A Novel Approach to Maximising the Detection of Volume Crime with DNA and Fingerprints
| Author | John W. Bond,Lorraine Sheridan |
| DOI | 10.1350/ijps.2008.10.3.88 |
| Published date | 01 September 2008 |
| Date | 01 September 2008 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
A novel approach to maximising the
detection of volume crime with DNA and
fingerprints
John W. Bond‡ and Lorraine Sheridan†
‡(Corresponding author) Scientific Support Unit, Northamptonshire Police, Force
Headquarters, Wootton Hall, Northampton NN4 0JQ. Email: john.bond@northants.police.uk
†Department of Psychology, School of Life Sciences, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh
EH14 4AS. Email: lph1@le.ac.uk
Received 23 May 2007; accepted 13 September 2007
Keywords: volume crime, DNA, crime scene examiners, forensic evidence,
crime scene management
John W. Bond is Head of Forensic Science for
of any material recovered from the crime scene
Northamptonshire Police. His research interests
rather than focusing attendance on specific crime
centre on the use of forensic science to enhance
types. In this paper, we challenge that argument
the detection of crime, principally through the
by assessing first the forensic detections obtained
analysis of forensic data and the development of
from volume crime types over a three-year period
new techniques for the enhancement of finger-
in a study police force in England. We then show
prints. He has research affiliations with a number
how a realignment of CSE deployment to crime
of UK universities and is an Honorary Research
types that offer the highest potential to detect the
Fellow of the University of Leicester.
crime forensically produced statistically significant
Lorraine Sheridan is a senior research fellow in
increases in the percentage of recorded crime
psychology at Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh.
detected. We examine this realignment against
She is also a chartered forensic psychologist and
the national picture for CSE attendance and
an ACPO accredited behavioural investigative
forensic crime detection in England and Wales
adviser. Her primary research interests relate
and show how other police forces might benefit
to stalking and harassment. She has also
from a similar realignment of CSE deployment.
researched and published on celebrity worship,
Finally, we consider the possible effect on the
psychopathy and Islamophobia. Her work always
general public’s fear of crime that such a realign-
seeks to adopt an applied, interventionist angle.
ment of CSE deployment might have.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
Decisions concerning which volume crime scenes
Forensic intelligence from DNA hits and
(such as burglary and autocrime) to examine for
fingerprint identifications is now accepted
forensic material continue to have a significant
as a standard forensic technique for the
impact on the detection of these crime types by
investigation and subsequent detection of a
forensic evidence such as DNA or fingerprints.
wide spectrum of crime types from volume
International Journal of Police
Previous work has indicated that crime scene
crime (such as burglary and auto crime) to
Science and Management,
Vol. 10 No. 3, 2008, pp. 326–338.
attendance by a crime scene examiner (CSE)
serious and major crime such as rape and
DOI: 10.1350/ijps.2008.10.3.88
should be influenced by the likely evidential value
murder (see Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of
Page 326
Bond and Sheridan
Constabulary, 2000, 2002). Indeed the UK
that police forces review their CSE attend-
government has, over a five-year period
ance criteria and noted that, ‘fully effective
from April 2000, invested £241 million on
crime scene attendance and screening pol-
expanding the use of DNA to detect crime
icies continue to present difficulty’.
(Home Office, 2006).
Further, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of
Clearly, such reliance on forensic science
Constabulary (2002) acknowledged that
requires the most efficient use of resources
police forces have difficulty in understand-
to ensure the maximum return on invest-
ing what is meant by ‘volume crime’ and
ment, and a key part of that efficient
hence which crime types to target for CSE
resource use is crime scene examiner (CSE)
deployment to maximise the contribution
deployment. Saulsbury, Hibberd and Irving
of forensic science to volume crime detec-
(1994) recognised the variation amongst
tion. The authors stated in their review the
police forces in decisions concerning
definition of volume crime in use (at that
whether CSEs should be deployed to a
time) by the ACPO Technical Support
crime scene and noted that CSE deploy-
Working Group. This is as follows:
ment generally consisted of a mixture of the
application of formal policy and personal
● where targets for reduction or detection
discretion. Saulsbury et al. looked at reasons
have been set within a force policing
why CSEs were not deployed to a crime
plan, or
scene and recorded that 76 per cent of the
● have shared targets in any crime and
194 police officers questioned cited an
disorder partnership, or
apparent lack of evidence as the main rea-
● which through assessment are deter-
son. Tilley and Ford (1996) commented
mined to be of local tactical
further on this variation in CSE deploy-
importance.
ment and stated that, in some forces, foren-
sic staff ‘filter out’ crimes, sometimes
Despite this emphasis on the recognition
informally and sometimes against a rigid
that police forces need to resource them-
check list of conditions that have to be met
selves adequately to attend all, or close to
to warrant CSE deployment. Tilley and
all, key volume crime types such as burglary
Ford noted that requests for CSE attend-
(Tilley & Ford, 1996), there still exists a
ance at a crime scene were rarely refused,
wide variation amongst UK police forces in
whatever the attendance policy.
terms of the percentage of volume crime
A joint report by the Association of
attended by a CSE with only 15 of the
Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the
43 Home Office forces attending more than
Forensic Science Service (1996) introduced
95 per cent of recorded dwelling burglary,
the concept of a ‘resource point’ below
9 attending more than 60 per cent of theft
which the availability of CSEs constrains a
of motor vehicle offences and 12 attending
force’s attendance policy and, therefore,
more than 40 per cent of theft from motor
recommended that CSEs should attend
vehicle offences (Police Standards Unit,
only those scenes most likely to yield foren-
2006). Tackling acquisitive crime (such as
sic evidence. The report noted that one
dwelling burglary and auto crime) remains a
force had implemented a ‘full attendance’
priority for the UK Home Office and for
policy but conceded that the ‘value for
most UK police forces (Home Office,
money to crime investigation’ of this
2004).
approach required further study. The
In this paper we consider a novel
reviews by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of
approach to CSE deployment based not on
Constabulary (2000, 2002) recommended
the premise that CSEs ‘should attend only
Page 327
A novel way to maximise volume crime detection with DNA and fingerprints
those scenes most likely to yield forensic
garages attached to a domestic dwelling
evidence’ (ACPO and the Forensic Science
with an interconnecting door).
Service, 1996) but focusing on specific
● Other burglary (in a building other than
crime types. Such an approach is contrary
a dwelling).
to that postulated in ACPO and the Foren-
● Theft of a motor vehicle.
sic Science Service (1996) which stated that
● Theft from a motor vehicle.
‘The practice of SOCOs [CSEs] visiting
● Robbery.
crime scenes simply based on offence type
● Criminal damage.
is unlikely to represent...
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