Scientific Aids to Investigation Competition

The Competition will consist of:

i) Written examination
ii) Oral examination
iii) Practical examination

1. Written examination will carry 50 marks, oral examination 50 marks and the practical test 300 marks.
2. Not more than 2 teams may be entered by any State. Each team will consist of 5 members; one Inspector, 2 Sub- Inspectors, one ASI or HC and one constable.
   
   
   1. Not more than 3 members of each team will be tested individually in medico-Iegal test (oral) and Forensic Science (written) test;
   2. For practical examination, each of the 5 competitors of a team will be tested individually. Not more than 3 competitors each in Finger Prints, and Lifting and packing of Exhibits and not more than 2 competitors each in Police Portraits; Observation and Photography can enter in tests listed in para l1(a) (i) to 11 (a) (vi);
   3. If a team could come within the first three in the competitions, even if it was composed of fewer members, the team should not be disqualified.
   4. Individual competitor should be eligible for the prize of his own merit.
   5. A statement giving the names of the members of the team and the tests in which each of them will be appearing will be sent with the entry form. This statement should be prepared keeping in view paras 2 (a) & (b). No competitor will be allowed to appear in tests other than those indicated in the statement.
   6. The names of the reserve competitors have to be given by the states/Units; otherwise none will be considered for a substitute.
      
      
3. Any person who has served as an expert in the State Finger Print Bureau shall not be allowed to take part in this competition.
4. A person who participates in the competition in one Meet shall not be allowed to participate in it for the subsequent three occasions on which subsequent meets are held.
5. The Inspector General of Police of the respective state will have to certify in writing that these conditions of eligibility have been correctly observed in respect of each competitor. The entry form should be sent to the Organising Secretary with copies to the Commandant, Central Forensic Institutes, Director, CFPB, 30 - Gorachand Road, Calcutta-14 and the Secretary, All India Police Duty Meet.

Written Test

6. The paper for the written test in forensic Science will be of two hours duration and a maximum of 50 marks will be assigned for this paper.



7. A maximum of 5 broad questions with a few subdivisions in each, if necessary, will be set. Each main question will cover the investigation of one type of crime. Police officer sitting for this test will not be expected to give details of each technique employed. The object will be to elicit from the competitors the extent of their appreciation of the application of forensic science in the investigation of each type of case viz.,
   
   
   1. Burglaries involving breaking open padlocks, body locks, safes, windows, doors etc. All these come under examination of tool marks.
   2. Suspected cases of poisoning.
   3. Investigation of homicide and suicide.
   4. Offences using fire arms.
   5. Arson
   6. Application of different photographic techniques in the investigation of questioned documents including erasures, overwriting, invisible writings, etc.
   7. Hit-and-run automobile accidents.
   
   The problems regarding questioned documents will be included in the papers on Forensic Science and the oral test thereof.
8. As Investigating Officers very frequently come across blood, semen and other biological stains, hair, glass, soils, wood fragments, fibers, paper, textiles and other miscellaneous traces such as dust, ash, etc., one or two questions may be set on the significance of such evidence. These questions will be so designed as to elicit broadly from the competitors, the importance of the different kinds of examinations to which the above material will be subjected, for ascertaining any information that may lead to a satisfactory solution of the crime.
9. Finger prints are excluded from this test as separate tests on these subjects are conducted.

Medico-Legal Test (Oral)

The oral examination will be on Medico-Legal and scientific subjects. Before the examination starts, the competitors will be given 30 minutes to study the problem/problems set forth for the competition. They will be allowed to jot down any points that they wish to note, but will not be allowed to make detailed notes. There after, questions will be asked relating to subjects like the examination of dead bodies, examination of injuries, examination of scenes of crime, accidents, collecting exhibits and their dispatch for examination. The framing of the questions will be left to the discretion of the judges. The time allotted for each individual for the oral examination will be about 15 minutes.

Practical examination

The practical examination will comprise six sub­ sections carrying 50 marks each.

1. Finger prints;
2. Police Portraits;
3. Observation;
4. Lifting and Packing of Exhibits
5. Photography; and
6. There will also be an oral examination of the practical test in Finger Prints allotting 10 marks for oral and 40 marks for practical work.
7. Written Test on Crime Investigation, Criminal Laws, Rules & Procedures & Court Judgements

(i) Fingerprints

For item (i), there will be a pre-arranged scene of crime having 2 or 3 objects on which latent finger impressions will be recorded. The nature of the objects will be such as to necessitate the use of 2 or 3 different powders for developing the latent prints, depending upon the nature of surface. Each competitor will be asked to look for and develop these latent prints within the prescribed time not exceeding 20 minutes. The judges will then examine the developed prints, award marks and then set up the scene afresh for the next competitor.

(ii) Police Portraits

For item (ii), the competitors will be shown photographs of persons for a limited period of time to be fixed before hand and intimated to them by the Judges. These photographs would then be mixed with other and the competitors will have to pick them out within a short period of time, to be fixed by judges. The competitors may be shown persons for a short while and then be asked to describe them, either in English or in their own language. They may also be given the portrait of an individual, and be asked to locate him from amongst a group within a fixed period of time. The tests based on any photographs or person shown to the candidates will be held after a certain lapse of time, the exact duration of which would be left to the discretion of the judges.

(iii) Observation

For item (iii), the competitors will be shown photograph of Scene of crime for a limited period of time and will then be asked questions on them, either immediately or after some lapse of time. They will be given a report to read for a limited period of time, and will then be asked either immediately or after some lapse of time to write its gist. The competitors may also be taken to specially prepared rooms etc., for a specified time, and after an interval to be fixed by the judges be asked to write out what they have observed.

(iv) Lifting and Packing of Exhibits

The test under item (iv) will comprise lifting, packing, sealing and forwarding of exhibits for examination, along with a report for the experts.

(v) Photographhy

1. The test for item (v) will be a photograph competition.
   The competitor should not be from amongst those employed as regular police photographers nor they should have been so employed in the past.
2. The entrants will use their personal cameras, which may range from the Kodak Brownie Box camera to any other camera having up to F/3.5. Lens.
3. The subject for the Photographic Competition under this group will be an outdoor scene of crime and each entrant will be allowed to take not more than six photographs from different angles, fully to describe the place of occurrence and to illustrate special features. No exposure meter, trip or flashlight will be used. In order to avoid any confusion or doubt as to authorship of the photographs submitted for contest, each entrant will be given an identification number card and this card must be placed in one corner of the scene of the crime and photographed in each exposure except in dose-up shots. Photographic prints (with the exception of close-up shots) which do not show the identification card included in it will not be considered for the contest.
4. Five minutes will be given to each competitor for studying the scene of crime, after he leaves the camera with the judges. At the end of this period, the competitor will report to the judges and will be given 10 minutes for taking 6 photographs of the scene of crime
5. After exposing the film, the competitor will hand over the roll of exposed film to the Judges who will make arrangements for developing the films.
6. The name of the entrant or his identification number must be written on the roll of the exposed film.
7. A form mentioning rank, identification number, State camera used, lens and film used must accompany each roll.
8. There will be three prizes. The best results obtained by the simplest and least powerful camera will be given preference over even slightly better results obtained by a powerful camera. Kodak Brownie or similar cameras will be taken as standard for this purpose.
9. The contest will be judged by a separate Board of Judges whose decision in all matters affecting the contest will be final.

(vi) Crime Investigation, Criminal Laws, Rules & Procedures & Court Judgements

1. Crime Investigation (15 Marks)
   1. Investigating of Homicide
   2. Dacoity & Robbery
   3. Rape
   4. Cases of Rioting etc.
2. Law (15 Marks)
   1. All Major Acts & Minor Acts
3. Rules & Procedures (10 Marks)
   1. FIR
   2. Inquest
   3. T.I. Parade
   4. Interrogation
   5. Search & Seizure etc.
4. Court Judgements (10 Marks)
   1. Chiefly the Judgements & Rules of Supreme Court & High Court

The methods of examination indicated above are only illustrative and not comprehensive.

Panel of Judges

There will be 10 judges in the panel which will be divided as follows:

1. Written: The paper will be set by the Director, Central Forensic Science Laboratory in consultation with the Principal, Central Detective Training School and the answer papers will be valued by the Director, Central Forensic Science Laboratory.
2. Medico-legal test (oral): The Principal or the Vice­Principal of the Central Detective Training School will act as the Chief Judge. In addition, there would be two judges, one of whom will be a doctor doing Medico-Legal work and the other, a scientist doing chemical examination work.
   
   
3. Practical
   
   (i) Finger Prints : Two officers of the Central Finger Prints Bureau will act as Judges.
   
   (ii) (iii) & (iv) (Police Portrait, Observation, Lifting and Packing)

Two officers from the Central Detective Training School will be appointed to act as Judges.

Dress

All competitors will wear working dress "Uniform".

Equipment

Each competitor should come fully equipped with his own investigation officer's Kit and any other equipment that might be required in connection with the competition.

Trophies and Medals

The team scoring the highest number of marks in the aggregate will be awarded the winner's Challenge trophy. Trophies will be awarded to the teams placed second and third also. Medals will also be awarded to individual placed first, second & third in each of the tests.

As per the schedule give by the Gujarat Police in their website www.aipdm-gujarat.in, the revised time table for the conduction of "Scientific Aids to Investigation" and the responsible authorities are TENTATIVE PROGRAMME decided as follows:

DATE	TIME	EVENT	Conducting Authorities / Judges
02-02-2010 (Tuesday)	FN	Opening Ceremony followed by drawal of lots/allotment of chest numbers	Gujarat Police
- do -	1500 hrs.	Forensic Science – Written Test	CFSL, Hyderabad
03-02-2010 (Wednesday)	0900 hrs.	Observation Test	CDTS, Kolkata
	1400 hrs.	Lifting & Packing	CDTS, Chandigarh
04-02-2010 (Thursday)	0900 hrs.	Photography	Intelligence Bureau
	1100 hrs.	Police Portrait	CDTS, Chandigarh
05-02-2010 (Friday)	0900 hrs.	Finger Print	CFPB, New Delhi
*	1400 hrs.	Written Test on topics like (i) Crime investigation (ii) Law & Procedures / Rules and (iii) Judgements, etc.	CDTS, Hyderabad & Chandigarh
06-02-2010(Saturday)	0900 hrs.	Medico – Legal Test (Oral)	1. Principal, CDTS, Chandigarh 2. Officer from CFSL, Hyderabad 3. One Doctor from SVP NPA, Hyderabad

*Note: Instead of Foot Print Test scheduled to be conducted on 05-02-2010, it is decided to conduct a written Test.