Disaster Victim Identification Group

Abstract

This paper describes identification of victims of mass disasters from the perspective of the police, in connection with State emergency response and operational plans of the Ministry of Interior and the Police in the event of disasters. These plans deal with different types of disasters, such as earthquakes, fires, air, rail, nuclear or radiological accidents, and terrorism. In the case of human victims, investigators must conduct identification procedures and establish the identity of the victim. Based on examination of plans, legislation, identification procedures and current good practices of the identification of victims of mass disasters in other countries, suggestions for upgrading existing processes, tasks and organization of the Slovenian area and police disaster victim identification groups are given. Police in most European countries have disaster identification groups, and investigators generally use methods and procedures drawn up by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol). They use disaster victim identification forms, which are divided into forms for collecting data on a missing person, the dead body and the final identification report. The final report is a pre-condition for handing over and burial of victims. Police officers, particularly disaster victim identification group members and other professionals, can implement the findings of this paper to their work, especially in the case of international disaster victim identification.