More than 50 of the world's foremost experts in disaster victim identification (DVI) have come together in Sydney for the first time in almost two decades.
The 48th INTERPOL DVI Working Group meeting was held in Australia for the first time in 15 years last month. The meeting was hosted by the AFP and supported by the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency (ANZPAA).
The meeting was attended by 28 policing and medical specialists with representatives from more than 15 countries as part of an international policing commitment to improving forensic processes used for identifying human remains after a disaster.
The working group meets twice a year and is focused on providing direction to the development of international best practice in DVI.
The INTERPOL-led meeting saw group members share insights and experiences on recent operational matters, new scientific and technology developments, and ensured that internationally accepted DVI protocols remain fit for purpose.
The AFP's DVI expertise is world-renowned, with the agency's specialist skills, systems and procedures developed and used in response to local and overseas disasters, including the 2002 Bali bombings, the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 and the 2019 Whakaari/White Island volcano eruption.
AFP DVI Commander Dr Mark Tahtouh said DVI investigations required a coordinated response between police, forensic specialists, recovery agencies and victim support agencies both domestically and offshore.
"One of the most unique aspects of DVI is the law enforcement community's coordinated approach with specialists in forensic science, academia, industry and other government partners," Dr Tahtouh said.
"Across the world, policing agencies have very bespoke ways of running their investigations except for DVI. This working group has been key in developing and adopting practices that are tested and agreed to be world's best practice.
"The collaboration we see in the DVI space sets the tone for international cooperation in times of crisis. The AFP is proud to be world leaders in this space and we have a proud history of aiding our partners across the globe during those unfortunate times of disaster."
INTERPOL DVI Unit Coordinator Charles Lamens said Australia had been a highly valued and experienced member of the DVI community for decades.
"Building on their expertise and experience, the Australian DVI team plays a leading role in updating the DVI guide every five years, the standard reference for DVI teams worldwide," Mr Lamens said.
"INTERPOL was delighted to return to Australia after a 15-year absence. The Australian DVI team made a significant contribution to the success of this 48th INTERPOL DVI working group meeting through excellent organisation."
