06/06/2007 00:00:00
UK: Police welcome finger printing advances
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They are the unique markings which have for years helped police single
out offenders from thousands of suspects - but now fingerprints are set
to reveal a whole lot more about all of us.
Researchers at the UEA are at the forefront of a project which could
yield a harvest of clues to help officers investigating crimes.
Information ranging from the sex of a suspect to their eating habits and
personal hygiene can be revealed using the new forensic technique.
And Norfolk police have welcomed the research describing it as an
“exciting” development. Alex Gilbert, head of crime command and forensic
investigation, said it could help solve cases and reduce crime.
The science involves analysing tiny traces of sweat and grease that a
fingerprint leaves on a surface. It is hoped these clues will help piece
together stronger profiles of offenders.
The technology could also have further reaching applications as the
technique can establish what somebody has eaten, what deodorant they are
wearing and any substances they have consumed.
Professor David Russell, who led the research project at the UEA, said:
“If you've had a curry you can feel it coming out of the pores for hours
afterwards - this works on the same principle.
“Young men sweat more than older men, and more than women, so you can
determine age to a degree. This will enable the police to narrow their
lists of suspects. They would be able to say, 'This is a young male
who's a smoker and uses cannabis'
Mr Gilbert said: “Norfolk constabulary enjoys a well established and
dynamic partnership with the UEA including a programme of twelve month
placements of MSc students within the force's forensic investigation
department, crime scene investigation input to UEA courses and the
provision of operational advice during research and development activity.
“We are keen to continue working with the UEA and other partner agencies
to develop exciting new techniques that can be effectively deployed to
detect and reduce crime and this particular development could have a key
role to play, particularly in the investigation of more serious offences.”
It is hoped the project, which has been run in conjunction with King's
College, London, and is funded by the Home Office, will have also uses
in other walks of life.
For example it could be used to detect drivers who are high on drugs;
allow GPs to wave goodbye to needles and specimen jars by diagnosing
disease through a fingerprint test; and provide insurance companies or
potential employers with a simple test to see if somebody smokes.
Mr Russell said: “Now we have cracked the technique we can do it for
virtually anything that can be found in sweat. We have already managed
it with cocaine and caffeine.
“We are aiming to produce a solution that can detect a range of
substances and produce a different colour for each, so it will be
possible to look at a fingerprint and get a lifestyle profile from it.
“In the case of smoking if may be possible to find out if somebody is
lying about whether they have a healthy lifestyle and have ticked the
box saying they're a non-smoker when in fact they smoke.”
http://new.edp24.co.uk/
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=12591
Author:
Eastern Daily Press via UKCIA
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