The NFI calls for an international forensic alliance in the fight against nuclear terrorism
During a high-level international meeting in The Hague between the 16th-17th June, the Netherlands Forensic Institute called for more emphasis to be paid to forensic investigations in the fight against the threat of nuclear terrorism.
International co-operation and collaboration in the fight against nuclear terrorism was the central theme of the discussions at the meeting of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT).
“Greater attention should be paid to the forensic investigation of possible suspects” stated Kees Möhring, Director External Relations, Netherlands Forensic Institute. “The NFI has conducted research on developing new nuclear forensic investigation techniques: for example into the profiling of radio-active material and in particular ascertaining the origins of the material. Further, an increased forensic awareness of the value of trace evidence such as DNA, fingerprints and explosives, as well as digital technology in these types of investigations, can make a large contribution towards the fight against the threat of nuclear terrorism”. Forensic awareness, the appreciation of the forensic possibilities in the investigation of trace evidence is of great importance in these investigations.
International Forensic Alliance
The NFI, through the NFI Academy, places its knowledge and expertise at the disposal of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism. At the meeting in The Hague, the NFI called for an international forensic alliance to be established. This type of collaboration would help in the development of specialized experts in nuclear terrorism investigations. “Through an international exchange of knowledge in nuclear forensic investigation methods and collaboration between databases, the investigation of possible suspects/threats can improve” stated Mr. Möhring. The Minister for Forensic Affairs of The Netherlands, Mr. M. Verhagen, also stressed the importance of international co-operation during his opening address to the meeting.
CBRN Programme
In the Netherlands, the NFI is one of the leaders in the programme to combat Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) terrorism. This programme is co-ordinated by the National Co-ordinator for Counter-Terrorism (NCTb). One of the results of this collaboration will be the delivery in 2010, by the NFI Field Laboratory, of a large scale CBRN exercise.
GICNT
The GICNT was established in 2006 by the United States of America and the Russian Federation. This initiative co-operates with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the fight to prevent the smuggling of nuclear material and the improvement of the protection of nuclear installations in the participating countries. During the conference, which was attended by policy makers and experts from over 80 countries, the need for increased measures in the fight against nuclear terrorism was discussed.