Technical Report A light touch; Reviewing the relative effectiveness of light sources and physical/chemical techniques for fingermark retrieval in casework

Nick Marsh; Karen Marsh; Lisa Hall; Ruth Buckley; Stephen Bleay

doi:10.1016/j.fsir.2024.100391

Technical Report A light touch; Reviewing the relative effectiveness of light sources and physical/chemical techniques for fingermark retrieval in casework

Nick Marsh, Karen Marsh, Lisa Hall, Ruth Buckley, Stephen Bleay

Human Sciences

Metropolitan Police Service

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

This study reviewed the efficacy of non-contact light source examinations of serious crime scenes using ultraviolet A (UVA) light, bespoke white light and lasers, compared with subsequent powdering or chemical enhancements. Twenty-six examinations of serious crime scenes or motor vehicles were analysed, from which 655 areas of retrieved fingermark or friction ridge detail1 where reported on. It was found that undertaking a light source examination revealed equivalent numbers of marks to aluminium powder and chemical enhancements, with only a 4 % duplication rate between optical and physical/chemical techniques suggesting that both approaches are supplementary and should be used sequentially to each other.

Original language	English
Article number	100391
Number of pages	7
Journal	Forensic Science International: Reports
Volume	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsir.2024.100391
Publication status	Published - 9 Nov 2024

Keywords

Friction ridge detailLight sourcesChemical enhancementCrime scene examinationFluorescence examination

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.fsir.2024.100391Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

1-s2.0-S2665910724000409-mainFinal published version, 1.01 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Cite this

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abstract = "This study reviewed the efficacy of non-contact light source examinations of serious crime scenes using ultraviolet A (UVA) light, bespoke white light and lasers, compared with subsequent powdering or chemical enhancements. Twenty-six examinations of serious crime scenes or motor vehicles were analysed, from which 655 areas of retrieved fingermark or friction ridge detail1 where reported on. It was found that undertaking a light source examination revealed equivalent numbers of marks to aluminium powder and chemical enhancements, with only a 4 \% duplication rate between optical and physical/chemical techniques suggesting that both approaches are supplementary and should be used sequentially to each other.",

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AU - Bleay, Stephen

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AB - This study reviewed the efficacy of non-contact light source examinations of serious crime scenes using ultraviolet A (UVA) light, bespoke white light and lasers, compared with subsequent powdering or chemical enhancements. Twenty-six examinations of serious crime scenes or motor vehicles were analysed, from which 655 areas of retrieved fingermark or friction ridge detail1 where reported on. It was found that undertaking a light source examination revealed equivalent numbers of marks to aluminium powder and chemical enhancements, with only a 4 % duplication rate between optical and physical/chemical techniques suggesting that both approaches are supplementary and should be used sequentially to each other.

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