Theme of MP2011 programme was “Improving Forensic Methodologies across Europe” (IFMAE). The EC allocated € 650.000 for ENFSI to spend on 5 projects listed below.

 

The overall project MP2011 ran over a period of 36 months and involved 17 participating organisations (mainly European forensic institutes). Furthermore, the project aimed on working closely with other organisations: ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation), EA (European Cooperation for Accreditation), National Accreditation Bodies, Eurachem, judges, prosecutors, lawyers and police officers.

 

Project Code: Z1

Title: Dating of questioned documents by resins and binders in ballpoint ink entries.

Allocated Budget: €158,591.60

Project Leader: Fritz Koehler (BKA, Wiesbaden – Germany)

The aim of the project was the development of new methodology for document examiners based on resins/binders offering the possibility to elongate the dating time range of questioned documents.

 

Project Code: Z2

Title: The development of an internet accessible database on textile fibres.

Allocated Budget: €91,024.32

Project Leader: Kornelia Nehse (LKA, Berlin – Germany)

The project intended to set up an internet accessible database and information platform on textile fibres to help the Forensic Fibres Community to identify common and rare fibre types more easily under defined conditions all over Europe. It also offered background knowledge to support and assist the investigation process. The goal was to promote the quality of results and to speed up the access to information during investigation.

 

Project Code: Z3

Title: Methodological guidelines for semi-automatic and automatic speaker recognition for case assessment and interpretation.

Allocated Budget: €128,651.00

Project Leader: Andrzej Drygajlo (EPFL, Lausanne – Switzerland)

This project aimed at the development of universal methodology, to be used for any specific data, providing a coherent way of assessing and presenting recorded speech as scientific evidence and assisting investigative capacity of forensic scientists, so called “data-driven methodology”. The work should create guidelines for the calculation of the evidence and its assessment taking into account the models of the within-source variability of the suspected speaker, the between-sources variability of the relevant population and between-session variability given the questioned recording.

 

Project Code:Z4

Title: International cooperation for testing, validation and application of ink dating methods.

Allocated Budget: €52,842.00

Project Leader: Juergen Buegler (BLKA, Munich – Germany)

The aim of this project was to joint effort of several state laboratories to improve and harmonize their chemical analytical methods for ink dating using the individual experience and materials present in each lab.

 

Project Code: Z5

Title: Standardization of forensic image and video enhancement (S-Five)

Allocated Budget: €115,988.00

Project Leader: Patrick De Smet (INCC, Brussels – Belgium)

This project studied various issues related to forensic image and video enhancement techniques that are used for improving the quality of surveillance video data and other types of images that portray persons and objects at the macroscopic level.

The goal of the project was to engender transparency for scientific assessment, a high standard in forensic investigation and the harmonization of forensic investigative methods for firearms crime throughout Europe.