The Disaster Victim Identification Malta Task Force, better known as DVI Malta was today launched by Minister for Home Affairs and National Security Carmelo Abela.

This task force will be seeing members from Police, Army, Civil Protection, Health Authorities and other experts in the field joining forces to expand the capabilities of effective disaster response. It will also bolster cooperation, sharing of skills and resources aimed at enhancing a proactive mentality that prepares for the protection of the nation in any eventuality.

Minister Abela remarked that in line with Interpol guidelines identification of victims beyond recognition should start moving away from practices that rest on visual recognition by their relatives towards systematic processes that provide more dignity to the same victims and relatives.

He added that the process of identifying victims of major disasters, such as natural disasters, technical accidents (fires, explosions) and traffic accidents, is rarely possible by visual recognition. Comparisons of fingerprints, dental records or DNA samples are often required to obtain a conclusive identification.

The Minister for Home Affairs noted that throughout this week around 30 members from forces of order were gathered together to follow the first of a series of insensitive DVI courses at the Academy for Disciplined Forces at ta’ Kandja.

Training comprises both academic and practical field work on scene management, victim care, family support, post-mortem investigative process. It was provided by local professionals and 4 internationally renowned experts in the field from DVI Belgium and DVI UK, with over 20 years of experience in DVI.

Minister Abela spoke about the importance of more discussions on an EU level on DVI to enhance mutual co-operation and sharing of information between countries in the eventuality of disasters.

In this regard, he said that Malta, during it’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the EU, through its Law Enforcement Working Party will take the opportunity to start stimulating the introduction of a European DVI Network serving as a focal point of cooperation of local DVI Teams of Member States.

DVI Malta Task Force is being chaired by the Malta Police Force, Inspector Forensic Unit Charlo Casha.

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