Challenges Faced by Police Officers in Forensic Criminal Investigation A Case Study of District Peshawar, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa

Abstract

Forensic science plays a crucial role as a component in the criminal justice system. During criminal investigation, forensic labs are one of the key stakeholders which maintain the chain of custody of the physical evidence collected from the crime scene which need to be examined scientifically by forensic expert to provide testimony before the court. Forensic science is essential because no one can deny from their DNA, fingerprints impression, audio, video examination etc. This study aims to know about the problems police officials are facing in Forensic Criminal Investigation in district Peshawar. Investigation officers around the world are facing problems in forensic investigation in which the most crucial is the damaging the physical evidences on crime scene by the people before the arrival of investigation officers which eventually disturb the forensic examination process. Pakistan is not an exception in this regard. Police experiences problems in proper preservation of physical evidences from crime scene and its transportation to forensic lab; DNA records; lack of DNA labs; etc. which create hurdles in maintaining the criminal case with respect to forensics. A quantitative research was carried out by using 50 sample size of male Police Investigation officers through convenience sampling technique and data was collected through interview schedule. Research findings shows that investigation officers were facing numerous problems in conducting forensic criminal investigation in district Peshawar like problems in forensic training on crime scene; untrained investigator were damaging the physical evidence; lack of Crime Scene Mobile Van. Furthermore it was founded that DNA lab at Khyber Medical College (KMC) was not properly operational and Police were facing problems in coordination from other agencies like NADRA and KMC. This study recommends for the provision of crime scene mobile van to the investigators, creation of forensic training schools, and establishment of Forensic and DNA lab which is important to maintain the proper flow of forensic criminal investigation.