipped with the latest techniques, and are considered one of the best in the GCC and the Arab world, he said. Dubai Police was also among the first to use forensic photography in criminal investigation in the 60s.

"Many GCC and Arabic countries used our labs and asked for our experience in this field," said Alawadhi.

In order to specialise and remain at the top, Dubai Police has held advanced training courses for its personnel and sent many forensic photographers to prominent universities and institutions outside the country to obtain greater experience, he added.

Alawadhi said: "The investigator or the detective cannot explain an incident as explicitly as a photograph can or a video tape can. That's why this technology is considered so important." "The forensic photographer has to be tough, brave and courageous enough to face horrible, often gruesome scenes."

The forensic photographer has to be neutral, professional, adequate and secretive, shooting from all angles at the crime scene. He should also be prepared to be called on duty at any time of night or day and under any circumstance.

The official felt that both minor and serious accidents should be documented by forensic photographs. He felt the same way about fires, murder and theft.

The process of documenting evidence begins from as soon as possible after the crime takes place, he said, to ensure that clues have not been manipulated or moved.

In many cases, the criminal leaves behind some physical evidence or clue that leads to the resolution of the case. When the scene is covered meticulously from all angles, he said, it is possible to capture these clues on photograph and then document them.

"The forensic photographer should treat all assignments as important. Even what appears to be a minor road accident could develop later into something more serious," he said.

"The court considers documented clues as reliable and strong evidence, he said. "Judges in court, in most cases, ask if there are any photos or video tapes that can be considered during a trial." He recalled how forensic photography had helped in one incident.

"In a divorce case that went to court, a husband used photos against his ex-wife to prove her misbehaviour. The husband hired detectives to follow her every move, even when she travelled to her homeland, India. However, when the ex-wife sued her husband for harassment and invasion of privacy, Dubai courts considered the photos as evidence against the man," he added.