In order to provide a clear and very workable answer to what the public and the competent authorities are asking for in cases of murder and disappearance in Europe, we have put together a very workable and effective course for police and investigation services.
In recent years, it has become clear that too many cases have shocked public opinion enormously. The investigation by the P Committee has once again put its finger in the festering wound. In the Dutroux case (Belgium), the Fourniret case (France), the Ronald Janssen (Belgium) case, and so many others worldwide, it has become clear that there is a serious shortage of competent and well-trained people to tackle this type of serious crime and bring it to a successful conclusion.
In order to provide a clear and very workable answer to what the public, the families, and the competent authorities are asking for in cases of murder and disappearance worldwide, we have put together a very workable and practical course for police and investigation services. All sorts of things were created to give the population the impression that security was being worked on. However, none of these services have many trained people among their ranks. Not in experience, knowledge, communication techniques, questioning witnesses, family members, friends, and especially suspects, and even less in techniques to tackle this type of crime.
There are countless unsolved cases in every country, such as the disappearance of Gevrije Cavas – 6 years old (1984), Nathalie Geysbrechts – 9 years old (1991), Kim and Ken – 11 and 8 years old (1994), Liam Van den Brande – 2 years old (1996), the serial murders in Mons (Belgium – 1997), the murder of Carola Titze in De Haan (1996), Ingrid Caeckaert (1991), Lieve Desmedt – 13 years old (1984), Vinciane Closet – 17 years old (1991),… the list is endless. Each of these victims has the right to justice and their families to closure from the unbearable uncertainty.
Guide for Police and Investigation Services on the Investigation, Follow-up, and Processing of Missing and Murdered Persons.
In recent years, it has become clear that too many cases have shocked public opinion enormously. The investigation by the P Committee has once again put its finger in the festering wound. In the Dutroux case, the Fourniret case, the Ronald Janssen case, and so many others, it has become clear that there is a serious shortage of competent and well-trained people to tackle this type of serious crime and bring it to a successful conclusion. In order to provide a clear and very workable answer to what the public and the competent authorities are asking for in cases of murder and disappearance, we have put together a very workable and effective course for police and investigation services. All sorts of organizations were created to give the population the impression that security was being worked on. However, none of these services have trained people among their ranks. Not in experience, not in knowledge, and even less in techniques to tackle this type of crime.
There are countless unsolved cases in our country, such as the disappearance of Gevrije Cavas – 6 years old (1984), Nathalie Geysbrechts – 9 years old (1991), Kim and Ken – 11 and 8 years old (1994), Liam Van den Brande – 2 years old (1996), the serial murders in Mons (1997), the murder of Carola Titze in De Haan (1996), Ingrid Caeckaert (1991), Lieve Desmedt – 13 years old (1984), Vinciane Closet – 17 years old (1991),… the list is endless in every country in the world.
Each of these victims has the right to justice and their families to be able to put an end to the unbearable uncertainty. The report of the P Committee shows again that the same gaps are being exposed as those of the Dutroux Commission. However, this was 25 years ago, and nothing has changed. The complaints remain precisely the same: disinterest, incompetence, lack of cooperation within the force, no team spirit, no collaboration with other forces, no guidelines, no structure, no communication with the victims or relatives, no responsibility (primarily no political responsibility), ego tripping of a large part of the police officers, no adequate leadership, no instructions, no sanctions, no clear structures, in short: no training from the lower ranks to the highest regions. Nothing will change as long as there are no sanctions for failing, leading figures and subordinates who failed to perform their work correctly. There are too many Cold Cases in every country.
People occupy specific positions in specific functions with a specific goal and salary paid by the community. There should be something in return:
Humanity, involvement, professionalism, knowledge, responsibility, flexibility, interest, entrepreneurship, creativity, … and concluding if one has not met these conditions. As is the case in our entire community, this includes a sanction for failure.
With all these failing systems and the unspeakable suffering of parents, friends, and family in mind but still remaining optimistic about tackling this in the future, the non-profit organization ICMA²C founded an Academy that is unique in the world. The know-how is there. The question remains: do people want to put their shoulders to the wheel once and for all to give people the Justice and involvement they are entitled to?
The simplest and most effective way is to set up Research Units per Province or District. Everything that exists to date in this ‘matter’ must be dismantled. It is a tangle from which no one sees a way out. Each Research Unit must be in direct contact with every other unit in the country. An Overarching Unit collects all the information gathered and all the evidence in one database from which other unsolved cases can later be drawn.
A WORKING FRAME:
From this perspective, it is advisable to recruit Police Officers and/or Criminologists with the right motivation and attitude. Our Academy carries these out. The intention is that each unit is composed of Multidisciplinary Professionals:
– Specialists in searching for and collecting traces (tire tracks, fingerprints, footprints, DNA, etc.), specialized photographers to record the crime scene for further investigation, Geographic Mapping, Profilers, Robot Photo Artists (for accurate robot photos), Interrogators of Victims/Survivors, Interrogators of Witnesses, Interrogators of Suspects, File Analysts, one or two Media Spokespersons, Trace Analysts, Specially Trained people to assist the parents/family during the investigation, etc.
– Per unit, 1! A person is appointed and permanently assisted by a ‘Shadow Person’ who closely follows the entire process). This ‘shadow’ also follows EVERYTHING that happens in the investigation. If the person responsible is temporarily unable to continue the case for one reason or another (illness, vacation, other, etc.), the ‘shadow’ seamlessly falls in. The Unit Manager gives instructions, checks the completed and uncompleted assignments, collects the data, briefs everyone involved daily, and debriefs after the assignments. All original documents are collected by him/her in one place. Investigators can request copies of all data from the manager. ALL information is communicated to the manager.
– The manager also appoints a media communicator. This person is responsible for coordinating the interaction between the population and the police service in a professional manner via the media. This is called ‘Interactive cooperation with the public.’
Copies of all documents are sent to the central database, which classifies everything in databases and compares the gathered information with that of other unsolved crimes.
Information from this General Database can only be requested by those responsible for units in each Province.
– In order to comply with this, each person involved must have received specialized training.
V&CPA (Victim & Criminal Profiling Academy)
The Academy is a logical consequence of the situation on the ground and was initially established under the VZW I.C.M.A².C. in 1994.
Recent events such as Physical and Sexual Abuse within the Church spread over decades, abuses in Care, Sports Clubs, Justice Departments, Police Services, Social Services, … show that there is a significant problem that urgently needs to be addressed.
There is a great deal of unrest and anger among the population, as well as distrust of the Institutions and Political silence. Witness the many Facebook calls for demonstrations on the Internet. The fear of cover-ups is immense.
Very targeted initiatives are being taken abroad to tackle this serious problem. With this unique Academy, our Organization wants to provide an answer that adequately and professionally tackles the consequences of the past. At the same time, an instrument is created that makes it possible to tackle the causes just as adequately in the future.
Well, professionally and humanely (victims are people, not ‘cases’) trained people are the only means to limit the untold damage on a purely human, social, and financial level. The negative, ever-growing, and expanding spiral caused by the denial of this very serious problem must be broken urgently. At all levels, shoulders must be put under the problem: Police Services, Justice, Child Care Facilities, Mental Health Centers, Prison Systems, Politics, Social Services, … must urgently become aware of the immensity of the problem.
By expanding spiral, we mean People who become addicted to alcohol or medication, end up in crime, become chronically ill, end up in prostitution, in Mental Health Hospitals, commit suicide, become perpetrators themselves, become Care Providers from a deep wound that causes huge problems… It goes without saying that this is a huge concern for society, and there must be an answer to this.
It goes without saying that this is a huge concern for society, and there must be an answer to this.
Training:
The training courses at VCPA are focused on actual, very sharp, field-oriented (read practical) work with Suspects, Perpetrators, Victims, and Witnesses. For the Police Services, this means that everything is explained in unambiguous language: what perpetrators are, how they think, how they act, how they should be questioned, how alibis should be checked, studying the different perpetrator profiles, … as well as how to research and approach a crime scene. What mapping is? How to question witnesses. How to approach victims. How to look for links in other unsolved or solved cases. How to set up a team structure and how they should work together. Who takes on which task. Appointing a media spokesperson. Conducting proactive research, neighborhood research, correct descriptions of facts, etc.
In short: from the First Responder to the humane Completion of a file. Students receive a fully finished, straightforward workbook per module with which they can get started immediately.
We have provided two different courses for this. One is aimed at the reception and treatment of victims of (sexual) violence, and the other is specifically aimed at the treatment and follow-up of perpetrators. Each course consists of several modules, each comprising four study days. At the end of each module, an exam is taken. If successful, a certificate is awarded. After completion of all modules, we provide a diploma.
A more specialized course covers everything that has to do with profiling.
Target groups:
Care providers in the broadest sense of the word
Pastoral workers
Social Services
Psychologists
Psychiatrists
Doctors
Nursing staff
Tele-reception
Police services
Police personnel
Justice Personnel
Lawyers
Jurists
Judges
Public prosecutors
…
In short: everyone who may be or will be confronted with this problem. A more specialized course covers everything that has to do with profiling.
Lecturers:
Leading specialists from all over the world have been brought in to give these courses.
We hope to meet you soon to help heal our Victims and the entire World.
Carine Hutsebaut
Expert at the Justice Department
Sr Advisor NEU (University New Mexico U.S.A.)
Commissioner ITNJ (International Tribunal for Natural Justice)
Member of the Academy of Behavioral Profiling (California, USA)