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Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus KC and AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw have opened the Australian Federal Police’s newly expanded forensics lab in Sydney today (2 March).
The new facility is 75 per cent larger than the previous facilities and boosted by a raft of new technology features.
The new facility features multi-use laboratories that can work in different disciplines in parallel and process multiple warrants involving large numbers of seizures. New engineering technology is also being utilised to aid in tracking “transitional serious organised criminals” and identify traffickers of child abuse material.
The facilities have been in operation since the middle of last year and also feature cyber crime forensics capabilities.
“Since June (2022), teams have undertaken forensic examinations for about 130 investigations across multiple crime types, including child protection, counter-terrorism, cyber crime, and drug importations,” Dr Simon Walsh, AFP chief scientific officer, said in today’s announcement.
“While our previous forensic laboratory helped us secure many convictions, it was important that we future-proof one of our busiest headquarters with the space and tools it needed to continue the fight against crime,” Dr Walsh said. “The new lab has already had a significant impact on our investigations. In one case, our scientists were able to extract components from a mobile phone that was badly damaged in a fire and recover important evidence.
“Previously, we may have requested assistance from a partner agency, but sharing exhibits can be restricted because of operational security.
“Now, we are able to provide a much-needed boost to AFP operations regionally and also work more collaboratively with our law enforcement partners here in NSW and interstate to help fight crime.”
New digital forensics capabilities are giving the facility an edge in investigating the growing number of crimes that have a technological factor. At the same time, evidence can now be more easily recovered from devices damaged prior to being taken into custody by police.
Two darkrooms also allow the new fingerprint lab to process fluorescent prints.
“Forensic science is a critical part of the investigation process and can make or break a prosecution,” DR Walsh said.
David Hollingworth has been writing about technology for over 20 years, and has worked for a range of print and online titles in his career. He is enjoying getting to grips with cyber security, especially when it lets him talk about Lego.
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