Overseas directors of public prosecution and other foreign experts will speak at a two-day crime conference next week.

The Department of Public Prosecutions is hosting the event — with the theme of Prosecution Challenges, Innovative Solutions — at Elbow Beach Hotel on Thursday and Friday.

Experts from the Caribbean, the USA, Canada and Ireland will join Bermuda's prosecuting fraternity in presenting information and discussing issues of money laundering, prosecutorial independence, proceeds of crime and forensic evidence.

Speakers will include:

* Charles Leacock, director of public prosecutions (DPP) in Barbados, on "Sharpening the Focus on Non-Narcotic Money Laundering".

* Bernard Turner, DPP in the Bahamas, on "Share the Burden, Share the Proceeds."

* Terrence Williams, DPP in the British Virgin Islands, on "Challenges to Investigating and Prosecuting Trans-Border Money Laundering".

* James Hamilton, QC, DPP in Ireland, on "The Main Principles of the Prosecutor's Independence".

* Geoffrey Henderson, DPP in Trinidad and Tobago, "Political Independence of the Prosecutor".

* DNA analyst Candy Zuleger on "Using DNA to Investigate & Prosecute Serious Crimes"

* Blood stain pattern analyst Roi Gilbert on "The Science of Blood Stain Pattern Analysis".

* Forensic anthropologist Dr. Heather Walsh-Haney, forensic entomologist Dr. Jason Byrd and forensic botanist Dr. David Hall on "Bugs, Bones & Botany".

Lawyers Cindy Clarke, Carrington Mahoney and Paula Tyndale, from Bermuda's Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, will also host sessions on topics including proceeds of crime and the use of forensic sciences in investigations.

Bermuda DPP Rory Field said: "The issues under discussion are common to all prosecuting agencies within sophisticated jurisdictions.

"We are delighted to have such a wealth of international talent speaking at our conference. There is much value in relevant jurisdictions coming together to share best practices and we are looking forward to a very successful event."

He added that "to successfully deal with complex crime it is necessary to build cooperation and coordination between those agencies tasked with the fight against crime".

Conference delegates will include members of the judiciary, the Bermuda bar, Bermuda Police Service, Bermuda Customs, Bermuda Monetary Authority, the new Financial Intelligence Agency and health professionals.