The European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) was founded in 1995 in order to facilitate dialogue among the

forensic science Forensic science, also known as criminalistics, is the application of science to criminal and civil laws, mainly—on the criminal side—during criminal investigation, as governed by the legal standards of admissible evidence and criminal ...

practitioners of

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...

, as well as improving the quality of forensic science delivery. It has close cooperation with European police forces. In addition to quality, research, and education, different forensic disciplines address domain-relevant issues within

expert An expert is somebody who has a broad and deep understanding and competence in terms of knowledge, skill and experience through practice and education in a particular field. Informally, an expert is someone widely recognized as a reliable s ...

working groups A working group, or working party, is a group of experts working together to achieve specified goals. The groups are domain-specific and focus on discussion or activity around a specific subject area. The term can sometimes refer to an interdis ...

(EWGs) to the highest degree such that ENFSI is recognized as the monopoly organization for forensics science by the

European Commission The European Commission (EC) is the executive of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with 27 members of the Commission (informally known as "Commissioners") headed by a President. It includes an administrative body o ...

. ENFSI functions as a

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

. The number of member laboratories has increased since ENFSI's inception from 11 member

laboratories A laboratory (; ; colloquially lab) is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific or technological research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. Laboratory services are provided in a variety of settings: physicia ...

in 1993 to 71 in 2019. , membership comes from 39 countries spread across Europe. Non-European laboratories are also permitted to be involved in ENFSI as 'Associate' member laboratories under a specific Expert Working Group.

History

Representatives from 11 governmental forensic laboratories in

Western Europe Western Europe is the western region of Europe. The region's countries and territories vary depending on context. The concept of "the West" appeared in Europe in juxtaposition to "the East" and originally applied to the ancient Mediterranean ...

attended a preliminary meeting in 1993 in

Rijswijk, Netherlands Rijswijk (), formerly known as Ryswick ( ) in English, is a city and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. Its population was in , and it has an area of , of which is water. The municipality also includes t ...

. The official founding meeting occurred on

October 20 Events Pre-1600 *1568 – The Spanish Duke of Alba defeats a Dutch rebel force under William the Silent. * 1572 – Eighty Years' War: Three thousand Spanish soldiers wade through fifteen miles of water in one night to effect the rel ...

, 1995 in Rijswijk and was open to all European countries. A memorandum of understanding was signed which governed its operation. The first

constitution A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organisation or other type of Legal entity, entity and commonly determine how that entity is to be governed. When ...

for ENFSI was accepted by the membership in 1999, and the ENFSI

website A website (also written as a web site) is a collection of web pages and related content that is identified by a common domain name and published on at least one web server. Examples of notable websites are Google Search, Google, Facebook, Amaz ...

was created. A new constitution was approved in 2004 when personal membership was discontinued in favour of an institutional membership, and membership fees were enacted. The European Commission recognised ENFSI in 2009 and in 2015 at the decision was made to move the

secretariat Secretariat may refer to: * Secretariat (administrative office) * Secretariat (horse) Secretariat (March 30, 1970 – October 4, 1989), also known as Big Red, was a champion American thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse who is the ninth winne ...

from the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

Structure

ENFSI is governed by an executive branch consisting of a five-member Board and a Secretariat. There are also two standing committees or advisory groups; one for Quality & Competency, and another for Research & Development. Individual forensic disciplines are represented by various Expert Working Groups.

Board and Secretariat

The ENFSI

Board Board or Boards may refer to: Flat surface * Lumber, or other rigid material, milled or sawn flat ** Plank (wood) ** Cutting board ** Sounding board, of a musical instrument * Cardboard (paper product) * Paperboard * Fiberboard ** Hardboard, a ty ...

governs the activities of the organization and consists of five members elected from, and accountable to, the general membership. The Board consists of a chairperson, a treasurer, and various members. The ENFSI

Secretariat Secretariat may refer to: * Secretariat (administrative office) * Secretariat (horse) Secretariat (March 30, 1970 – October 4, 1989), also known as Big Red, was a champion American thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse who is the ninth winne ...

is accountable to and operates under the supervision of the Board to provide support for ENFSI activities. It is hosted by the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) in

Wiesbaden, Germany Wiesbaden () is a city in central western Germany and the capital of the state of Hesse. , it had 290,955 inhabitants, plus approximately 21,000 United States citizens (mostly associated with the United States Army). The Wiesbaden urban area ...

, with two persons serving in that capacity.

Standing committees

ENFSI has two Standing Committees. These are the Quality & Competence Committee (QCC), and the Research & Development Committee (R&D). The QCC is responsible for policy development relating to Quality Assurance and Competence Assurance, the provision of advise to Expert Working Groups as well as ENFSI members, and assisting member laboratories. The RDSC is responsible for ENFSI’s Research and Development Strategy, the provision of advice to Expert Working Groups and ENFSI members, facilitation of joint research between laboratories, and facilitation of education and training courses in specialised areas.

Membership

General membership in ENFSI is open to European forensic science institutes and agencies that meet specific criteria. Membership is not based on the individual practitioner but rather by institution or agency. There are, however, a limited number of honorary memberships that have been granted to individuals deemed noteworthy. Membership with ENFSI (in a non-voting capacity) is also available to non-ENFSI institutions, in Europe or elsewhere, through Associate Membership with a given Expert Working Group, so long as the institution meets specific criteria. Permanent and Associate member agencies pay annual dues to ENFSI.

Expert Working Groups

ENFSI has seventeen Expert Working Groups (EWGs) actively collaborating on furthering their respective disciplines: *Animal, Plant and Soil Traces (APST) *Digital Imaging (DIWG) * DNA - Advances in DNA profiling techniques are disseminated to each country with th
European DNA Profiling Group
(EDNAP), which was set up in 1988. *

Documents A document is a writing, written, drawing, drawn, presented, or memorialized representation of thought, often the manifestation of nonfiction, non-fictional, as well as fictional, content. The word originates from the Latin ''Documentum'', w ...

(EDEWG) *

Drugs A drug is any chemical substance that causes a change in an organism's physiology or psychology when consumed. Drugs are typically distinguished from food and substances that provide nutritional support. Consumption of drugs can be via inhalat ...

(DWG) *Explosives (FINEX) *

Fingerprint A fingerprint is an impression left by the friction ridges of a human finger. The recovery of partial fingerprints from a crime scene is an important method of forensic science. Moisture and grease on a finger result in fingerprints on surfac ...

(EFP-WG) *

Firearms A firearm is any type of gun designed to be readily carried and used by an individual. The term is legally defined further in different countries (see Legal definitions). The first firearms originated in 10th-century China, when bamboo tubes c ...

Gunshot residue Gunshot residue (GSR), also known as cartridge discharge residue (CDR), gunfire residue (GFR), or firearm discharge residue (FDR), consists of all of the particles that are expelled from the muzzle of a gun following the discharge of a bullet. It ...

(FAID/GSR) *

Fire Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material (the fuel) in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction Product (chemistry), products. At a certain point in the combustion reaction, called the ignition ...

and Explosions Investigation (FEIWG) *Forensic Information Technology (FIT) *Forensic Speech and Audio Analysis (FSAAWG) *

Handwriting Handwriting is the writing done with a writing instrument, such as a pen or pencil, in the hand. Handwriting includes both printing and cursive styles and is separate from formal calligraphy or typeface A typeface (or font family) is ...

(ENFHEX) *Marks *Paint & Glass (EPGWG) *Road Accident Analysis (RAAEWG) *Scene of Crime *Textile and Hair (ETHG)

Projects and activities

ENFSI collaborates with many institutions and agencies (both national and international in scope), including the following: * ENFSI collaborated with the French Institut National de Police Scientifique (INPS) in 2011 to establish a European database of ink dyes and stained banknotes. * Another joint project with the

European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) is an agency of the European Union located in Lisbon, Portugal, and established in 1993. In June 2022, the Council of the European Union approved a reform of the organization w ...

(EMCDDA) and the Customs Laboratories European Network (CLEN) is a database for

controlled substances A controlled substance is generally a drug or chemical whose manufacture, possession and use is regulated by a government, such as illicitly used drugs or prescription medications that are designated by law. Some treaties, notably the Single C ...

using

nuclear magnetic resonance Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a physical phenomenon in which nuclei in a strong constant magnetic field are perturbed by a weak oscillating magnetic field (in the near field) and respond by producing an electromagnetic signal with a ...

(NMW) imaging. * In 2015, ENFSI concluded a memorandum of understanding with Europol, the European Union’s law enforcement agency, which permits the "exchange of knowledge and expertise, underpinning the need for enhanced cooperation in the area of forensic science in the fight against crime." * In 2020, the

awarded funding to the ENFSI Secretariat in support of, among other things, ENFSI activities and initiatives with that funding administered by the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs. Another key activity involves competency assessment and quality assurance. Each of the working groups develops and implements annual tests, usually called collaborative exercises or proficiency tests. ENFSI also “urges all its members to seek

accreditation Accreditation is the independent, third-party evaluation of a conformity assessment body (such as certification body, inspection body or laboratory) against recognised standards, conveying formal demonstration of its impartiality and competence to ...

.” The organization's official policy states “All ENFSI member laboratories should have achieved or should be taking steps towards

ISO/IEC 17025 ISO/IEC 17025 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories is the main ISO/IEC standard used by testing and calibration laboratories. In most countries, ISO/IEC 17025 is the standard for which most labs must ho ...

compliant accreditation for their laboratory testing activities.” In 2007 around 40% of the laboratories affiliated with the ENFSI were accredited and the figure was nearly 70% in 2011. Many of the above activities are integral to the

Council of the European Union The Council of the European Union, often referred to in the treaties and other official documents simply as the Council, and informally known as the Council of Ministers, is the third of the seven Institutions of the European Union (EU) as ...

's attempts to standardize the practise of forensic science throughout Europe. This falls under the European Forensic Science Area program (aka, EFSA 2020). It works with the

European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training CEPOL, or the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training, is an agency of the European Union dedicated to training law enforcement officials. The institution was founded in 2000 and adopted its current legal mandate on 1 July 2016. It is ...

(CEPOL). It organises events and conferences, and promotes collaboration between research across Europe and internationally. The European Document Experts Working Group (EDEWG) is actively investigating the use of

artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence (AI) is intelligence—perceiving, synthesizing, and inferring information—demonstrated by machines, as opposed to intelligence displayed by animals and humans. Example tasks in which this is done include speech re ...

in document examination problems.

Best Practice Manuals (BPMs)

One of the activities that the working groups perform is to devise best practice manuals (BMPs) to carry out detailed analyses by each discipline. # On 2018-01-18, the Digital Imaging Working Group published the ''Best Practice Manual for Facial Image Comparison'' which discusses Human-based 1:1, or 1:many, facial image comparisons. # On 2022-12-22, the Firearms/GSR Working Group released the first version of the ''Best Practice Manual for the Forensic Examination of Inorganic Gunshot Residue by SEM/EDS'' which discusses the analysis of inorganic gunshot residue (GSR) using scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM/EDS).

Forensic Guidelines

ENFSI has published various guidelines intended for laboratories and practitioners., including the following: # On 2015-03-08, ENFSI published their ''Guideline For Evaluative Reporting'' aiming to “... to standardise and improve evaluative reporting in ENFSI laboratories.” To that end, the guideline “... provides all reporting forensic practitioners with a recommended framework for formulating evaluative reports and related requirements for the case file.” # On 2023-02-02, the Digital Imaging Working Group published the ''Guideline for Facial Recognition System End Users'' which discusses the examination of face images through automated facial recognition systems with the scope being "...specific to retrospective 1:N identification searches for law enforcement, investigatory and forensic applications." As such, the document does not address such things as "...live (real time) FR, border control and access to secure sites...", or "Human 1:1 facial image comparison...".

Triennial European Academy of Forensic Science Conference

Every three years, the European Academy of Forensic Science (EAFS) Conference is held under the patronage of ENFSI. Th
2022 conference
was held in Stockholm, Sweden.

Honours

In 2018, the Distinguished Forensic Scientist Award was given to the first female recipient,

Niamh Nic Daéid Niamh Nic Daéid is an Irish forensic scientist, and the Professor of Forensic Science and Director of Research at the University of Dundee. She earned a bachelor's degree in Chemistry and Mathematics from the Dublin Institute of Technology a ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:European Network of Forensic Science Institutes Non-profit organizations based in Europe Forensic science Organizations established in 1995 Forensics organizations International scientific organizations based in Europe Research and development in Europe Law enforcement in Europe International medical associations of Europe Rijswijk de:European Network of Forensic Science Institutes