Interpol puts NFI Bonaparte software into use
The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) is going to use identification software developed by Radboud University Nijmegen in cooperation with the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI).
Interpol intends to use ‘Bonaparte’ to provide forensic support to Member States in the identification of missing persons or victims of a disaster. Putting Bonaparte into use is part of a broader cooperation between Interpol and the NFI.
Tripoli and MH17
Bonaparte has played an important role in the identification of victims of the plane crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 and it was also applied in the identification of victims of the plane crash in Tripoli in 2010. In addition, the system can be used in the identification of missing persons.
Member States can send in DNA profiles from victims and relatives to Interpol. Bonaparte places the DNA profiles in family trees within a few minutes. Subsequently, the system compares and computes for each victim profile whether it matches the DNA profiles of the victim’s relatives. This was not yet possible with Interpol’s own system.
Agreement
Interpol announced its decision to start using Bonaparte in November 2013 during the ‘7th International DNA User’s Conference for Investigative Officers’. Shortly before, Interpol’s former Secretary General, Ron Noble, had visited the NFI to discuss the possibilities for technical support.
By now, the agreement has become a fact and Interpol will be able to use the software system for the next five years.