Laboratory & Forensics

The North Rhine-Westphalia police employ chemical-technical assistants, biological-technical assistants or chemical technicians at clerk level in the botany department. They are responsible for processing incoming investigation requests in the field of "botany, traces of soil" (e.g. soil, plant material, anthropogenic components, building materials). They carry out practical forensic work such as handling evidence, searching for and removing traces, including the smallest micro-traces, and then handle these under the microscope.

Botanists carry out independent analytical investigations to determine substances using microscopic and instrument-assisted methods (DTA, FT-IR) and calibrate testing equipment. They characterize and classify colors and particle sizes. Finally, they are responsible for quality management-compliant documentation of all test steps and results.

Experts in the field of botany examine the investigation requests from police authorities, public prosecutors' offices and courts as well as the investigation material for completeness, proper securing and suitability for the investigation; if necessary, they carry out their own work at the crime scene if special expertise is required.

They prepare the investigation material for the scientific investigation using the latest scientific findings, create work concepts, determine investigation methods and work sequences, provide technical guidance to the employees of the sub-department and also coordinate with other experts on interdisciplinary issues.

They evaluate the findings and translate the scientific knowledge into forensically usable statements and interpret and evaluate these. They then draw up expert reports for the authorities and represent them in court.

Botanists take part in further training events, draw up work concepts and define investigation methods and work sequences.

They introduce quality assurance measures and maintain quality standards and further develop research methods taking into account the latest scientific findings.

In the field of biology, the North Rhine-Westphalia police employ biologists with doctorates as experts for DNA analysis. They are responsible for searching for, securing and analyzing traces of blood, secretions and tissue using serological, immunological and molecular biological methods - in particular STR DNA analysis and its documentation. You will carry out examinations to determine the type of trace using microscopic, chemical, serological and immunological methods. Database-based sample management systems are used.

The experts prepare expert reports and represent them in court.
They further develop conventional examination methods, taking into account the current state of scientific knowledge, and establish new methods where necessary. They also further develop the quality management system of the Forensic Science Institute.

The experts are also responsible for providing technical support, specialist advice and training to police officers with regard to targeted forensic measures and evaluation options.

Biological-technical assistants, chemical-technical assistants and chemical laboratory assistants work in the laboratory of the North Rhine-Westphalia Police.

In the "Narcotics" laboratory, chemical laboratory technicians and chemical-technical assistants process incoming requests for testing.
They process narcotics (BtM) samples, take traces and prepare samples.

Laboratory staff carry out analytical tests to detect BtM using wet-chemical, chromatographic and spectroscopic methods and prepare quality management-compliant documentation of all relevant test steps and results.

They are also involved in field work at crime scenes and seizure sites.

In the "DNA" laboratory, biological-technical assistants are responsible for searching for, securing and analyzing traces of blood, secretions and tissue using serological, immunological and molecular biological methods - in particular STR DNA analysis and its documentation.

You will carry out examinations to determine the type of trace using microscopic, chemical, serological and immunological methods. Your work will be carried out using database-based sample management systems.

They are also responsible for the extraction and purification of DNA from reference samples as well as blood and secretion traces and other body cells.

The biological-technical assistants use real-time quantification, the PCR method and forensic STR DNA analysis in the DNA laboratory with the aid of modern capillary sequencers.
They are also involved in the further development of the quality management system.

All work is carried out in a laboratory with a high sample throughput using automation techniques and LIMS.

In the laboratory for forensic textile science, botany, material, hair and soil traces, the biological-technical assistants process all incoming examination requests. They are responsible for searching for, securing, analyzing and preparing human and animal biological traces (hair traces, skin flakes, etc.) using microscopic, histological and, if necessary, serological methods. All relevant examination steps and results are documented in accordance with the applied quality management system.

The laboratory staff maintain and expand the department's own animal hair collection and support the further development of conventional analysis methods and, if necessary, help to establish new methods.

Chemists are employed by the North Rhine-Westphalia police in the areas of fire analysis and toxicology/narcotics. In the field of toxicology and narcotics, pharmacists can also be considered for the job.

Chemists in the field of toxicology and narcotics take samples from crime scenes and seize them. They then carry out analytical-chemical examinations of preparations suspected of containing narcotics, unknown substances and corresponding traces using instrumental-analytical examination methods (including GC, GC/MS, LC, LC/MS, NMR, FTIR, FTNIR, Raman) and evaluate these. They then evaluate the analysis results and use them to prepare an expert report, which they represent in court.

Furthermore, they are responsible for the further development of the laboratory organization and in a laboratory with a high sample throughput using automation technology and LIMS. Their tasks also include the further development of quality management and the further development of analytical-chemical test methods, taking into account the current state of science.

They also act as speakers at training events for members of the police force.

Chemists in the field of fire analysis are responsible for testing the safety and handling of unknown substances suspected of containing explosives. They carry out practical forensic work, i.e. handling evidence, taking traces of evidence relevant to the crime, e.g. the remains of unknown explosive and incendiary devices, substance samples, pyrotechnic kits, etc., and reconstructing and documenting means of crime.

They also work as operational support for the explosives/fire scene group and crime scene work on chemical issues.

Chemists synthesize small quantities of explosives and self-laboratories for training purposes and characterize blasting tests.

They work together with the explosives dog handlers of the NRW police.

In the field of fire analysis, they are responsible for carrying out and evaluating wet-chemical, instrumental-analytical (e.g. IC, XRD, IR) tests to analyze and classify explosives and their reaction products. They also carry out further training for members of the NRW police and other police authorities.

The field of dactyloscopy includes dactyloscopy, facial and speech recognition, sound carrier analysis and handwriting. The North Rhine-Westphalia police employ scientific forensic experts and photographers in the field of dactyloscopy.

Experts in dactyloscopy examine and evaluate dactyloscopic traces and comparative material and carry out dactyloscopic identity verification using comparative work (trace/person, trace/trace).

They identify the causes of traces through trace research in the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS), determine the research parameters themselves and decide independently on the proof of identity. The experts carry out dactyloscopic examinations in the laboratory and then draw up an official report and present it in court. They develop new examination methods or adapt current methods to the state of the art in science and technology. They are also responsible for advising and supporting police and judicial authorities. 

Handwriting experts are responsible for the independent, autonomous organization, management and execution of forensic examinations in the field of handwriting examinations. They examine requests for examinations from police authorities, public prosecutors' offices and courts as well as the examination material for completeness, proper safeguarding and suitability for the examinations.

They are also responsible for preparing the examination material for the forensic and scientific examination using the latest scientific findings, defining the examination steps, further developing and standardizing examination methods, creating work concepts and work sequences, identifying interdisciplinary examination requirements and coordinating with other experts from other specialist areas.

• Experts carry out examinations using optical and physical methods and use the necessary examination equipment.
• They are also responsible for evaluating and interpreting the findings and translating scientific knowledge into forensically usable statements. They are then responsible for drawing up an official report on handwriting and submitting and representing this report to the police authorities, the public prosecutor's office and in court.
• They develop investigation methods or adapt the repertoire of methods to the latest technical and scientific knowledge and to the requirements of the individual case.
• They participate in further training events and represent the North Rhine-Westphalia Police in project and working groups at state and national level as well as at international symposia.

Photographers work independently in the dactyloscopic laboratory. They produce and edit photos using digital technology as part of dactyloscopic evidence photography. Their tasks also include taking special macro photographs and converting them into true-to-scale images. They are responsible for the evaluation and classification of dactyloscopic evidence and for the preparation of expert reports. They also manage processes in the laboratory-integrated management system for analytics (LISA).

Photographers are involved in quality management in accordance with the DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 standard as well as in LKA knowledge management and police training. They also maintain and service the technical equipment.