Introduction to Forensic Photography and Methodologies PDF

Introduction to Forensic Photography and Methodologies MOD007188 Week 1 – Basics of forensic science Georgina Belsham [email protected] SCI006  Learning Objectives What is Forensic Science? What is C...

Introduction to Forensic Photography and Methodologies MOD007188 Week 1 – Basics of forensic science Georgina Belsham [email protected] SCI006  Learning Objectives What is Forensic Science? What is Crime Scene Investigation? Volume v Major Crime Locard’s Law – Basic Principles of Examination PPE - Contamination Continuity and Integrity Job Roles of Forensic Scientists/Police Staff  What does Forensic Mean? ‘Forensic’ is derived from the Latin ‘Forensis’​ “Science used in connection with the administration of law” “Pertaining to the law” “Application of science to law” Criminal law​ Civil law​ List more specialist areas There are many areas of Forensic Science: within Forensic e.g. Science Chemistry Biology Digital analysis…  Figure 1: Forensic science from crime scene to court Source: Morgan, R. M., Nakhaeizadeh, S., Earwaker, H., Rando, C., Harris, A. J. L. Dror, I. E., (2018) Interpretation of evidence: Cognitive decision making under uncertainty (at every step of the forensic science process). Originally from R. Wortley, A. Sidebottom, G. Laycock, & N. Tilley (Eds.), Handbook of Crime Science (Abingdon: Routledge, 2016), pp 408–420  Types of Crime Scenes What is a Crime Scene?  Indoor Hospital/ Outdoor Mortuary Types of Crime Scenes Police station Vehicles People  What is Crime Scene Investigation? This is the recording of details of a crime scene and the recovery of exhibits. The investigation is run by local police forces with trained staff seizing and packaging exhibits before they are examined and analysed by fingerprint/footwear officers or forensic scientists.  Investigations of Crime List as many crimes & incident Crime can be broadly split into two classes; types & decide if volume or major. Volume Major Volume Crime is often ‘minor’ – Theft, Burglary, Car Damage, Minor Injuries. These are given shorter sentences, often in the Magistrates courts. Major Crime includes Rapes, Robberies, incidents with a violent aspect – GBH, Aggravated Burglary etc & Murder. These are heard in the higher crown courts. Volume Crime Establish extent of scene Identify areas/items for preservation Put aside/cover items to preserve evidence Give words of advice to owners Major Crime Establis Establish extent of scene h Mark perimeter clearly – Mark cordons Establis Establish Common Approach Path h Maintai Maintain Scene Log n Prevent unauthorised Prevent access Preserv Preserve integrity of evidence e  Assessment plan STOP, ASSESS and PRESERVE, PLAN, RECOVERY, PLAN, REVIEW, DO  Look around your Locard’s Law in Investigations surroundings and try to find transferred items – such as pet hair etc… “Quiscunque tactus vestigia legat” When a criminal comes into contact with an object or person, a cross transfer of physical material occurs. This transfer can leave various substances known as ‘Trace Evidence’ or contact marks such as Fingerprints and Footwear Marks. Damage from Tools and secretion of Bodily Fluids can also be left at scenes after contact from an offender. Locard’s Exchange Principle This is the most important motto of any Forensic Scientist or Crime Scene Officer and is the basis of any Forensic Science investigation. Edmond Locard (1877-1966) “EVERY CONTACT LEAVES A TRACE”  Locard’s Exchange Principle Dr Edmond Locard – ‘Every time you make contact with another person, place or thing, it results in exchange of physical materials’. Primary Transfer: Transfer of material by direct contact of two items Two-way transfer Primary Transfer of hair/fibre Secondary Transfer of hair/fibre Secondary Transfer: Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Indirect transfer of material to a third item.  Primary (Direct) Transfer Victim to Suspect Crime Scene to Suspect  Secondary Transfer Victim to Suspect to Friend Friend to Suspect to Crime Scene https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/news-events/news/forensic-fibre-research-  Other Contributors to Forensic Science Mathieu Orfila (1787-1853) Considered the father of modern toxicology (detection of poison and their effects) Alphonse Bertillon (1853-1914) First scientific system of personal identification using measurements of physical features and form (anthropometry). Father of scientific detection  Other Contributors to Forensic Science Sir Francis Galton (1822-1911) Classification of fingerprints Rosalind Franklin (1920 -1957), James Watson (1928 -) & Francis Crick (1916- 2004) Structure of DNA Genome Projects https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/discovery-of-dna-structure-and-function-watson-397/ https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/rosalind-franklin-a-crucial-contribution-6538012/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/watson_and_crick.shtml Relevant Research  What is the correct PPE? What is the correct order to put PPE on?  What is Contamination? Contamination Unwanted transfer of material from another source to a piece of physical evidence Cross Contamination Unwanted transfer of material between two or more sources of physical evidence  Contamination The enemy of forensic scientists and crime scene officers – can derail investigations. Important to keep exhibits separated from each other and packaged correctly. Cases have been lost due to contamination. Murder of Meredith Kercher – Trial of Amanda Knox https://www.coursera.org/lecture/challenging-forensic-science/part-a-the-knox-and-sollecito-case-3-discussion-and-conclusion-EwU2d Changes in UK Forensic Science due to the Use Research closure of the FSS and legal mistakes. techniques to locate ISO 17020/17025 further cases where Unit accreditations contamination has been an issue.  Continuity/chain of custody What is it? Cambridge Dictionary: - “When something remains constant over a long period of time” The way the evidence has been handled from the moment it was found, seized, packaged, transported, analysed and produced as an exhibit in court  Continuity/chain of custody It’s important to have all the relevant information Contemporaneous notes are important as they corroborate information on the evidence bag What information is needed? Where was it found? Where was it seized? Who seized it? What was the time and date? How was it packaged? Where was it transported to? Who analysed it in labs?  Maintaining continuity The continuity label of an item MUST be signed when: Originally packaged SOCO, officer, Pathologist At the lab Received and opened Passed to another person for examination Item is returned to Police Any other time someone takes responsibility for the item Cold cases Passing on an item is to be acknowledged in contemp notes – name/time/date  Integrity Can you recall any cases where What is it? Integrity has been Cambridge Dictionary: - an issue? “the quality of being whole and complete” This refers to the state in which the evidence is in and how well it has been protected from damage, interference and contamination Evidence should be preserved as close to its original condition as found at the scene  Integrity The integrity of the evidence must be maintained to make that evidence admissible in court How would you do this?  CAP  PPE  Cordons  Sterile areas  Correct handling and packaging  Keep detailed contemporaneous notes  Awareness of contamination and cross-contamination  Public Service Duties The ‘Nolan’ Principles require all staff working in a public office to uphold the following: 1.4 Accountability Holders of public office are accountable to the public 1.1 Selflessness for their decisions and actions and must submit Holders of public office should act solely in terms of themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this. the public interest. 1.5 Openness 1.2 Integrity Holders of public office should act and take decisions Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves in an open and transparent manner. Information should under any obligation to people or organisations that not be withheld from the public unless there are clear might try inappropriately to influence them in their and lawful reasons for so doing. work. They should not act or take decisions in order to 1.6 Honesty gain financial or other material benefits for Holders of public office should be truthful. themselves, their family, or their friends. They must 1.7 Leadership declare and resolve any interests and relationships. Holders of public office should exhibit these principles 1.3 Objectivity in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. Holders of public office must act and take decisions They should actively promote and robustly support the impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it and without discrimination or bias. occurs. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-7-principles-of-public-life/the-7-principles-of-public-life--2  Roles and responsibilities of a CSI – multitalented police staff } Assessing the crime scene Preparing sketches and diagrams Crime Scene Investigator Documenting the scene in the form of (CSI) photographs and contemporaneous notes Handling and packaging evidence Crime Scene Examiner Knowledge of a variety of evidence collection (CSE) techniques – physical, chemical, biological Awareness of specialism requirements Scenes of Crime Officer Safe storage and transport of evidence (SOCO) Attending post-mortem examinations Presenting statements in court Forensic Investigator (FI) Maintaining and cleaning equipment  Other Scientific Police Staff Fingerprint Examiners Chemical Enhancement Officers Footwear Examiners Forensic Imaging Staff In-House Laboratory Specialists See Cellmark/EMSOU collaboration Drug and Glass Analysis Digital Investigation / Cyber Crime / Ballistic Hubs Submission and Administration Staff Property Officers / Couriers  Investigative Police Staff/Officers After a crime is reported police will attend the first police officer to arrive is the First Attending Officer (FAO) If the officer requires Crime Scene Investigator (CSI), this will be requested through the force control room (FCR) Other personnel that may attend a crime could be a Crime Scene Manager (CSM)- usually major crime such as a murder Senior Investigating officer (SIO) Detective Inspector (DI) or Detective Sergeant (DS) Detective Constable (DC) Uniformed officers  Pathologist / Medical Specialists Trained medical doctor before specialising in Pathology. Some train further to become HOME OFFICE PATHOLOGISTS. Attend crime scenes Carry out post-mortem examinations Declares cause of death Needs a very strong stomach!  Forensic Scientists Forensic Biologist Various skills from Blood Pattern (BPA) to DNA analysis Need to have in depth knowledge of chemistry and biology. Do not usually attend crime scenes. They work mostly in the lab examining submitted items. Analysis of body fluids, DNA, Poisons and drugs, Entomology, BPA.  Forensic Scientists Forensic Chemist Toxicology from Pathological samples Drug and unknown substance examination Need to have in depth knowledge of chemistry. Do not usually attend crime scenes. They work mostly in the lab examining submitted items. Drugs analysis, explosives, accelerants, analysis glass, ink analysis and other unknown substances.  Forensic Scientists Forensic Anthropologist Examination and identification of bones. Forensic Entomologist Study insects in relation to criminal investigation. Ballistic Specialist – National Ballistics Intelligence Service Tests and examines recovered guns and ammunition https://www.nabis.police.uk/  Court Attendance Ultimate duty is NOT towards police force, victim, suspect, clients or to the laboratory. Duty is towards the COURT. When you go into the witness box – ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH. Scientists provide evidence to help answer the court’s questions – always based on facts. It is NOT up to the scientist or CSI to establish whether a person is innocent or guilty.  Professionals at a crime scene Depending on the type of crime there may be other professionals present at the scene at some point: Forensic pathologist Forensic physician Local GP Ambulance crew Undertaker Firearms officer Forensic photography specialist Bomb disposal experts Fire investigator (Police or Fire service) Forensic anthropologist Forensic entomologist Forensic botanist Environmental health specialists Police dogs – drugs, cash, firearms, tracker, cadaver  Various Career Opportunities https://allpolicejobs.co.uk/scientific-support-jobs https://www.fcn.police.uk/latest/jobs https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/search/?currentJobId=4 013376425&keywords=forensic&origin=JOB_SEARC H_PAGE_SEARCH_BUTTON&originalSubdomain=uk &refresh=true https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/forensic-investigator-jobs/?curr https://www.linkedin.com/groups/ entJobId=4013376425&originalSubdomain=uk 12108319/ https://uk.indeed.com/jobs?q=forensic+investigator& l=&from=searchOnDesktopSerp&vjk=64169baba58 ebac1  Further research Crime Scene Photography 2nd Edition Robinson Crime Scene to Court The Essentials of Forensic Science 4th Edition Peter White Fingerprint Development Handbook 2nd Edition Home Office Forensic Photography A Practitioner’s Guide Marsh Murphy on Evidence 6th Edition Peter Murphy PACE: A Practical Guide to the Police and Criminal Act 1984 3rd Edition Ozin, Norton and Spivey. Police Photography 5th Edition Miller Useful Websites https://www.app.college.police.uk/app-content/investigations/forensics/