The future of fingerprinting?
Fingerprints are everywhere. Every day we all leave these signature patterns on door handles, desks and almost everything we touch. But taking fingerprints from soft surfaces is much more difficult, despite the potential value to criminal investigations.
Joanna Fraser, a researcher at Abertay University and Forensic Sciences graduate, is currently researching how fine layers of metals can be used to display fingerprints on fabrics. The technical challenges are considerable, but Joanna’s work is showing a way forward.
“Police investigations currently don’t use fabric fingerprinting” she says. “The technique has been around since the 1970s, but I’m looking to prove it can be used effectively on fabrics – and help change how investigations are carried out.”
Science and skin contact
Whenever we touch a piece of fabric, we leave a trace residue on it. From this, a fingerprint can be acquired and potentially lead to a suspect.
“We take the fabric and place it in a vacuum chamber. Then gold is heated until it vaporises and forms a fine layer. This coats the fabric, sticking to everything. We then heat some zinc, which attaches to the gold – helping reveal the impression of a handprint.”
As the photograph above shows, the accuracy of the technique can be startling, particularly given that the print can also reveal the shape of the hand as it made contact. This could provide evidence in cases that someone was pushed, or grabbed, in a particular area of their clothing.
Worldwide applications
Joanna was recently awarded a prestigious Churchill Fellowship in recognition of her important research, allowing her to travel to the United States, Canada and Australia to learn how law enforcement agencies use different fingerprinting techniques.
“Sharing this research with criminal investigators and other academic experts is extremely important, as it will help me to further develop the technique,” she adds. “The aim is to produce clear guidelines for fingerprinting fabrics for the police.”
The next step will be to expand the scope of the research further, in consultation with the Scottish Police Services Authority and UK Home Office Scientific Development Branch, a long way on since being one of Abertay’s first Forensic Sciences graduates.
Links
Abertay University offers a wide range of forensics courses and associated subjects, which include:
BSc (Hons) Behavioural Science
BA (Hons) Criminological Studies
BSc (Hons) Forensic Psychobiology
BSc (Hons) Forensic Sciences
DipHE Forensic Studies
BSc (Hons) Psychology