July 2014 inside this issue The new era of hyper The home of crime scene science sensitivity in DNA profiling and the issue of contamination. Page 2 Should contextual bias Welcome to the second issue of be acknowledged as a factor within crime CSEye scene interpretation? Page 4 For terrorists, documents are as important as weapons Page 6 Is overseas research on Welcome to the second issue of CS Eye. I am pleased to say that the first issue was the Post Mortem received very positively. A number of articles was picked up and reported Interval relevant to the elsewhere, such as in Police Oracle. One article that was particularly popular was UK? the Jack the Ripper article by Bob Milne. Page 10 CSI: Canine Scene Investigators? For the second issue, we have even more articles for your perusal. We have a Page 22 fascinating article by Russ Middleton discussing how documents are a vital tool for Forensic Input into terrorists. Wildlife Crime Page 26 We also have articles relating to sniffer dogs, contextual bias, and investigating Bluestar®: arson. We have features relating to various legal aspects of the crime scene The effect of sciences. disinfectants and surfaces to detect haemoglobin I am also very pleased to highlight student input in to our research, with a PhD Page 30 student producing an article on sniffer dogs, and a couple of undergraduate Forensic Investigators: student’s dissertations being included in this issue. The area of crime scene Private Consultants examination is not considered an academic field, a view particularly held by working within the Civil practitioners. However, if the crime scene sciences is to progress and develop, it is Law important that we look to the research institutions for innovative technologies. It is Page 31 also important for universities to reach out to the practitioners to identify areas that Health Effects Caused need improving. This gap between the research in the lab and the application of by Cannabis Plants to new technology in the field is referred to as the ‘valley of death’ and it is important Police Personnel for both parties on either side to reach across and build this bridge in order to allow Dealing With Illicit innovation to be applied. Cannabis Cultivation Sites Page 38 CSEye Is published by The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences Page 2 The new era of hyper sensitivity in DNA profiling and the issue of contamination. Since its discovery DNA has been established as a ever increasing sensitivity may result in a challenge powerful, high tech, and reliable tool in the to the public perception of DNA infallibility. DNA investigation of crime and has led to the may be used to identify an individual but it may not identification and conviction of offenders always be possible to identify the material from throughout the world. DNA has also confirmed the which the profile was obtained an also how it ar- miscarriage of justice with numerous individuals rived at the location. Consideration should be given released from prison and exonerated for crimes to the working practices of forensic committed and convictions made prior to the practitioners and other personnel who may be introduction of DNA. The scientific advances made required to attend crime scenes. Many forensic within the field of DNA have been spectacular with practitioners will consider it logical to assume a an ever increasing sensitivity in identifying correlation between increased sensitivity within offenders. The progress made within the field of DNA profiling and the potential for contamination. DNA profiling should always be considered in comparison to the limitations and evidential value The potential for contamination may be illustrated of blood grouping procedures that were relied by a murder case reported in 2012 in Monte upon prior to the introduction of DNA. Sereno, California, USA where the suspects DNA was recovered from the victim’s fingernails. It was In December 2013 a new and more sensitive DNA reported that the suspect had previously been profiling system called DNA 17 was introduced in treated by a paramedic and stated that DNA had Northern Ireland and the system will be introduced been transferred to the victim by the paramedic in England and Wales in 2014. The introduction of when attending the crime scene. It was stated that DNA 17 is considered by some practitioners to be the DNA had been transferred through the use of one of the most significant advancements in DNA an oxygen monitoring probe that had been clipped profiling since the 1990s. The new system provides to the suspects finger and then later to the victims analysis on 17 aspects of DNA compared with 11 finger at the crime scene. The high profile murder aspects used by the current system. DNA 17 will case of British student Meredith Kercher also provide a robust and sensitive system through highlighted contamination issues through the which in optimum conditions a profile may be possible transference of DNA to the murder obtained from just one or two human cells. The weapon following prolonged contact with the enhanced level of sensitivity provided will enable victim prior to death. DNA profiles to be obtained from poor and degraded material with improved levels of Many forensic practitioners would acknowledge discrimination. that whilst it is possible to significantly reduce the potential for contamination it may not be possible or practicable to totally eliminate contamination. A DNA 17 would appear to represent a major systematic and regulated approach to crime scene advancement within DNA profiling and will examination, robust exhibit retention procedures, enhance the power of DNA as an investigative tool. and the use of protective clothing provide a However, whilst the contribution made by DNA to significant barrier to contamination. However, the forensic science and the investigation of crime is potential for contamination will always exist beyond dispute, it should be acknowledged that through human interaction and introduction of Page 3 people and foreign items into a crime scene. circumstance, and difficult working conditions at Forensic practitioners often convey forensic crime scenes along with the inability of forensic equipment and packaging material from crime practitioners to claim immunity to the scene to crime scene and from room to room consequences of Locards principles of exchange within a crime scene. Items such as forensic dictate that contamination will occur. Quality exhibit bags are handled by numerous people prior assurance at crime scenes and improved to being issued to forensic practitioners. A further management, coordination, and compliance will be example would be the use of fingerprint brushes at critical factors within the control processes multiple crime scenes before being replaced. governing the prevention of contamination in the new era. It may be questionable as to whether current working practices adopted by forensic practitioners Peter Ellis are appropriate and capable of meeting the new challenges provided by the hyper sensitivity of DNA profiling systems such as DNA 17. From an operational perspective would it be possible or practicable to introduce procedures for the decontamination of forensic equipment and material used in the examination of crime scenes related to high volume crimes. There is a growing case for the increased use of disposable equipment The next issue of CSEye will be live and also tighter controls over crime scene access January 2015. and what is taken into a crime scene. The increased sensitivity of DNA profiling will We have a number of new articles clearly impact upon current working practices and coming to you in January but are will have cost and resource implications both in always interested to receive new respect of preventing contamination and submissions. processing profiles developed through contamination. The introduction of DNA elimination databases that will include samples If you would like to submit an article, from relevant police officers, forensic practitioners, technical note, case study or re- and laboratory technicians will provide a valuable search abstract please email contribution towards tackling the issue of profiles developed through contamination. However, the [email protected]. database will only be effective if control samples from all relevant personnel are included and the database is efficiently managed and maintained. Quality assurance and compliance with standing operating procedures governing all forensic examinations will critical in ensuring the control of contamination within a risk management approach. The advancement of DNA sensitivity could result in DNA evidence being subjected to a far higher level of challenge within the courts and with a far higher level of supporting evidence required in order to secure a conviction. Human error, evolving Page 4 Should contextual bias scrutiny. The introduction of codes of conduct and accreditation for forensic science service providers be acknowledged as a and practitioners to comply with quality standards such as ISO 17025 and 17020 have established a factor within crime benchmark for quality. There is now a requirement scene interpretation? to demonstrate competence, independence, impartiality and integrity within forensic science. In recent years there has been much debate regarding the impact of contextual information on Crime scene interpretation is fundamental to the the cognitive process relating to fingerprint formulation of a forensic strategy and recovery comparison. The highly controversial fingerprint plan that govern the retention of exhibits from the identifications relating to Shirley McKie in 1997 at crime scene. The decision as to whether a death the scene of a murder in Scotland and Brandon was the result of criminal activity, tragic accident, Mayfield regarding the Madrid terrorist bombing in or natural causes is one of the most difficult faced 2004 provided a platform for debate on contextual by crime scene investigators. This may be bias within fingerprint evidence. In both cases illustrated in cases where judgment is made as to serious concerns existed with regard to the validity whether the deceased was pushed in a criminal act of the identifications made.