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The combined research of University of Leicester and Northamptonshire Police in the UK has revealed new techniques for identifying fingerprints on metal. The finding is a major breakthrough in crime detection, which could lead to hundreds of cold cases being reopened once again. The University’s Forensic Research centre has been working with the Northamptonshire Police’s scientific support unit, to develop new ways of taking fingerprints from a crime scene.
The researchers have developed a method that enables Scientists to ‘visualize fingerprints’ even after the print itself has been removed. The researchers conducted a study into the way fingerprints can corrode metal surfaces. Dr John Bond, Honorary Fellow at the University of Leicester and Scientific Support Manager at Northamptonshire Police revealed that for the first time they can get prints from people who handled a cartridge before it was fired. The initial findings of the study have been announced in a paper in the American Journal of Forensic Science.
