CHALLENGES IN THE USE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE BY THE POLICE FOR CRIME PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper examines the challenges facing the police in the use of forensic science in crime prevention and control in Nigeria. The problem of unabated criminal behaviour has been worrisome for the safety of lives and property in the country. Constitutionally, the police have the responsibility of maintaining law and order, fighting crime, protecting lives and property, and employing forensic science in criminal investigations; yet, the crime rate continues to escalate daily. The paper discusses the types and significance of forensic evidence, as well as the challenges of criminal justice in forensic investigations. The objective of this study is to ascertain the challenges confronting the utilization of forensic science by the police within Nigeria’s criminal justice system and to explore ways of employing it to curtail the high rate of crime in the country. The theoretical framework of this discourse is the Deterrence Theory of Crime Prevention. This paper relies on secondary sources such as national and international journals, books, and related materials. The study reveals that the challenges facing the police include the poor standard of legal education in Nigeria, as well as inadequate forensic skills and equipment, which negatively affect forensic investigations and the operational capacity of the police and other security agencies. There is no doubt that the use of forensic science in criminal investigation and the justice system provides valuable information that cannot be obtained through other conventional methods of investigation. It also assists in determining the innocence or guilt of suspects amidst complex criminal circumstances. This paper recommends that forensic investigators acquire adequate training and skills to enhance their professional competence, identify suspects more effectively, and reduce the incidence of violent crimes and murder in Nigeria.