Forensic Geoscience: Principles, Techniques and Applications

Number 33 Jan – Mar 2003 ISSN 1359-0820 THE FORENSIC SCIENCE SOCIETY interA forum for forensic scientistsfaces and associated professionals Forensic geoscience: principles, techniques and applications 3 + 4 March 2003 (Convenors: Kenneth Pye and Debra J Croft) Forensic geoscience is a rapidly developing sub-discipline of geoscience and is concerned Forensic Geology, the first (and only) evidence, as well as diatom analysis and was with the application of earth and wider textbook on the subject. Prof. Murray’s chaired by Prof. Tony Brown (Exeter). environmental information and techniques to keynote paper addressed the subject of Exciting work on a new automated scanning investigations which may come before a court ‘Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow’. The morning electron microscopic technique (Camborne of law (civil or criminal). It incorporates session (chaired by Debra Croft) then covered School of Mines/CSIRO, Australia) and the forensic geology and forensic soil science, but various geophysical techniques for detection analysis of potential hazards and risks from there are also important overlaps with of burial sites and disturbed ground, with space debris were also presented. The forensic archaeology, forensic anthropology, contributors from the archaeological field, as afternoon final session (chaired by Prof. forensic engineering and forensic biology. As well as the modelling of the movement of Raymond Murray) concentrated on case well as being concerned with all types of bodies in tidal river estuaries. The afternoon studies and use of techniques in practice, with earth materials, including rocks, sediments, session (chaired by Prof. Kenneth Pye) then contributions from the FBI (Washington), the soils, dusts, air and water, and with a wide covered microscopic techniques and chemical Department of Justice (Riverside, California), range of natural phenomena and processes, element analysis of samples, including both the Centre of Forensic Sciences (Ontario), such as wind, waves, tides and river flows, radiogenic and stable isotopic analyses and CERAM Building Technology (UK), The forensic geoscience also encompasses the their application to soil, bone and teeth. The University of Alabama, the Forensic Science study of particles of anthropogenic origin, evening wine and poster session showed 16 Service (London), and Kenneth Pye including materials such as brick, concrete, posters of wide-ranging and high-quality Associates Ltd. ceramics and glass. scientific research in the forensic field, with Thanks are given for sponsorship and support contributions from England, Scotland and The conference, held at The Geological to The Forensic Science Society, The Wales, The Netherlands, Italy, USA and Society, Piccadilly, London, was opened by Geological Society, Hitachi High Japan. Prof. Raymond Murray (University of Technologies, Kenneth Pye Associates Ltd., Montana) and author (with Tedrow, 1975, Day two started with sessions on and Leica Microsystems. Full details of the Prentice Hall) of the ground-breaking biomaterials, palynology and botanical programme can be obtained, and an abstract interfaces is sponsored by FOSTER + FREEMAN, improving the quality of forensic evidence interfaces Number 33 THE FORENSIC SCIENCE SOCIETY page 2 volume can be purchased, by contacting: Debra Croft Forensic Alliance Conferences 2003 ([email protected]) Tel/fax: 01344 751 610; an accompanying Geological Society Special Publication is to be published early in 7 June 2003 2004. A workshop for academics providing forensic courses The potential value of using earth materials in criminal investigations ‘A day in the life ..... of a forensic scientist’ was recognized more than a century ago, but interest has increased considerably over the past two to three decades. Murray and Tedrow 20 June 2003 published the first (and only) book on Forensic Geology in 1975, and it A joint meeting with the Royal Microscopical Society remains a valuable reference source. There have, however, been major ‘Forensic Electron Microscopy – Spreading best practice’ advances in analytical methodology and scientific understanding since that time. Contributions in forensic geoscience now range from 18–19 July 2003 ground-based and remotely-sensed field investigations to laboratory A repeat of the open air scene workshop micro-analysis of sub-micron sized particles. The information obtained Entomology, archaeology, osteology, palenology, 1:1 taping can be used simply as background ‘intelligence’ to assist active Residential this year investigations, or as evidence in both criminal and civil proceedings. There is still a need, however, to define more precisely the evidential 11–12 October 2003 value of geoscientific information, through the development of better Traffic Workshop databases and experimental investigations to specifically address key Applications of Forensic Science to Traffic Offences. Includes effect of questions of forensic concern. drugs/drink on drivers and the law; vehicle examinations for trace evidence, accident reconstruction, interpretive blood pattern analysis The geoscience community generally has a duty to inform the and DNA applications. professionals involved in the legal process of the potential and limitations of the information which can be provided, and geoscientific For further information contact expert witnesses need to find improved ways of explaining their Karen Schembri findings in court. As with other types of forensic evidence, Tel: 01235 551800 Fax: 01865 407162 communication between scientists, investigating teams and legal Email: [email protected] professionals is essential if the most effective use is to be made of the information available. In future, many promising developments can be expected through inter-disciplinary collaboration and joint initiatives. interfaces Number 33 NEWSLETTER page 3 in a day spent at magistrates’ court, often Phillip Owen Rees followed by another day at Quarter Sessions, since defendants often elected to be tried by a jury. They felt the jury would look at the dock and say ‘There but for the Grace of God go 1921–2002 I’. To a large extent the work was made easier by the introduction of a statutory limit and Forensic scientists have been saddened by the Laboratory was also opened. Later the Home later, of course, by the breath test. death of one of their colleagues, Phil Rees, on Office took over the Nottingham laboratory 26 December 2002. Although he retired in which initially covered most of England and Phil Rees therefore spent a great deal of time 1982 he will be fondly remembered by Wales, but as the work expanded other Home in courts around the East Midlands area and colleagues of all ages as one of the early Office regional laboratories were opened. was well respected by magistrates, judges and pioneers of forensic science. lawyers. He was a very confident and capable When Phil Rees joined the Nottingham witness. He attended many suspicious fires Phil was born in Ferndale, Rhondda Valley, laboratory there was a total staff of about ten, and also dealt with explosives in safe blowing South Wales, 13 March 1921. He obtained a the work being divided into three cases, which were common at that time. He B. Pharm (Hons ) degree at Cardiff departments, Chemistry, Biology and Physics. provided an excellent service to the police University and went on to work as a Research The rather inappropiate designation ‘Physics’ and was well respected by them. Chemist in Cancer Research at Sunbury on appeared to be for no other reason than that Thames, where he met his wife Sheila. He the head of the section was a physicist. The As the work expanded and additional staff spent three years as a Research Chemist and work involved examination of paint and glass, were recruited he was a first class example to Assistant Lecturer in Pharmacology at spectrography etc in cases of hit-and-run road junior staff both as an expert witness and in Nottingham University and was awarded an accidents, breaking offences, footprints and his laboratory work. They now speak very M.Pharm and ARIC. toolmarks. In later years the term highly of his patience in training them, often ‘Criminalistics’ was used for this work. staying behind long after normal laboratory He was appointed Staff Chemist at the Home Although Phil worked in chemistry, because hours. During Phil’s time in the Chemistry Office Forensic Science Laboratory, staffing was so limited he often undertook Department new methods were developed and Nottingham in 1952 and during his time there this type of work. A ballistics Section was sound principles laid down was awarded FRSC. also opened later at Nottingham. Forensic science of today owes a great deal to It is difficult for forensic scientists of today to The Chemistry Department was extremely the early pioneers and Phil Rees was certainly appreciate how different things were in those busy with toxicology work submitted by the one of the best. It came as a shock that he early days. The first laboratory to be formed police and coroners, drugs and analysis of died so suddenly on Boxing Day, but the one was a small forensic science laboratory blood and urine samples in drunk in charge consolation was that he had a happy serving the Nottingham City Police in 1937 cases. Half an hour analysing a blood or urine Christmas Day with his whole family. which was soon used by other forces also. sample by the early ‘steam’ method of Around this time the Metropolitan Police Kozelka and Hine would almost always result

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