Examination of evidence and forensic expert reports are subject to particularly high and consistent quality requirements. Modern science and technology play a key role in providing evidence and thus in solving crimes. This area of responsibility mainly falls to the Forensic Science Institute (KTI) of the LKA NRW. Here, it is important to meet the requirements of clients - police authorities, public prosecutors' offices and courts - as well as our own obligation to provide services that are always at the cutting edge of science and technology.

To this end, the CTI maintains a holistic quality management system that encompasses the entire organizational and operational structure. The institute management is supported by a full-time quality manager and several quality officers from the respective departments. Independent external auditors regularly check whether the LKA NRW meets the quality standards set worldwide by certain committees.

As a result, the CTI is also accredited as a testing laboratory in accordance with DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 and as an inspection body in accordance with DIN EN ISO/IEC 17020.

Quality management permeates all departments

However, the quality standards do not end at the CTI. A central office has been set up specifically for this purpose, which is available to advise and support all employees in matters of quality management. This team is supported by other quality managers and officers employed in the departments, who together form the "LKA NRW quality circle".

The focus is on the transparent presentation of processes, greater efficiency and effectiveness through process optimization and recurring audits. The most important elements include the content and process-related perspective on the one hand and the customer perspective on the other.

In addition, the team also advises on all other management topics. The most important maxim: there is no dogmatic commitment to one solution or one method. Rather, an appropriate solution is sought together with the relevant department.