Forensic science in Seychelles: An example of a micro-jurisdiction forensic delivery system

Interpol review of forensic management, 2019–2022

“…As such, leadership must be aware of the costs as they relate to the benefits from any activity [ 49 ]. The severity of this economic problem of seemingly unlimited demands for services being met with too few resources is even more critical in small jurisdictions such as the Seychelles [ 50 ]. Because forensic laboratories do not generally operate in a competitive environment, forensic services may be limited to a political jurisdiction, which limits the scale of operations.…”

“…As an extension of interest in the quality of forensic science, researchers continue to explore the role of cognitive bias on the examination of evidence and the reliability of that evidence in courtroom testimony. In some jurisdictions, oversight boards have been created as a means to build trust among the public in the quality of forensic science [ 50 , 105 ]. Laboratories can provide internal policies by first recognizing the demands of the consumers of their output and anticipate stakeholder needs in forming policy [ 106 ].…”

Comparison of three active 1,2-indanedione-zinc formulations for fingermark detection in the context of limited resources and supply chain risks in Seychelles

“…1,2-indanedione was first proposed as an amino acid-sensitive fingermark detection technique in 1997 [1,2] and subsequent studies in Australia [3][4][5][6], Israel [7,8], USA [2,9], and the UK [10][11][12][13][14] have led to its widespread operational use. With consistently strong evidence of high sensitivity [15], IND-Zn is recognised as one of the most effective treatments for the detection of latent fingermark on porous substrates [14,16,17] and routine use in smaller jurisdictions such as Seychelles is hence anticipated [18].…”

“…However, research and development of most fingermark detection techniques including IND-Zn has primarily been carried out in in highly developed nations, the so-called "Global North", which have significant resources and a primary focus on effectiveness of the technique. In contrast, the comparatively limited resources (budgetary, personnel, and equipment) and vulnerability to supply chain issues encountered by smaller jurisdictions such as the Seychelles [18] signifies a gap in the development and validation of latent fingermark detection techniques. For example, due to its geographically remote location, Seychelles sits at the end of commercial supply chains, which translates to a constant need to manage the risks associated with availability of equipment servicing and chemical supply.…”

“…For example, due to its geographically remote location, Seychelles sits at the end of commercial supply chains, which translates to a constant need to manage the risks associated with availability of equipment servicing and chemical supply. This is further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic [18] and the current state of affairs in the world, where supply chain disruption and increase in the price of goods or transport are becoming a global challenge. Whilst performance is important for any jurisdiction, the ability for the Seychelles Police to manage the limited budget and supply chain disruption risks are equally important to ensure service continuity.…”