In Vestige @ and Police Management?
Olivier Guéniat · Policing A Journal of Policy and Practice · 2017
Policing is currently undergoing a fundamental transformation in Switzerland nourished by academic research and the emergence of the importance of digital investigation, of the culture of intelligence-led policing, and of traceology. Traditional material findings (DNA, finger marks, shoe marks) offer an increasing amount of identification opportunities, forcing police services to redefine their strategies, particularly with the exploitation of intelligence which contributes to the definition of effective and efficient objectives. The shift from reactive concepts (processing of hits) towards proactive concepts (prioritized processing of phenomena that have the greatest impact on crime) constitutes a new trend in policing, which influences the structure and organization of the police. In parallel, electronic or digital traces contribute significant added-value when they are integrated into the classic system of reasoning applied to traditional evidence. In particular, digital traces contribute to three key elements in the resolution of criminal cases: place, time, and action. Finally, combining criminology with forensic expertise (in the broadest sense of the terms), simultaneously in police forces and academic research, allows us to perceive complex investigative issues and to consider new solutions in the fight against crime.