An event titled “On-Land and Underwater Crime Scene Investigation” was held in collaboration with the Üsküdar University Violence and Crime Prevention Application and Research Center (ŞİDAM) and the Forensic Sciences and Criminal Justice Club. In the event, which hosted Gendarmerie Crime Scene Investigator Bilal Sağıroğlu and Msc. Bioengineer Özlem Tığlı, the land and water aspects of crime scene investigation were discussed.
“An Increase in Organized Crimes is Observed”
Sağıroğlu, drawing attention to today's crimes and explaining their systematic nature, stated; “Crime scene investigation is the first step of the judicial process. The evidence you obtain after the procedures you carry out during a crime scene investigation is the most crucial part of the judicial stage. You need to collect data for the judicial proceedings to progress. The first place you can collect data is the crime scene investigation unit. Without a crime scene investigation team, the rest of forensic science cannot advance. That's why the crime scene investigation part is very important. Today, crimes are no longer committed by individuals or against individuals. In situations like the formation of gangs, they can also affect the majority of society. Crimes have started to be committed in an organized manner. Therefore, crimes need to be investigated more systematically.”
“Any Incident That May Be of Forensic Interest Can Be Called an Event”
Bilal Sağıroğlu, touching upon the three components of crime scene investigation, stated; “Information used to be obtained by ill-treating or torturing criminals or suspects. All of these are now in the past and are not applied, nor should they be. Crime scene investigation begins with the interrelation of 3 basic components. First, we start with the crime scene, and if there is a victim, they are identified. What is an event? Briefly, we refer to occurrences or human behaviors that are interesting or have the characteristic of being interesting, whether occurring naturally or spontaneously. Any kind of incident that may be of forensic interest can be called an event. Crime is a societal event that exists in a certain place and a certain era. As societal conditions change, acts considered crimes have also begun to change. New crimes emerge every day. Crime comes first, followed by its detection and legal regulations. The crime scene is the first step of this stage.”
“You Will Find Underwater Crime Scene Investigation Teams Among Underwater Units”
Msc. Bioengineer Özlem Tığlı pointed out that while the objectives of crime scene investigation on land and underwater are the same, the locations where the incidents occur are different. Tığlı stated; “Various different procedures and team qualifications are required. Our public prosecutor's office crime scene investigation team also goes to the scene. It is managed by the underwater group directorate in 18 provinces within the EGM (General Directorate of Security). Apart from the underwater crime scene investigation team, you will see underwater teams in the fire department and gendarmerie, but they are mostly for rescue operations. Although fire departments previously conducted these operations academically and practically worldwide, the establishment of its procedures began in America in 1994. It then continued academically, and finally, the FBI has been continuing since 2005-2006. Unfortunately, in terms of academic documentation, it is not very significant here; I have come across only one or two thin books. The references are generally common and mostly continue in America.”