Dr Stephen Bleay

I joined LSBU in 2019 after nearly 25 years in the scientific civil service, firstly at the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency where I worked on radar absorbing ‘stealth’ materials and smart composites for use in aircraft structures, and latterly at the Home Office Centre for Applied Science and Technology where I became Senior Technical Specialist, primarily working within the Fingerprint Research Group. I have a BSc and PhD in Materials Science, both from the University of Bath, and am a Fellow of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences and a Member of the Institute of Materials Minerals and Mining.

My main research interests are in the interactions that can occur between the environment, the surface and different types of trace evidence that may be deposited on it, bringing together my background in materials science and my more recent experience in forensic science. These interactions are critical in understanding whether trace evidence is likely to survive the conditions at a crime scene and subsequent environmental exposure, and better understanding the changes in chemical and physical properties that occur may lead to improved ways of recovering trace evidence exposed to extreme environments. I also have an interest in the use of advanced imaging techniques for the location and imaging of trace evidence.
I am an invited member of the International Fingerprint Research group and through collaborative networks formed from that membership have co-authored over 50 forensic science-related publications in peer-reviewed journals, am one of the principal authors of the world recognised Home Office Fingermark Visualisation Manual, and recently authored the text book ‘Fingerprint Development Techniques – Theory and Application’ published in 2018. I also act as a Forensic Advisor to the Defence Science & Technology Laboratory, and as a Technical Assessor for fingerprint laboratories for the UK Accreditation Service.

Introduction to Forensic Science Fundamentals of Measurement & Instrumentation Core and Materials Science Crime Laboratory Crime Scene Management & Processing Research Methods for Forensic Science Research Project/Advanced Projects