Malta, Netherlands sign agreement on forensic science cooperation

Maltese Minister for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties Helena Dalli and Dutch Minister of Security and Justice Ard van der Steur on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding on forensic science cooperation.

The two countries agreed to investigate possible areas of cooperation specifically in areas of forensic investigation including the promotion of standards for forensic testing, the quality standards for scene of crime investigations and towards achieving excellence in the process of investigations into criminal matters in Malta.

Other areas of cooperation include the advancement of scene of crime investigations and laboratory testing in the field of forensic science, collaboration for the implementation of the European Forensic Science Area (EFSA 2020) and so on.

Dalli said Malta is on the pathway to present advances in state-of-the-art forensic services, including provision for intelligence, research and innovation. In addition, through the Malta Laboratories Network, the government is ensuring to have all the laboratories on the island accredited.

She emphasized Malta would continue working on the EFSA 2020 action plan during the Maltese rotating presidency of the Council of the EU by focusing on forensic awareness and training for all stakeholders and also by stimulating exchange of forensic data and improving its quality.

The agreement follows a series of bilateral meetings in the past months between Dalli and the Netherlands Forensic Institute in The Hague. Enditem