Two Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) specialists from Tasmania Police have left for the Netherlands today to assist with the response to the MH17 crash.

They will join other regional specialists deployed to Hilversum, the Netherlands. The complexity of the processes involved in DVI determined that further resources would be deployed.

The AFP requested the assistance of two Tasmania Police officers; their role will be to match victim data and missing person data to ensure victims remains are returned to their families.

Constable Katrina Chivers from Burnie and 1st Class Constable Rod Walker from Launceston departed this morning. The specialist DVI training undertaken by these officers has prepared them to deal with the difficult processes ahead.

The process of DVI involves a range of forensic science techniques to make a positive identification of the deceased victims, including matching of victim data with data from families, odontology – primarily using dental records, fingerprints (if available) and DNA profiling.

It is anticipated that the deployment will be for a two week period.

Darren Hine
Commissioner of Police