We hear about many cases that had to be thrown out of court because of lack of evidence. So yes properly collecting and securing evidence especially in high profile cases like murder is a really big deal â€" murderers can walk free without it. That is why all the pressure is on the scenes of crime team to ensure that a scene is not tampered with in any way. Well the scenes of crime team got major help today when the US embassy donated $800,000 US dollars in equipment and vehicles. Courteny Weatherburne has more

This barricade tape, the police personnel shuffling within it and the flashing lights are all too familiar at any murder scene. But these setups aren’t just to make a spectacle â€" the scenes of crime unit have to thoroughly process the scene. It is a very involved process, one that the unit has been having difficulty carrying out because of the lack of resources and vehicles.

Those struggles should be significantly reduced after the US donated vehicles and a variety of equipment today:

Nathan Bland - Acting Chargé d’Affaires
"Today we are handing over 9 Ford F-150 vehicles so that each scenes of crime office throughout the country of Belize will be able to arrive at crimes scenes faster anywhere in the country. There is all kinds of equipment there ranging from simple things like lights and generators to help the staff to process scenes of crimes at night time. There are sketch pads to draw out a crime scene, there's crime scene tape that you've seen on TV to try to cordon off the elements of a crime scene but then there is also more complex and expensive items like ultraviolet lights to try to detect bodily fluids and other substances that are not readily visible to the human eye. There is a laser trajectory kit that can help people establish what direction a bullet was fired from. There are sexual assault kits, there is a portable x-ray machine and a drying cabinet which is important for preserving evidence so that the blood stains or bodily fluids that are found don't get molded over."

Courtney Weatherburne
"What are some of the issues or challenges you guys had to face without all this equipment or this donation?"

Lloyd Roches - Head, Scene of Crime Unit
"Some of the challenges we had were the limited kits we had to take because the police had to come to our office and take us to the crime scene after they have responded to the crime scene. Now they could just call us and we will respond immediately with them to the crime scene."

While the donation itself is important, the impact it can have on the crime rate and in criminal court cases, is even greater.

Nathan Bland
"Reducing the sense of impunity is an important element in reducing crime for all here in Belize. If people intending to commit a crime feel that there is a good chance they'll be caught and later prosecuted then they may think twice before committing that crime. The scene of crime unit here plays an important role in making sure that criminals do eventually get caught and due ultimately punished. The analysis and preservation of physical evidence done in a timely fashion at the crime scene critical to give reliable information to aid in the police investigations later which may ultimately lead to a successful prosecution."

Lloyd Roches
"We are glad for this donation because we can prove that we can do whatever we want to do, no stones, no leaves will be left unturned for us because we have everything now in our vehicle and we also have some new cameras as well. So nothing will hamper us from processing our crime scene to the fullest."

The vehicles will be distributed to each scenes of crime office around the country. The ballistics office and the pathologist office also got equipment.