The Processing of Forensic Investigative Leads in Criminal Investigations Conducted by the South African Police Service

Abstract

The adverse impact of crime undermines not only a nation’s peace and stability, but also the safety and security of its communities. Furthermore, crime affects a nation’s economy, its citizens’ standard of living, and its standing with prospective foreign investors and tourists. Forensic investigative leads (FILs) are crucial in the investigation and resolution of crime. The South African Police Service (SAPS) allocates significant resources to analyse exhibit materials and forensic databases containing vital forensic biometric information. By conducting comparative searches in these databases, FILs are generated and communicated to detectives to facilitate investigation, detection and conviction. This article does an in-depth analysis of local and international literature, examines data from the CAS/ICDMS system and reports on qualitative interviews conducted with SAPS detectives, forensic examiners, and international forensic experts. It delineates the consequences of the underutilisation and an inadequate understanding of FILs on detection rates within the criminal justice system. The research not only identifies barriers to reporting and utilising FILs, but also recommends ways to enhance the regulatory framework, information technology systems, and detective training programmes within the SAPS. Emphasising adherence to ISO standards to maintain FIL reliability during forensic examinations, the study underscores the resource constraints faced by detectives, which affect FIL utilisation and impede the desired outcomes in detection and conviction rates. The article proposes that the SAPS can overcome these challenges by prioritising resource allocation to detective forensic investigative units to enable them to follow up and investigate FILs.