From left to right: Koo Jun Yuan, CRIMES3 Operations Officer, Criminal Investigation Department, Singapore Police Force and Shayna Kam Lyn, Senior Crime Scene Specialist, Forensics CoE, HTX (Photo: HTX Forensics CoE)
HTX’s work in digitalising crime scene forensics was recently showcased internationally at the 2025 Korea Crime Scene Investigation (KCSI) International Conference.
Held from 18 to 19 November in Seoul, Republic of Korea, the KCSI conference is an annual event that brings together experts from across the world to share knowledge on the latest trends and research in forensic science.
This year, Senior Crime Scene Specialist Shayna Kam Lyn, who is from HTX’s Forensics Centre of Expertise (CoE) and is currently forward deployed to the Forensics Division, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Singapore Police Force (SPF), was invited to share her insights on the development of the Forensics Unified Management System (ForUMS) and how integrated digital case management systems can transform the way investigations are conducted.
Prior to digitalisation, crime scene processing and documentation relied heavily on manual and often paper-based processes, with much of it carried out offline. Information was physically recorded, and exchanged through calls, messages, hardcopy documents and emails, and then stored in separate files and systems.
Such practices can be time-consuming, making it challenging to integrate information across multiple cases or recognise patterns in a timely manner.
To address these challenges, SPF collaborated with HTX to develop ForUMS, a forensic case management system that brings key crime scene processes and records together on a single, easily accessible digital platform. Beyond improving efficiency, the aim was also to consolidate and harness crime scene data to unlock its latent potential for actionable investigative insights.
ForUMS’s efforts in supporting forensics and investigations does not end there. It is also closely integrated with SPF’s end-to-end case digital case management platform CRIMES3, supporting the full investigative lifecycle and covering everything from report triaging, statement recording, exhibit management, to integration with the broader criminal justice ecosystem partners.
Together, ForUMS and CRIMES3 link what happens at the crime scene with what happens throughout the rest of the investigation and eventually in court, making it easier and more efficient to solve crimes.
In her presentation, Shayna also shared how ForUMS and its mobile version, mForUMS, have changed day to day work for Crime Scene Specialists. End to end processes, from deployment to post scene operations, she said, are now digitalised and streamlined into a single web and mobile-enabled platform. Officers can also use their secure work smartphones to log key forensic actions and observations, manage transactions with investigators and send images of evidence in a timely and seamless manner at scene and even in challenging field environments. Information flows quickly to Investigators through CRIMES3, which allows them to coordinate more effectively and closely with their forensic counterparts.
“Presenting ForUMS at the KCSI conference was a valuable opportunity to showcase the progress Singapore’s frontline forensics has made in leveraging technology to transform operations, as well as deepen collaboration with its investigation partners,” said Shayna.
“It has been encouraging to see ForUMS and its integration with CRIMES3 being used on the ground every day, knowing that the tools we helped develop have made their work easier and opened up new possibilities for growth in frontline forensic work,” she added.
HTX is continuing to support the digitalisation of Home Team processes to further strengthen its capabilities. Looking ahead, the team is exploring tighter integration between ForUMS and CRIMES3 and tapping on emerging technologies such as AI.
