National footwear database ‘some time away’

Despite claims in the national media that the Forensic Science Service (FSS) are launching the “world’s first national footprint database”, the truth is that a common language where forces can communicate footwear reference numbers across borders is still some time away.

The FSS have revamped their own footwear database, often named ‘the Chorley database’, which, although used by many forces, does not represent a national catalogue of footwear markings.

According to the FSS, there has been some poetic license related to media claims that their database is a national one.

There are two main commercial footwear databases in the UK, these belong to the FSS and Foster and Freeman. LGC/Forensics, along with a number of forces, use the Foster and Freeman system. Some forces have developed their own systems and Lancashire Constabulary probably has the largest police owned database. Due to the commercial nature of providing forensic services, a stalemate is currently in place which is proving an obstacle towards the existence of a single national database.

Doctor Kathryn Mashiter is the Scientific Support Manager for Lancashire Constabulary and oversees the force’s forensic footwear unit which sits within the Sleuth Data Warehouse system.

Dr Mashiter also co-ordinates the development of a national footwear solution on behalf of the ACPO forensics portfolio.

She said: “Forces are unanimous in wanting a national database but we are not there yet.” Describing the issues involved Dr Mashiter likened it to the national DNA database. “Initially the FSS were custodians of that database and sole providers of the service before it was realised that it had to be operated outside of the commercial world.”

She added: “We are striving for a common language for footwear evidence and intelligence and this was agreed by the scientific support managers at their National Conference last October. We also agreed we needed a National Footwear Reference Collection (NFRC). What has not been agreed is where this database is going to be situated.

“If we use either of the main commercial systems there would be on obvious commercial impact on the other company”.

“With commercial interests it makes the process of obtaining a single database difficult; I know discussions are on- going between the two companies and LGC/Forensics and I am hopeful they will come up with a cost effective solution to solve our short term problems.”

Can it develop outside of the commercial world, as did Lancashire’s model? Dr Mashiter said a national equivalent could be started from scratch and it could even be put out to tender. It is an option but the commercial products hold hundreds of thousands of footwear prints which would be a shame to forsake. To start from scratch does not seem sensible.

Dr Mashiter believes that ownership eventually must rest in police hands, just as for the national DNA database, because primarily it would contain police data. Currently the FSS’s database is based upon detainees footwear impressions supplied by police whilst Foster and Freeman invest heavily in purchasing footwear manufacturers details.

“I believe we will eventually follow the direction of the DNA database model; we need a footwear database outside of the commercial world controlled by the police. However, we are probably some time away from that because somebody has got to take the project on board and develop it,” said Dr Mashiter.

Her vision is a national catalogue of footwear markings allowing marks to be referenced and communicated between forces. “We should not have to photocopy and fax a picture of a mark. We should be able to ask the question, ‘have you found Adidas267 at any crime scenes?’ at the moment we can’t do that.

“It is early days and discussion between the two main service providers is ongoing.”

She added: “The FSS and Foster Freeman do have very attractive and accessible databases but it is essential that a central model is