Development of fire-technical expertise in the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia at the present stage

Introduction: the article deals with the issues of expert support of detection and investigation of crimes involving fires. Materials and Methods: on the basis of the analysis of expert practice and activities of expert forensic units of the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia the conclusion is made about the key importance of scientific-methodological and technical-criminalistic support for the development of fire-technical expertise. The Results of the Study: the authors proved the effectiveness of the inspection of the scene with the use of modern instrumental means of research and fixation of non-verbal information, which already at the stage of preliminary investigation can determine the place of initial combustion, and, as a consequence, the technical cause of the fire. The issues of training and retraining of personnel for the needs of expert forensic units, as well as educational organisations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the formation and development of future experts of fire-technical direction are covered. Findings and Conclusions: the most useful information from the detected traces during the inspection of the scene is the main task that has to be solved in the investigation of fires. An integrated approach in the study of signs, traces and objects allows to strengthen the evidentiary base of this category of cases.