Forensic research in operation

How do forensic practitioners for a major metropolitan police force with operational commitments find the time to carry out forensic research that could become valuable in the fight against crime? Damian Small reports.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Metropolitan Police Directorate of Forensic Services and the Department of Forensic Science and Drug Monitoring, King’s College, London (KCL) is the basis for the answer to that question.

Doctor Carol Ames is a DNA profiling scientist and works closely with both sides of the partnership. She said: “The memorandum, established last year, cemented the strong links that already existed between KCL and the Met. Allowing the Met’s forensic practitioners’ research ideas to be studied and trialled by students is proving to have a direct bearing on operational effectiveness.”

Some of the projects to date include improving chemical enhancement methods, trialling drug testing kits, improving methods of recovering DNA from touched surfaces and documents, developing an alternate light source for crime scene work and validating of spray for visualising firearm details on suspects’ hands.

One of the elements of the MOU is the collaboration of KCL students undertaking a Masters in Forensic Science (MSc) degree with Directorate staff on a three-month research project. The Met provides ideas for research, the subsequent project gives the students an opportunity to work alongside operational staff whilst the Met benefits from KCL’s scientific knowledge and facilities.

“We are very lucky,” said Dr Ames. “People working within the Met are very keen to put forward research ideas that would benefit their working practice. As a result, feedback is very positive because forensic practitioners are interested in obtaining the results.”

A list of research ideas is compiled by the Directorate and is offered to the students as a basis of possible research projects. “We then choose the students, give them a synopsis of where we see the project going – and we are very open to ideas from them and the academic staff from King’s – and give them support in fulfilling the research,” explained Dr Ames.

“It allows a forensic practitioner who is committed to operational duties to approach a student and say, for example, ‘I read about a project in a different country and want to see if it can be applied to work we are conducting here’. A student can take the idea on board, investigate whether it can be applied in the Met and obtain the results.”

The work is conducted over the summer period and when the projects are completed, a written research summary is published internally and with other forensic science journals, sharing results and conclusions. The projects are also submitted as part of a student’s Masters degree.

In late 2003, a man was attacked and stabbed several times. A knife was recovered from the crime scene and submitted for DNA and fingerprint analysis. On examination of the exhibit, a very small area of ridge detail was revealed on the blade, showing not only ridge characteristics but also evidence of third level fingerprint detail.

This was photographed and submitted to the Met’s Fingerprint Bureau. A King’s student, working alongside Graham Hillsmith, Senior Forensic practitioner, Metropolitan Police, began a study into the conditions necessary for the effective recording of third level fingerprint detail.

Using the project results, Mr Hillsmith was able to obtain the detail required from a suspect by reverting back to traditional methods of using ink but varying the pressure and amount of ink during fingerprinting. Sufficient detail was captured to enable an identification to be made; vital evidence that secured a conviction for attempted murder.

Mr Hillsmith said: “Traditionally, inking and printing was the best way to record normal type fingerprints with ridge characteristics. Today, third level detail such as poreoscopy (pore structure) and edgeos