The main tasks allocated to this department are the pursuit of criminals, the investigation of crimes, infractions, and to deal with information which is of interest in the prevention and maintenance of public order, public safety and in the investigation of crimes. In order to meet the above functions, the department is divided into the following Units and Services:

  • Central Service Unit
  • Criminal and Police Investigation Unit
  • Information and Analysis Unit
  • Laboratory Police Unit
    • Identification Services
    • Police Laboratory Services
  • Sporting and Special Event Unit.

   The Laboratory Police are part of the Ertzaintza's Criminal Investigation Department, and their work is based on Criminal Science, which is defined as: "A compilation of scientific methods applied to criminal investigation".

   The investigation of crime is considered the purpose of the Criminal Investigation Department, and therefore, of the Laboratory Police.

   Below is a summary of the duties of the Laboratory Police:

  • Personal identification: Positive identification of persons and corpses, using the technique of the Lophoscopic Science and Anthropometric-Physiognomy Science.

  • Police operations at the crime scene: This position has a clear objective: to find material evidence, applying scientific methods in the development of lophoscopic prints, the treatment and transportation of evidence.

  • Operations relating to the Criminal Investigation Department Laboratory: The treatment used is: technical resources and scientific methods for evidence obtained, use of techniques relating to chemical tests, ballistics, documenthoscopy, forgery, instrument traces, etc...

   It is equally necessary to explain in an abridged way the main objectives pursued by the Laboratory Police:

  • General: Contribution of scientific methods to verify the perpetration of a crime. The victim's identification (where required). The identification of the alleged perpetrator (s) of the crime.

  • Material: By studying the physical evidence related to the perpetration of the crime.
  • Formal: Ancillary to the Judicial Body.

Memorabilia

Hymn  (1Mb)  

 

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