Trace Evidence Workgroup (TEWG)

As Asian countries are diverse in forensic practices, it is important to bring together the forensic examiners in this region for networking, information exchange and mutual collaboration. In the area of trace evidence, there are a variety of trace material types involving a wide range of examinations and instrumental analysis. Hence, training and workshops on different trace evidence are organised yearly in separate meeting platforms to equip trace examiners. Other TEWG’s activities include scientific sessions for sharing of technical knowledge among the examiners, laboratory attachment of staff between TEWG member institutes, participation in collaborative exercises, and collaboration in databases (explosive and fibre). The topics of TEWG’s workshops covered in past AFSN meetings include paint interpretation, fibre analysis, explosives analysis, forensic statistics and microanalysis of traces. One of the noteworthy TEWG’s initiatives is the yearly meeting on explosives database. It was first initiated in August 2015 in Bangkok, Thailand and the countries involved are Thailand, Korea, China, Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia. The goal of the initiative is to facilitate knowledge sharing and information exchange on explosive analysis through a common web-sharing platform for explosive database.