NATIONAL FORENSIC SCIENCE AND BIOMETRICS DEPARTMENT
“To provide quality forensic science and biometric services to Law Enforcement Agencies and State Institutions in order to enhance the carriage of justice in Zambia.”
“To be the leading forensic facility in the provision of quality forensic services in Zambia.”
- Integrity
- Excellence
- Collaboration
- Innovation
- Impartiality
- Accountability
- Commitment
“Service with Integrity”
About the NFSBD
- Legislation & Mandate – National Forensic Act no.2 of 2020
The National Forensic Act No.2 of 2020 established, under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security the National Forensic Science and Biometrics Department. The mandate of the Department is the provision of forensic science and biometric services to Law Enforcement Agencies and State Institutions.
- Functions of the Department
The functions of the Department are to:
- Analyse forensic samples for a State Institution;
- Provide forensic science and biometric services to law enforcement agencies;
- Offer training in the collection, packaging, transportation, preservation, and the chain of custody of forensic evidence to law enforcement agencies, medical personnel and any other person that collects forensic evidence for examination;
- Develop and validate biometric systems for forensic investigations;
- Manage crime scenes in collaboration with the responsible law enforcement agency;
- Conduct research in the field of forensic science; and promote public awareness on forensic science investigations.
DIRECTORATES
Forensic Scientists will analyse biological samples from crime scenes to link the suspect to the crime.
- DNA
- Genetic DNA analysis used in various cases, but most importantly rape and GBV cases to identify the suspect.
- Serology
- The study of Biological fluids / material / stain identification (semen, sweat, blood, saliva etc.), and source determination (human or animal).
- Entomology
- The study of insects infesting a dead body to determine time of death.
Forensic Scientists will analyse various chemical substances to determine their identity in order to solve crimes.
- Physical Chemistry
- The analytical study of chemical substances which could be easily misidentified (e.g. any white powder vs cocaine OR a clear liquid vs ethanol)
- Forensic Drug Testing
- Toxicology
- Analysis of biological samples for the presence of toxins or drugs (e.g. death by poison, drug-induced sexual assault cases, drug overdose and intoxication).
Forensic Scientists will use the science of physics to analyse carious evidential materials from crime scenes to solve crimes and link suspects to the crime.
- Questioned Documents
- Analysis of questioned documents in cases of forgery or duplication.
- Friction Ridge (Fingerprints)
- Review of latent prints (finger, shoes marks etc.) left at crime scenes in order to connect the suspect to the crime.
- Firearm & Toolmark
- The analysis of firearms and ammunition (e.g. matching bullets to a crime scene or victim, matching firearms to their owners, identifying the type of firearm or ammunition used in a crime scene).
The analysis of the causes of arson.
Forensic Scientists will apply their technical expertise in investigations to extract, preserve and analyse evidence from digital devices to be used in the court of law to solve crimes.
- Digital and Multimedia
- Recovery and processing of digital evidence found on various devices (e.g. Phones, Laptops, CCTV).
- The analysis of various forms of Multimedia (videos, audio etc.) to determine the source, authenticity, extract evidence etc.
- Current
- Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Distribution
- DNA Database – Convicts
- Future
- National Forensic Biometric Database
- National Firearms Database
- More Forensic Analysis Laboratories
- Provincial hubs across the major cities
- Radio
- TV
- Print Publications.
- Community Engagements
