Overview
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Supporting Victoria Police
The VIFM supports Victoria Police through a range of forensic medical and scientific services. Our staff provide expert consultancy for current and cold case investigations including alleged homicides and physical and sexual assaults.
Forensic Pathology
VIFM forensic pathologists undertake the medical investigation of deaths reported to the coroner. Medico-legal death investigations involve far more than performing autopsies indeed, today less than half of the deaths reported to the Coroner require an autopsy to be performed.
The work of the forensic pathologist is supported by a range of technical and scientific staff and one of the roles of the forensic pathologist is to integrate all of the information in order to help the Coroner find out; who the person was, when they died how they died, their cause of death and the background circumstances of their death.
Forensic Toxicology
The VIFM toxicology laboratory undertakes a range of drug testing and provides test reports and opinions to a number of departments within Victoria Police including; the Road Policing Drug and Alcohol Section, Major Collision Investigation Unit, Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigations Team as well as Crime Investigations Units such as the homicide and arson squads.
Drug intelligence data is also provided to Victoria Police and the Department of Justice and Regulation to inform government policy direction in relation to illicit drugs and drug and alcohol road policing and safety strategies.
Clinical Forensic Medicine
Our Clinical Forensic Medicine team provide a 24-hour service across Victoria providing comprehensive forensic medical examinations of victims of crime and alleged perpetrators. Our medical and nursing staff also undertake the collection of body samples for forensic testing. These medical examinations are carried out at Police Stations, hospital emergency departments, crisis care units and the specially designed forensic examination suites at Multi-Disciplinary Centres (MDCs).
With patient consent, the clinical team provide medico-legal reports to Victoria Police related to alleged criminal cases including sexual assault, physical assault, family violence and fitness for interview.
