INVESTIGATION TECHNIQUES

Special Investigation Techniques in terrorism and organized crime are a key element to allow criminal justice actors to intervene before crimes are committed. However, the misuse of such techniques can jeopardize the integrity of security operations and their compliance with the rule of law.

UNODC provides assistance to countries to improve their use of special investigation techniques when investigating complex terrorism-related offences. We train officials on conducting investigations that are compliant with the rule of law, with particular regard to open-source intelligence (OSINT). We have developed a training methodology on the use of special investigative techniques that respect human rights standards and international law. This methodology also includes analysis techniques tools such as IBM i2 Analyst’s Notebook. We work with groups of trainers to ensure the sustainability of skills transfer and training capacity. We also assist training institutions to replicate and incorporate the training in their national training curriculum.

First responders

When terrorist incidents are committed in battlefield and conflict zones, civilian law enforcement and criminal justice authorities often face challenges in holding terrorists accountable. In such situations, other state actors, including military forces, are often engaged in counter-terrorism operations, and become the first responders to these terrorist incidents.

Despite criminal justice authorities not always being immediately present in such situations, international law requires that terrorists are brought to justice and held accountable for crimes they have committed. For that reason, collecting and preserving information that can be used as admissible evidence by civilian criminal justice officials is an essential task for first responders to perform.

UNODC supports Member States with measures to ensure that first responders and criminal justice actors cooperate and comply with national standards and procedures concerning evidence collection.

We are currently working with our partners in countries in West Africa to:

Enhance interagency cooperation and coordination, by supporting the development of tailored strategic frameworks and policies,
Develop standard operational procedures (SOPs) and techniques to provide guidance for first responders on how to collect, preserve and share information for potential use as evidence in civilian criminal-justice proceedings,
Promote human rights compliance in implementing all adopted measures, particularly those related to the treatment of suspects captured by the military during operations.

Resources

Together with other UN entities and coordinated by the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), we have developed Guidelines to facilitate the use and admissibility of evidence collected, handled, preserved and shared by the military to prosecute terrorist offences in civilian domestic courts (“Military Evidence Guidelines”).

The Guidelines are intended to inform a broad range of stakeholders. These can include first responders, law enforcement officials, prosecutors, judges, international and national policymakers, and international and regional judicial and police organizations. They are available in Arabic, English, French, Portuguese and Russian.

Further, tailored Standard Operating Procedures have been developed to provide guidance for first responders on how to collect, handle, preserve and share information for potential use as evidence in civilian criminal-justice proceedings. [Only available upon request for authorized officials.]

Lastly, tailored Special Investigation Techniques have been developed in Arabic and for use in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. They are available upon the request of designated criminal justice authorities.

Donors

Our work is supported by contributions from Belgium, Denmark, Italy and the United States.

United Nations

Office on Drugs and Crime

INVESTIGATION TECHNIQUES

First responders

Resources

Donors