About

History

The Scientific Criminal Investigation Police (PCIC) was born of the Timorese State's determination to provide the country with an institution specialised in criminal investigation, capable of meeting the demands of a justice system in consolidation.

Origins of the institution

At the origin of this vision was a set of decisive international partnerships, notably the support of UNDP (the United Nations Development Programme) and, in a particularly structural role, the bilateral cooperation with the Ministry of Justice of the Portuguese Republic.

The formal framework of this collaboration was established by the Cooperation Protocol between the Ministries of Justice of Timor-Leste and Portugal, signed in Díli on 21 August 2008. The agreement's central objective was to strengthen capacity in the Timorese justice sector, with particular attention to the training of qualified human resources, in line with the Strategic Development Plan for Timor-Leste 2011-2030 and its Strategic Plan for the Justice Sector.

Under this protocol, the Portuguese Judicial Police (PJ) provided technical assistance in the creation of PCIC, contributing decisively to filling the gaps then existing in the area of criminal investigation in Timor-Leste.

The first training course (2011-2012)

The process of building the body of investigators began with a rigorous public competition, which attracted more than 200 candidates. From these, 66 future investigators were selected on demanding criteria: an undergraduate degree, written knowledge examinations, medical tests, physical tests, psychometric tests, and a psychological interview. Candidates had to be between 21 and 30 years of age.

Training took place at the Judicial Police Academy in Portugal between 9 January and 27 July 2012, totalling 850 hours of theoretical and practical instruction. Permanent appointment was conditional on passing the course and successfully completing a 12-month professional internship in Timor-Leste.

The ten top graduates of the course were selected for additional training oriented towards leadership roles, covering subjects such as leadership, case management, disciplinary law, and operational planning.

The second training course (2014-2016)

In June 2014, the Minister of Justice approved the opening of a second external public competition, under Decree-Law No. 15/2014 of 14 May (PCIC Organic Law), to admit a further 30 trainee investigators. The selection process maintained the same rigorous standards as the previous one, and training was again held at the Judicial Police Academy in Portugal, from January to July 2016.

Formation of the Scientific Police Laboratory

In parallel with the recruitment of investigators, the laboratory component of PCIC was also structured. One senior specialist and 15 specialists were selected to join the future Scientific Police Laboratory (LPC), receiving specialised training in Portugal in three distinct technical areas: Toxicology (April to August 2014), Document Examination (September to December 2014), and Ballistics (September to November 2016).

All training was delivered at the Judicial Police Academy and the Scientific Police Laboratory of the Portuguese PJ, consolidating a partnership that was essential to creating an institution with solid technical and scientific capabilities in the service of Timorese justice.

Timeline

Institutional milestones

21 Aug 2008
Cooperation Protocol between the Ministries of Justice of Timor-Leste and Portugal, signed in Díli.
May 2009
International technical mission visits Timor-Leste and concludes that criminal investigation was "virtually non-existent"; recommends the creation of a specialised judicial police.
12 Feb 2010
Approval of the "Strategic Plan for Timor-Leste 2011-2030 - Justice Sector" by the Justice Coordination Council in Díli; criminal investigation identified as a priority area.
2011
First public competition opens; 66 investigators selected from over 200 candidates; Portuguese-language training begins.
9 Jan - 27 Jul 2012
First Training Course at the Judicial Police Academy, Portugal - 850 hours of theoretical and practical instruction.
Sep-Dec 2012
Training of the first Scientific Police Laboratory (LPC) specialists in Portugal.
2013
12-month professional internship in Timor-Leste; permanent appointment.
Apr-Aug 2014
Training of toxicology specialists at the Portuguese PJ.
14 May 2014
Formal establishment of PCIC by Decree-Law No. 15/2014 - PCIC Organic Law (LOPCIC).
Jun 2014
Order No. 116/MJ/VI/2014 approves the 2nd external public competition - 30 new trainee investigators.
6 Aug 2014
Publication of Decree-Law No. 21/2014, amending the PCIC Organic Law.
Sep-Dec 2014
Training of document-examination specialists at the Portuguese PJ.
Jan-Jul 2016
Second Investigators Training Course at the Judicial Police Academy, Portugal.
27 Jul 2016
Approval of Ministerial Diploma No. 42/2016 - PCIC Code of Ethics, Conduct and Disciplinary Regime.
Sep-Nov 2016
Training of ballistics specialists at the Portuguese PJ.
7 Oct 2016
Publication of the National Risk Assessment for Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing (CNCBC).
18 Jun 2019
Publication of the internal report "Situation Update - PCIC 2019".
Order 40/Dir.PCIC/VIII/2019
Order formalising the drafting of the 2020-2030 Strategic Plan.
14 Aug 2019
Meeting of PCIC Department Heads decides to draft the 2020-2030 Strategic Plan.
Order 46/Dir.PCIC/IX/2019
Appointment of the working group for the Plan's strategic matrix.
13 Jan 2020
Publication of the PCIC Strategic Plan 2020-2030, on the initiative of National Director Dr Vicente Fernandes e Brito.