Forensics
Forensic science covers a range of disciplines, including medical, legal and engineering, all aiming to gather information and throw light on a series of events. ETCbrunel has been long established in forensic metallurgy and microscopy, with staff appearing as expert witnesses.
Over the past few years, Dr Benjamin Jones has been rapidly expanding the Centre’s research into materials science aspects of forensics, with research projects and publications in the fields of fingerprint development and digital data recovery.
Fingerprint Development
Dr Jones and his team are expanding research work in fingerprint development techniques. These studies investigate mechanisms of interaction between development agents, latent fingerprints and surfaces.
The use of fine, dry powders to develop latent fingerprints left after criminal activity has been well established for many years. However, various types of surfaces, such as rough materials, fabrics, wetted materials and adhesives have limited suitability with this type of technique. This research aims to increase detectability of fingerprints and improve the range of surfaces that can be effectively treated, expanding the data available to forensic investigators.
Left: Cyanoacrylate and VMD interacting on a fingerprint; Dr Jones work in Materials Today 2011.
Centre: SEM image of fingerprint showing eccrine development and surface effects.
Right: TEM image of nano-structured fingerprint powders
The biochemistry of fingerprints is extremely complex, varying significantly from person to person and will alter even for individuals, with changes in diet, mood, stress levels etc. This work consequently takes advantage of the interdisciplinary nature of ETCbrunel with the involvement of experts in biology and chemistry. This research involves micro and nanoscale investigations of surfaces, development agents, and developed fingerprints. The projects therefore significantly benefit from the availability of ETCbrunel’s instrument suite and makes use of SEM, TEM, X-ray fluorescence and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, AFM and Fourier-transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR).
Our research is also looking at the detection of fingerprints on paper, which in itself poses a particular challenge. The nature of the structure results in rapid absorption of the components into the paper, altering surface reactivity, as well as potential trapping of the reagent into the background structure. Our work aims to improve understanding of the time-dependant interactions between deposited fingerprints and a porous substrate surface. This includes establishing the order of sequencing of printed ink and latent fingerprints on paper; and therefore improving detection and increasing the amount of accessible information from recovered documents, particularly important in fraud and counterfeiting cases.
These projects are funded in part by the Leverhulme Trust and the UK Home Office (CAST); publications for this research are detailed at the bottom of the page.
Crime and Terrorism: Data in Mobile Phones
Mobile phones have been used recently in a number of bomb attacks, both for detonators and for communication. Data may be retained in even highly damaged phones and Dr. Jones is working with researchers at UCL and The Forensic Science Service to develop methods to read data from exploded or heat damaged mobile phones, helping to identify the owner, place of purchase, last active location, or calls made and received, which could provide vital assistance to investigators of arson and terrorism incidents.
Left: Structure of damaged SIM card revealed through careful multistage chemical process.
Right: SIM card rescued from waste fire.
“Retention of data in heat-damaged SIM cards and potential recovery methods”
B.J. Jones and A.J. Kenyon
Forensic Science International 177 (2008) 42
This work is supported by The Royal Society, the Forensic Science Service, and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
Publications
ETCbrunel forensic science publications include the following articles, click on a link for the publishers’ website (where available, via DOI) some articles are also available on the University’s open access system, BURA or email bj.jones@brunel.ac.uk:
“Nanoscale analysis of the interaction between cyanoacrylate and vacuum metal deposition in the development of latent fingerprints on LDPE”
B.J. Jones, R. Downham, V.G. Sears
Journal of Forensic Sciences 57 (2012) 196
“Nano fingerprints : Gathering Intelligence”
B.J. Jones
Materials Today 14 (2011) 567
“Wet powder suspensions as an additional technique for the enhancement of bloodied marks”
C. Au, H. Jackson-Smith, I. Quinones, B.J. Jones, B. Daniel
Forensic Science International 204 (2011) 13
“Nano-scale composition of commercial white powders for development of latent fingerprints on adhesives”
B.J. Jones, A.J. Reynolds, M. Richardson V.G Sears
Science and Justice 50 (2010) 150
“Effect of substrate surface topography on forensic development of latent fingerprints with iron oxide powder suspension”
B.J. Jones, R. Downham, V.G. Sears
Surface and Interface Analysis 42 (2010) 438
“Commentary on… Evaluation of shooting distance by AFM and FTIR/ATR…”
B.J. Jones
Journal of Forensic Sciences 54 (2009) 502
“Retention of data in heat-damaged SIM cards and potential recovery methods”
B.J. Jones and A.J. Kenyon
Forensic Science International 177 (2008) 42
“Nanoscale analysis of titanium dioxide fingerprint-development powders”
A.J. Reynolds, B.J. Jones, V.G. Sears and V. Bowman
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 126 (2008) 012069
“Burnt to memory: data extraction from heat damaged mobile phones”
B.J. Jones
Public Service Review: Home Office 15 (2007) 68
