Portugal sends a multidisciplinary team of experts to Ukraine

Portugal will be sending, through the Ministry of Justice, teams of experts from the Portuguese Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Science, (INMLCF) and from the Criminal Police (PJ).

The Institute’s Forensic Intervention in Catastrophes Unit is ready to send to Ukraine a team of six experts, including a doctor and technical staff.

The Criminal Police’s multidisciplinary team has five experts, including coordination, investigators, forensic experts and information analysts. It may be complemented with other investigators for the law enforcement work areas.

"These are teams that, given the complementarity of the various skills, have proven experience and merit in joint work", noted the Minister of Justice  Catarina Sarmento e Castro in a video message signalling the World Day for International Justice.

The Portuguese Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Science must, according to good international practice, assure intervention in the field of Forensic Pathology, Anthropology, Forensic Odontology or Genetic Identification, among others.

The Criminal Police’s Scientific lab is to ensure, for instance, scenario management, collecting and processing images, geo-radar and forensic archaeology, or even fingerprints and forensic genetics, as well as taking part in determining the victims’ identity.

The aim is for the two teams of experts to help in responding "as quickly and as thoroughly as possible" to situations at the inquiry stage in Ukraine that are related to war crimes.