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

forensic science Forensic science combines principles of law and science to investigate criminal activity. Through crime scene investigations and laboratory analysis, forensic scientists are able to link suspects to evidence. An example is determining the time and ...

practitioners of

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

, 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 or area of study. Informally, an expert is someone widely recognized ...

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

(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 primary Executive (government), executive arm of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with a number of European Commissioner, members of the Commission (directorial system, informall ...

. ENFSI functions as a

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

. 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 science, scientific or technological research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. Laboratories are found in a variety of settings such as s ...

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 extent varies depending on context. The concept of "the West" appeared in Europe in juxtaposition to "the East" and originally applied to the Western half of the ancient Mediterranean ...

attended a preliminary meeting in 1993 in Rijswijk, Netherlands. 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 r ...

, 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, organization or other type of entity, and commonly determines how that entity is to be governed. When these pri ...

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

website A website (also written as a web site) is any web page whose content is identified by a common domain name and is published on at least one web server. Websites are typically dedicated to a particular topic or purpose, such as news, educatio ...

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 was the ninth winn ...

from

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

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 ...

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 was the ninth winn ...

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 the capital of the German state of Hesse, and the second-largest Hessian city after Frankfurt am Main. With around 283,000 inhabitants, it is Germany's 24th-largest city. Wiesbaden forms a conurbation with a population of aro ...

, 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 Deoxyribonucleic acid (; DNA) is a polymer composed of two polynucleotide chains that coil around each other to form a double helix. The polymer carries genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of al ...

- 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 written, drawn, presented, or memorialized representation of thought, often the manifestation of non-fictional, as well as fictional, content. The word originates from the Latin ', which denotes a "teaching" or "lesson": ...

(EDEWG) *

Drugs A drug is any chemical substance other than a nutrient or an essential dietary ingredient, which, when administered to a living organism, produces a biological effect. Consumption of drugs can be via inhalation, injection, smoking, ingestio ...

(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 surfa ...

(EFP-WG) *

Firearms A firearm is any type of gun that uses an explosive charge and is designed to be readily carried and operated by an individual. The term is legally defined further in different countries (see legal definitions). The first firearms originated ...

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. ...

(FAID/GSR) *

Fire Fire is the rapid oxidation of a fuel in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction Product (chemistry), products. Flames, the most visible portion of the fire, are produced in the combustion re ...

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

Handwriting Handwriting in Italian schools (XXth - XXIst century) Handwriting is the personal and unique style of writing with a writing instrument, such as a pen or pencil in the hand. Handwriting includes both block and cursive styles and is separa ...

(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 Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), known until 2024 as the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), is an agency of the European Union headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal, and established in 1993. In June 2022, the ...

(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 ...

using

nuclear magnetic resonance Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a physical phenomenon in which nuclei in a strong constant magnetic field are disturbed 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 Europol, officially the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, is the law enforcement agency of the European Union (EU). Established in 1998, it is based in The Hague, Netherlands, and serves as the central hub for coordinating c ...

, 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 standard used by testing and calibration laboratories. In most countries, ISO/IEC 17025 is the standard for which most labs must hold accr ...

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 less formally known as the Council of Ministers, is the third of the seven institutions of the European Union (EU) a ...

'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). 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 the capability of computer, computational systems to perform tasks typically associated with human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and decision-making. It is a field of 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 Facial recognition or face recognition may refer to: *Face detection, often a step done before facial recognition *Face perception, the process by which the human brain understands and interprets the face *Pareidolia, which involves, in part, seein ...

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 on May 30 – June 3, 2022.

Honours

In 2018, the Distinguished Forensic Scientist Award was given to the first female recipient, Niamh Nic Daéid.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:European Network of Forensic Science Institutes 1995 establishments in Europe Non-profit organizations based in Europe 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 Organisations based in Wiesbaden