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• Using memes enhances the student perception of fun within taught content. • Creating and using memes improves the perception of knowledge retention. • Students' demographics did not appear to affect students' experiences of using memes as a learning tool. Meme-making is an effective method for engaging students and enhancing the learning environment. Memes are a social media cultural phenomenon that the majority of those in Higher Education are exposed to on an almost daily occurrence. This research examined the use of meme-making within the forensic sciences to allow students to reflect on their knowledge. Students studying modules in forensic science across six universities in the UK and USA participated in the study. At the end of a teaching session, students produced a meme (using Meme Generator) to reflect on what they had learned; memes were then shared with the class anonymously via Padlet. This allowed all class members to see and engage with the memes created. At the end of the activity students were anonymously surveyed on their experience using Microsoft Forms and analysis of the results were undertaken using SPSS software. Meme-making was found to be an inclusive learning activity with no limitations, including age (part-time, distance learning and visually impaired students were not part of the study parameters). Results showed that not only did students find the practice fun, but it also helped with the retention of the class content suggesting that the meme-making process is an effective way to enhance the learning environment while engaging students. Student feedback suggests that to maximise participation the educator should stress reflection and learning as the key purpose of generating a meme, rather than being witty or entertaining. The forensic science educator should be mindful of selecting appropriate subject matter for this often-humorous activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article uses doctrinal analysis of UK tax law to address the question in political economy of where the 'production boundary' around value creation lies. It concludes that the 'classical' production boundary around material production may be encountered as an emergent feature of forensic investigations of the ontology of surplus in real world commercial contexts. This is particularly important for political economists of the global production network because of the contrasting structural phenomenon whereby value is predominantly added in immaterial production processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using anatomical feature comparison to consider potential matches from hand images to identify or eliminate suspects in an investigation, commonly relating to those involved in the production of images of child sexual abuse, is an emerging forensic methodology that has become increasingly utilized by police forces within the United Kingdom. This article gives an overview of the development of a process that is based on an understanding of anatomical variation and shows how new approaches can be introduced to forensic investigations. It describes the rationale that led to the development of the investigative methodology within the United Kingdom, and how it is implemented to ensure that comparisons and the subsequent reports are both methodologically sound and admissible in any of the courts within the UK legal jurisdictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To increase your awareness of the psychological benefits of massage therapy • To read about barriers and facilitators to introducing seated chair massage in forensic mental health settings • To consider the value of introducing seated chair massage in your own clinical setting Massage therapy has recognised psychological benefits, yet it is rarely used in forensic mental health settings. In 2022, ten-minute sessions of seated chair massage – where recipients remain fully clothed – were offered to patients and staff at a secure forensic mental health and learning disability service in the UK. This article is a service evaluation of the impact of providing these sessions. Seated chair massage was found to have overwhelmingly positive effects in the short term and the authors concluded that it is a low-risk, boundaried and appropriate complementary therapy intervention for patients in forensic mental health settings. Their findings challenge the view that these settings are essentially 'no touch' environments. The article outlines barriers and facilitators to introducing seated chair massage in a forensic mental health service, which may be useful to other teams considering developing a similar service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A national collaborative exercise carried out in 2020 within the UK. • The exercise investigated fingermark visualisation on wrapping paper. • Variation in the approach to this exercise was expected due to its complex nature. • Key learning points and lessons learnt were identified. In 2020, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory organised and ran what is believed to be the first UK national collaborative exercise of its kind in the field of fingermark visualisation, on behalf of the Forensic Science Regulator. Laboratories were provided with a piece of wrapping paper, a challenging item for fingermark visualisation due to its semi-porous characteristics, both from a planning and processing perspective, and asked to treat it as a major crime exhibit. Due to the complexity of the substrate, variation in approach was anticipated. 23 laboratories from 21 organisations completed the exercise. In general, laboratories performed well, providing assurance to the Forensic Science Regulator regarding their ability to visualise fingermarks. Key learning points were identified around decision-making, planning and implementation of fingermark visualisation processes – all of which assist in raising the level of understanding around the likely success of fingermark visualisation. Lessons learnt, along with the overall findings, were shared and discussed in a workshop held in summer 2021. The exercise provided a useful insight into the current operational practices of participating laboratories. Areas of good practice were identified as well as the areas within the laboratories' approach that could be altered or adapted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We address method validation for Forensic Voice Comparison (FVC) by a human expert. • We justify why method validation for FVC can be achieved through competency testing. • There are challenges in implementing competency testing for FVC in the UK. • We present a solution to incorporating competency testing into UK practitioner life. Method validation has gained traction within forensic speech science. The community recognises the need to demonstrate that the analysis methods used are valid, but finding a way to do so has been more straightforward for some analysis methods than for others. This article addresses the issue of method validation for the Auditory Phonetic and Acoustic (AuPhA) approach to forensic voice comparison. Although it is possible to take inspiration from general regulatory guidance on method validation, it is clear that these cannot be transposed on to all forensic analysis methods with the same degree of success. Particularly with respect to an analysis method like AuPhA, and in a field of the size and characteristics of forensic speech science, a bespoke approach to method validation is required. In this article we address the discussions that have been taking place around method validation, and illustrate one possible solution to demonstrating the validity of voice comparison by a human expert using the AuPhA method. In doing so we consider the constraints placed on sole practitioners, which generally go unacknowledged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Holistic review of the sexual assault investigative process. • Complete bioanalytical workflow emphasising recovery and examination of evidence. • Prosecution numbers falling despite little change in forensic support. • Literature supports RapidDNA testing at SARC or by Police. • Post-covid familiarity of lateral-flow tests mean victims could test own swabs. Sexual assault casework requires the collaboration of multiple agency staff to formalise an investigative pipeline running from crime scene to court. While the same could be said of many other forensic investigations, few require the additional support of health care staff and the combined forensic involvement of body-fluid examiners, DNA experts and analytical chemists. The sheer amount of collaborative effort between agencies is laid out through a detailed examination of the investigative workflow from crime scene to courtroom with each step in the pipelines detailed and discussed. Beginning with a review of sexual assault legislation in the United Kingdom this article details how sexual assault investigations are initiated by police and supported by sexual assault referral centre (SARC) staff who are often the first responders providing primary healthcare and patient support to victims while simultaneously collecting and assessing forensic evidence. Detailing the myriad of evidential material that can be documented and collected at the SARC, the review identifies and categorises key forensic tests to first detect and identify body-fluids recovered from evidence through to the secondary analysis of DNA to help identify the suspect. This review also focusses on the collection and analysis of biological material used to support the allegation that the sexual activity was non-consensual and provides a breakdown of common marks and trauma as well as a review of common analytical methods used to infer Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault (DFSA). The culmination of the investigative pipeline is discussed by reviewing the Rape and Serious Sexual Assault (RASSO) workflow used by the Crown Prosecution Service before providing our thoughts on the future of forensic analysis and possible changes to the described workflows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Problem-Based Learning should be considered for forensic speech science teaching. • Benefits of Problem-Based Learning are mapped against the needs of the field. • Suggested problems are given that could be used in forensic speech science curricula. In the last 10–15 years, Masters programmes and undergraduate modules have emerged in the UK that teach forensic speech science. Forensic speech science is the forensic subdiscipline concerned with analysing speech recordings, such as telephone calls of unknown speakers, when they arise as evidence. In order to answer questions surrounding the identity of the speakers in these recordings, forensic speech analysts draw on their expertise in phonetics and acoustics. Even though existing UK forensic speech science programmes do not claim to train students to a level where they are in a position to carry out real-life forensic casework, a proportion of the graduates from these programmes do go on to fill discipline-specific roles in security organisations or for private providers of forensic speech analysis. It is therefore surely in the community's interests to review educational approaches to capitalise on the current training opportunities. This paper specifically proposes to explore the potential of a Problem-Based Learning (PBL) approach to forensic speech science teaching. PBL is a student-centred learning approach that heavily relies on the students' independence in the solving of ill-structured problems. PBL has shown to be beneficial to programmes that directly lead on to discipline-specific professional roles, and has even become the standardised teaching approach in some of those areas (medicine being the flagship example). Given its reported success in other disciplines, the question arises as to whether PBL could bring similar benefits to prospective forensic speech practitioners and to forensic speech science as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Peer support workers (PSWs) are individuals with lived experience of mental health difficulties, who apply this to support and inspire others in their recovery. The role of PSWs is relatively new within the forensic health-care service. Although there has been little time for these roles to develop, PSWs have successfully integrated into community teams. Despite perceived benefits of having these workers within a multi-disciplinary team (MDT), the views held by mental health professionals in forensic services have not yet been studied. The purpose of this research is to develop an understanding of the experiences of staff working with PSWs in a community forensic team and the impact this has on them. Design/methodology/approach: Structured, individual interviews were conducted with eight mental health professionals, from a variety of disciplines, used across two community teams within forensic services. The data was examined according to thematic analysis. Findings: The data indicated general positive attitudes held by professionals surrounding the working with PSWs, including the themes "providing alternative perspectives", "unique relationships" and "hope". Yet, themes concerned around "role ambiguity", "boundaries" and "the impact on PSWs" also arose. Practical implications: This study provides insight into the attitudes held by members of an MDT of working with PSWs. Although seemingly positive, the lack of clarity around the role of the PSW is problematic. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to explore the employment of PSWs in the context of UK forensic settings, highlighting the benefits and challenges of such from the perspective of staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This presents a new method for creating a footwear mark Ground Truth Database. • The processes employed were based upon evidence taken from crime recording systems. • The data produced will support footwear examiners in the evaluation of evidence. • This study provides the groundwork for the creation of an (inter)national dataset. Ground Truth Data is data that comes from a known source, where the truth about the data is known and not inferred (FSR, 2021). The Forensic Science Regulator requires forensic units (that carry out certain forensic processes) to undertake tests against ground truth data for the purposes of quality assurance/quality control processes such as accreditation. However, the data collected must form a meaningful dataset that will enable relevant tests to be performed that inform the end-user. This technical note discusses how a forensic unit in the UK planned and developed a method for collecting ground truth data for footwear mark evidence. It discusses the materials and variables that were considered when developing the method and the evidence-based, decision-making processes that enabled its creation. Recommendations and considerations are provided to assist other forensic units collect data relevant to their jurisdiction. Whilst the method is not prescriptive, if it is used as a guide, it may facilitate the development of a large and relevant national dataset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Workforce development is crucial to the offender personality disorder (OPD) service to provide contemporary, evidenced care and treatment. This study aims to provide an overview and the research evaluation results of a regional higher education programme delivered to a range of criminal justice workers used on the OPD pathway. Design/methodology/approach: Three modules were developed and delivered; these are (1) enhancing understanding (20 students), (2) formulation and therapeutic intervention (20 students) and (3) relationships, teams and environments (17 students). A mixed-methods study evaluated participant confidence and compassion. Pre, post and six-month follow-up questionnaires were completed. Additionally, a series of focus groups were conducted to gain in-depth qualitative feedback with a cross-section of students across the modules (N = 7). Quantitative data was collected and analysed separately due to the three modules all having different content. Qualitative data was analysed, and a synthesis of qualitative findings was reported from data taken across the three modules. Findings: A total of 52 students participated, drawn from three modules: Module 1 (N = 19); Module 2 (N = 18); Module 3 (N = 15). Confidence in working with people with a personality disorder or associated difficulties improved significantly following completion of any of the modules, whereas compassion did not. Results have been synthesised and have assisted in the future shaping of modules to meet the learning needs of students. Research limitations/implications: Further evaluation of the effectiveness of educational programmes requires attention, as does the longer-term durability of effect. Further research is required to explore the post-training impact upon practice, and further exploration is required and larger sample sizes to draw definitive conclusions related to compassion. Practical implications: This unique model of co-production that draws upon the expertise of people with lived experience, occupational frontline and academics is achievable and well received by students and can be reproduced elsewhere. Social implications: The positive uptake and results of this study indicate a need for expansion of accessible OPD workforce training opportunities across the UK. Further research is required to explore student feedback and comparisons of effectiveness comparing different modes of training delivery, especially in light of the pandemic, which has forced organisations and higher education institutions to develop more digital and distance learning approaches to their portfolios. Originality/value: This novel research provides an evaluation of the only higher education credit-bearing modules in the UK focussed solely upon the OPD workforce and aligned with the national drive for non-credit bearing awareness level training "knowledge and understanding framework" (KUF). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a recent article we traced the history of quality management (QM) from the guilds in the 10th and 11th centuries and related it to the evolution of QM in forensic science with a particular focus on accreditation. The number of accredited forensic science laboratories has increased enormously, worldwide since forensic science accreditation programmes became available in the 1980s. The standard of choice for the forensic science community became ISO17025 and ISO17020. In this paper, the current standing of QM in forensic science is considered. What has it brought to the forensic community and is the most frequently used standard, ISO17025, the most appropriate one? The notion of 'quality' in the forensic community has almost become synonymous with 'accreditation based on the ISO standards'. This notion is too limited. The publication of the NAS-report in 2009 was very critical of forensic science and its practitioners from a range of perspectives. From a QM perspective a key focus was laboratory accreditation and personal certification. Other publications (e.g. by the UK Forensic Regulator) gave similar opinions. However, it is now clear that the forensic community should broaden its view beyond ISO-accreditation in order to improve its functioning and overall QM performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of likelihood ratios for quantifying the strength of forensic evidence in criminal cases is gaining widespread acceptance in many forensic disciplines. Although some forensic scientists feel that subjective likelihood ratios are a reasonable way of expressing expert opinion regarding strength of evidence in criminal trials, legal requirements of reliability of expert evidence in the United Kingdom, United States and some other countries have encouraged researchers to develop likelihood ratio systems based on statistical modelling using relevant empirical data. Many such systems exhibit exceptional power to discriminate between the scenario presented by the prosecution and an alternate scenario implying the innocence of the defendant. However, such systems are not necessarily well calibrated. Consequently, verbal explanations to triers of fact, by forensic experts, of the meaning of the offered likelihood ratio may be misleading. In this article, we put forth a statistical approach for testing the calibration discrepancy of likelihood ratio systems using ground truth known empirical data. We provide point estimates as well as confidence intervals for the calibration discrepancy. Several examples, previously discussed in the literature, are used to illustrate our method. Results from a limited simulation study concerning the performance of the proposed approach are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• UK could benefit from a forensic teaching network. • Educational research specific to forensic science should underpin forensic teaching. • The global pandemic has highlighted the importance of sharing ideas. The challenging events of the past year have forced those of us working in higher education to adapt our teaching practices to conform to the restrictions put in place. For many this has been an opportunity to take a fresh view of the way material has been delivered in the past, and critically reflect on how it might be delivered in the future. There has been an explosion of innovative ideas and the introduction of support networks such as '#RemoteForensicCSI' to aid with sharing these new innovations and examples of good practice. However, the past year has also helped to highlight a lack of an established network that could support the teaching of forensic science in the UK. Teaching networks within the UK exist for related disciplines, such as the Royal Society of Chemistry's Higher Education Chemistry Teaching Network, but no network focuses on the teaching challenges specific to forensic science. Such a network could help to address the gap in pedagogical research to help support more effective teaching and give learners the best opportunities possible. This would complement the work of the Chartered Society of Forensic Science including upholding accreditation standards and the existing Link Member Scheme, whilst providing an environment to specifically support the teaching of forensic science. Any network could also look to link with other networks internationally such as the Council of Forensic Science Educators in the USA and identify examples of good practice worldwide that could be used to enhance and inform forensic science teaching in the UK. The teaching of forensic science is multifaceted with a need to strike a balance between practical skills and theoretical knowledge. Like many vocational courses forensic science teaching staff have a diverse range of backgrounds, encompassing both academic and practitioner experience. This results in a range of experiences and approaches to teaching and delivery, creating a fantastic melting pot for ideas, but outlets for sharing these innovative approaches are limited. This article will highlight some of the pedagogical gaps within forensic science teaching and areas that we could learn from. Most importantly, it will issue a clarion call to those working in this area to push for a UK Forensic Teaching Network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Overview of human biases influencing digital forensics investigators. • Analysis of the UK's Post Office case, pointing to root causes and biases. • Digital forensics investigation framework to mitigate against human bias. • Evaluation of framework by digital forensics investigator. Software invisibly permeates our everyday lives: operating devices in our physical world (traffic lights and cars), effecting our business transactions and powering the vast World Wide Web. We have come to rely on such software to work correctly and efficiently. The generally accepted narrative is that any software errors that do occur can be traced back to a human operator's mistakes. Software engineers know that this is merely a comforting illusion. Software sometimes has bugs, which might lead to erratic performance: intermittently generating errors. The software, hardware and communication infrastructure can all introduce errors, which are often challenging to isolate and correct. Anomalies that manifest are certainly not always due to an operator's actions. When the general public and the courts believe the opposite, that errors are usually attributable to some human operator's actions, it is entirely possible for some hapless innocent individual to be blamed for anomalies and discrepancies whose actual source is a software malfunction. This is what occurred in the Post Office Horizon IT case, where unquestioning belief in the veracity of software-generated evidence led to a decade of wrongful convictions. We will use this case as a vehicle to demonstrate the way biases can influence investigations, and to inform the development of a framework to guide and inform objective digital forensics investigations. This framework, if used, could go some way towards neutralising biases and preventing similar miscarriages of justice in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short tandem repeat (STR) profiling is one of the mostly used systems for forensic applications. In certain circumstances, STR profiling is time-consuming and costly, which potentially leads to delays in criminal investigations. LGC (Laboratory of the Government Chemist, UK) Forensics has developed a robust STR profiling platform called the ParaDNA® Intelligence Test System which can provide early tactical intelligence and aid investigators in making informed decisions on sample prioritization for detection. Here, we validated the ParaDNA intelligence test for its application in forensic cases using a range of mock evidence items following guidelines set by the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM). Specifically, we tested the sensitivity and accuracy of the ParaDNA intelligence test, as well as the success rates for detecting mock samples and for use in case scenarios. Our findings demonstrate that the ParaDNA intelligence test generates useful DNA profiles, especially for samples such as blood, saliva, and semen that contain ample DNA, indicating the benefits of including ParaDNA as a prior step in forensic STR profiling pipelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The first purpose designed tool for use in forensic gait analysis. • The tool tested for accuracy. • 14 participants completed a total of 84 gait analyses. • Mean accuracy of 74.96%, showing good levels of accuracy of observations. • Combined results show the tool to be both valid and fit for purpose. Gait is now widely used in the UK as a contributor to identification, and increasing interest is being shown in its use in both Europe and the US. One of the long standing criticisms of the use of gait as evidence has been the lack of a validated standard methodology. With the publication of the 'Code of practice for forensic gait analysis', and the adoption of the code as part of the 'Codes of Practice and Conduct for forensic science providers and practitioners in the Criminal Justice System' by the Forensic Science Regulator, forensic gait analysts are now required to provide evidence of the testing of the methods used. The Sheffield Features of Gait Tool is specifically designed to assist observational gait analysis in the forensic context, and was developed by forensic gait analysis practitioners based on their casework and trial experience. Birch et al 2019 reported the findings of a study undertaken to assess the repeatability and reproducibility of the tool. This paper reports the findings of a study undertaken to assess the accuracy with which analysts identified features of gait when using the tool. Fourteen participants, with experience in observational gait analysis, viewed footage of computer generated avatars walking, and completed the features of gait tool on multiple occasions. The results showed a mean accuracy score of 134.92 out of a possible 180 (74.96%), a standard deviation of 9.49 (5.27%) and a coefficient of variation of 7.03%, demonstrating a good degree of consistency between the scores (Cronbach's alpha <0.90; ANOVA p-value <0.05). The findings of this study, coupled with those of the Birch et al 2019 study which showed there to be good levels of both repeatability and reproducibility of observations of features of gait made by the participants, suggest that the Sheffield Features of Gait Tool is a valid and fit for purpose method of observing and recording features of gait in the forensic context. The use of the tool provides the basis of a standardised methodology for observational gait analysis in the forensic context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing number of cases involving overlooked or misinterpreted digital evidence is raising concerns among factfinders and decision-makers about the reliability of digital forensic conclusions. To reduce the risk of mistakes and misinterpretations of forensic observations, including but not limited to digital evidence, there is a pressing need to standardize how evaluative opinions are formed and expressed. Responding to this need, the international community is drafting ISO-21043 and the UK Forensic Science Regulator is drafting an evaluative interpretation standard that promote a likelihood ratio approach. This approach is suitable for fully evaluative opinions in many forensic disciplines, but until more refined methods for evaluating digital evidence are developed, digital forensic practitioners require an interim solution to address immediate needs. More broadly, digital evidence is used in many non-judicial contexts that do not require fully evaluative opinions expressed as a likelihood ratio. This work proposes a standardized approach to formulating and expressing preliminary evaluative opinions in terms of strength of evidence in a manner that employs scientific reasoning within a logical Bayesian framework and can be understood by non-specialist factfinders. Illustrative case examples are presented that involve digital evidence tampering. In addition, this work presents a proof-of-concept database of cases involving tampering of digital evidence that could support assignment of strength of evidence in similar cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Police witness intelligence stated a murdered adult male "Fred" had been vertically buried in wooded hilly terrain 30 years ago in the Midlands, U.K. Conventional search methods were unsuccessful; therefore, the police requested a geophysical investigation to be undertaken to determine whether "Fred" could be detected. A multiphased geophysical approach was conducted, using bulk ground conductivity and metal detectors, then follow‐up magnetics and ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey profiles on electromagnetic (EM) anomalous areas. A tight grid pattern was used to account for the reduced target size. Relatively high‐resolution EM and GPR techniques were determined optimal for this terrain and sandy soil. Geophysical anomalies were identified and the most promising intrusively investigated, and this was found to be a large boulder and tree roots. Study implications suggest careful multiphase geophysical surveys are best practice and give confidence in cold case searches. This study yielded a no‐body result, effectively saving police time and costs from further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide a professional consensus position with regard to the provision of specialist inpatient rehabilitation services for people with intellectual disability (ID), autism and mental health, behavioural or forensic needs in the UK. Design/methodology/approach: The concept of rehabilitation is discussed, as well as the functions and goals of specialist inpatient rehabilitation services with regard to the aforementioned contexts. Current use of rehabilitation beds is considered, both on a regional and national scale, as well as various outcome measures, including effectiveness, patient safety and patient experience. Findings: There is a clear need for specialist inpatient rehabilitation services, though historically there have been instances of inappropriate admissions, as well as lengthy inpatient stays that could have been significantly reduced with the right type of community support package. Such services should be subjected to rigorous measurement of outcome measures, to determine that patients within such services are receiving a consistently high standard of care. Additionally, amendments to current legal frameworks should be considered, with a view to accommodating for individuals with capacity who require continuous community-based supervision. Originality/value: To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first article detailing a professional consensus position for specialist inpatient rehabilitation services for people with ID, autism and mental health, behavioural or forensic needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital forensics is an important and growing forensic domain. Research on miscarriages of justice and misleading evidence, as well as various inquires in the UK and the US, have highlighted human error as an issue within forensic science. This has led to increased attention to the sources of cognitive bias and potential countermeasures within many forensic disciplines. However, the area of digital forensics has yet to pay sufficient attention to this issue. The main goal of this article is to contribute to a more scientifically sound digital forensics domain by addressing the issues of cognitive bias as a source of error. In this paper we present an analysis of seven sources of cognitive and human error specifically within the digital forensics process, and discuss relevant countermeasures. We conclude that although some cognitive and bias issues are very similar across forensic domains, others are different and dependent on the specific characteristic of the domain in question, such as digital forensics. There is a need for new directions in research with regard to cognitive and human factors in digital forensics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the majority of dwellings now maintain some form of Internet connectivity, the examination of routers at crime scenes is an increasing requirement. Due to cost and resourcing constraints, police forces are looking to transfer responsibility for carrying out this task to front line crime scene investigators, despite such staff typically lacking specialist training for this type of examination. Such strategies are potentially high-risk, as the mishandling of home routers can result in the oversight or destruction of potentially evidential information denoting home network usage, configuration and connected devices. This information can support scene examiners with their searching practices, ensuring all connected devices within the vicinity of a scene are accounted for or seized, whilst also supporting further technical investigations. This work documents the forensic examination of Sky, BT, Virgin, EE and TalkTalk routers and analysis of relevant evidence content including records of attached and currently connected devices, and, network configuration settings. A standard operating procedures has been developed and offered, to support crime scene investigation staff carry out router investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primed by the popularity of detective fiction, British newspapers of the first part of the twentieth century supported the cultural acceptance of crime scenes and their emerging conventions. Fictional crime stories and true crime coverage often appeared in the same publication, sometimes even on the same page, serving to make crime scenes and crime scene investigation (CSI) a popular cultural form in the perceptual frame of readers. The popular conceptions of CSI that today seem obvious and normative can, therefore, be traced back to what were humble beginnings. The products of experience, error, and politics, the conventions of these symbolic spaces emerged over time and, as this study reveals, in part by newspapers devoting close attention to the application of science in criminal investigations and in the trials that followed. This historical study looks at how British newspapers played an important role in establishing the social norms of the crime scene as they have been portrayed and mythologized in television, novels, and film. This article also explores the origins of what has become a shared understanding of the geography of contemporary CSI by focusing on the crime scene as a symbolic artifice and text as it has been represented in British newspapers of the first three decades of the twentieth century In particular, this article uses the accounts and descriptions in those newspapers to locate the emergence of conventions for and about crime scenes, and in particular for the lead "detective," broadly understood, as well as to better understand what these newspapers identified as important by looking at the common attributes or themes of their crime reporting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to highlight some initial efforts within Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) to develop digitally enabled services supporting the rehabilitation of service users. It is not designed to set out either HMPPS policy on digital rehabilitative services or the position of HMPPS Interventions Services on this subject. Rather, it is a short exposition of the authors’ views on the potential of digitally enabled strategies to enhance interventions in forensic settings. In this context, the authors will also describe the development of the first digitally enabled rehabilitation service accessed via HMPPS in-room computer terminals.Design/methodology/approach The authors have reviewed current literature and outlined how the authors have and are aiming to add to this area of work.Findings This general review outlines the authors’ views on the potential of digitally enabled strategies for improving interventions in forensic settings.Originality/value This paper is a short exposition of the authors’ views on the potential of digitally enabled strategies to enhance interventions in forensic settings. In this context, the authors will also describe the development of the first digitally enabled rehabilitation service accessed via HMPPS in-room computer terminals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) (Wechsler, 2008) is a cognitive assessment that is often used in secure forensic settings, however it has not been normed on this population. The purpose of this paper is to develop forensic normative data.Design/methodology/approach Patient files in a high secure forensic hospital were reviewed in order to obtain completed WAIS-IV (Wechsler, 2008) assessments and scores from the five indexes (verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, working memory, processing speed and full scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ)). This included reviewing patient files from all directorates, including male mental health, male learning disability, male personality disorder and the women’s service, yielding a sample size of n=86.Findings The qualitative descriptors obtained across the hospital ranged between extremely low and superior. The learning disability service scored significantly lower than the mental health and personality disorder services in verbal comprehension index, perceptual reasoning index, working memory index and FSIQ, and significantly lower than the mental health, personality disorder and women’s services in processing speed index. Mean scores from this study were significantly lower in comparison to those from the UK validation study (Wechsler, 2008).Practical implications The significant difference between scores from the current study and those from the UK validation study (Wechsler, 2008) highlights the need to have appropriate normative data for forensic populations. Clinicians should consider interventions that may serve to increase cognitive function, such as cognitive remediation therapy.Originality/value Whilst several special group studies have previously been conducted, this study is the first to develop forensic normative data for the WAIS-IV (Wechsler, 2008). Whilst the sample size was relatively small with limited female participants, the data collated will enable clinicians working in forensic establishments to interpret their assessments in light of this information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article uses a notorious criminal trial, that of John Donald Merrett for the murder of his mother, as a case study to explore forensic medicine's treatment of gunshot wounding in pre-war Scotland. This topic, which has hitherto received little attention from historians, provides insight into two issues facing the discipline at this time. First, the competing attempts by prosecution and defence expert witnesses to recreate the wound in a laboratory setting, in order to determine the distance from which the shot had been fired, exposed the uncertainties surrounding the application of a well-known laboratory technique for which no fully agreed-upon protocol existed. Secondly, the case allows the examination of the working relationship of a medical expert and a gunsmith, in which disciplinary boundaries became indistinct and the wound a shared site of analysis, in a period before the separate profession of forensic science became institutionally grounded in Scotland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forensic services are required to reduce an individual’s risk of reoffending. Despite being integral to forensic mental health services, the contribution of forensic occupational therapy to achieving this aim is unclear. This study describes current forensic occupational therapy practice to reduce reoffending risk in the United Kingdom. Responses to a cross-sectional survey consisting of multiple choice and free-text questions were analysed using frequency counts and percentages, and thematic analysis respectively. Of the 58 participants, 83% actively addressed reoffending risk. Participants informed practice with occupation-focused theories, models and assessment tools. Five themes described forensic occupational therapy to reduce reoffending risk: an occupational perspective of risk assessment and formulation; volitional realignment; increasing protective factors; community integration; and enhancing understanding of forensic occupational therapy. Forensic occupational therapists perceive their practice to contribute to reducing reoffending risk, but are yet to establish routine outcome measurement in this area. Implications for practice and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses the British House of Lords Science Committee's report about the challenges of forensic science including financial constraints and the maintenance of research standards, as well recommendations to address the problems of forensic science.

Streamlined Forensic Reporting (SFR) is a case management procedure recently introduced in the criminal justice system in England and Wales. It involves a proportionate use and staged producing of the forensic evidence at court, by means of abbreviated forensic reports, depending on whether the defence will agree or take issue with the forensic evidence that the prosecution intends to rely upon. SFR aims to achieve an early identification of the real issues in the case and to reduce costs and delays associated with the use of forensic evidence in criminal proceedings. This paper analyses the most significant aspects of the SFR procedure. It argues that, while SFR offers several advantages, the inappropriate use of SFR and case fragmentation in terms of investigation and preparation of forensic work within the background of cost-cutting pressures, could threaten the delivery of justice and the role of forensic evidence in criminal proceedings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to assess the relative importance of the principal 'solvability factors' in detecting metal crime on the national rail network in England and Wales. It uses British Transport Police data for 4001 metal theft offences committed between 2009 and 2010. Seven main types of metal theft and 12 solvability factors were identified, which include, in order of importance, scrap metal dealer checks, covert police activities, vehicle registration checks, forensic evidence and witnessed offences. The likelihood of detection depended on number of factors present and their effect sizes, with the significant solvability factors accounting for 64 % of variation in detection outcomes. Number of solvability factors available in the case was a significant predictor of solvability with each additional factor boosting detection odds five times. There were notable, countrywide spatial variations in detection rates, some of which reflected solvability differences, while differences in investigative practice are also likely to have played a role. The study provides information for case screening procedures that would improve the cost-effectiveness of metal theft investigations by ensuring resources are directed at the more easily solved cases, not allocating resources to cases which are unlikely to be solved, and by 'triaging' lines of enquiry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Timing of oviposition on a corpse is a key factor in entomologically based minimum postmortem interval (mPMI) calculations. However, there is considerable variation in nocturnal oviposition behavior of blow flies reported in the research literature. This study investigated nocturnal oviposition in central England for the first time, over 25 trials from 2011 to 2013. Liver-baited traps were placed in an urban location during control (diurnal), and nocturnal periods and environmental conditions were recorded during each 5-h trial. No nocturnal activity or oviposition was observed during the course of the study indicating that nocturnal oviposition is highly unlikely in central England. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forensic mental health services are low-volume, high-cost services. Payment by results (PbR) is the UK s latest attempt to improve efficiency and controls pending behaviours within the secure services. This article discusses the utility of the PbR mechanic in forensic mental health. It explores PbR implementation in non-forensic mental health settings, similar funding processes internationally, and early PbR implementation work in the UK's secure services. Finally, the article discusses the challenges faced when implementing PbR in forensic mental health services and puts forward possible next steps in determining the utility of PbR in forensic mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the decrease in spending on forensic services by the police forces in Great Britain. Topics discussed include the shutdown of Great Britain's Forensic Science Service (FSS) in 2012, the reliance of the British police force on private sector forensic services providers (FSPs), and a research on this by Open University's Centre for Policing Research and Learning. Also mentioned are the declining crime rates, and the research and development (R&D) of FSPs.

Latent fingerprint deposits on thermal paper sourced from the U.S., China, the U.K., and Australia have been visualized by heating. U.S. and Chinese sourced paper produced two distinct types of fingerprint development. In one type (type 1), the paper dye colors where the deposit is present (as previously reported) and in the other type (type 2) the 'inverse' of this gives paper coloring only in areas not coincident with the deposit. Both development types gave identifiable fingerprints, the majority fading within 24 h of heating. Fingerprint development from U.K. and Australian sourced paper was exclusively type 1 and resistant to fading. Temperatures for fingerprint visualization were higher for U.S. paper (64-71°C) and Chinese paper (75-95°C) than for U.K. and Australian sourced paper (43-50°C). Particularly for Chinese sourced paper, these temperatures were within a few degrees of the normal paper color temperature. A mechanism for type 2 fingerprint development is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the cross-cultural aspect of forensic art education in Great Britain.

In 2014, the UK Forensic Science Regulator (FSR) commissioned a collaborative trial to assess the methods used by forensic service providers (FSPs) in the UK and Ireland for analysis, interpretation and reporting of mixed DNA profiles. Five different mixed samples of varying complexity with supporting mock case circumstances were tested using SGMPlus™ and the newly introduced DNA-17(+) multiplexes and reported by participating laboratories. The results demonstrated a high degree of consistency in analytical methods and allele designations, but some variation in the statistical evaluation and reporting of results. Some of the differences noted were attributable to the major technology change to 17(+)-STR systems which had recently been implemented across the UK at that time. The FSR made recommendations based on the trial outcomes which were intended to produce a more consistent approach to mixtures analysis, interpretation and reporting. Four years later, the Association of Forensic Science Providers (AFSP) repeated the trial, with all major UK and Ireland FSPs (both public sector and private companies) again participating. This second trial used the same mixture set as the 2014 trial but was focussed on the methods for interpretation and evaluation. Since 2014, all UK and Ireland FSPs have implemented probabilistic statistical software using continuous models enabling statistical evaluation of more complex mixtures than was possible in 2014. The trial was therefore aimed at investigating the value of these improved capabilities and also to investigate if there appeared to be marked differences between the different software tools in use in the UK. The results demonstrate a high degree of concordance within and between FSPs and across different evaluation models, and will provide important support for the use of such models in evaluation of mixed DNA profiles. • 2014 trial assessed analysis & interpretation methods used by UK & Irish providers. • Mixtures of varying complexity profiled with SGM+, GlobalFiler & DNA-17 multiplexes. • Recommendations made covering interpretation, statistics, software and reporting. • Repeated in 2018 with same samples to ascertain effect of recommendations. • Wider use of probabilistic software, interpretation improvements & less variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crime scene investigator (CSI) has a distinct professional profile within the police. It is the CSI who is tasked with identifying trace at crime scenes in order to inform police investigations. Despite this significant role, little is known sociologically about the CSI's routine work. This paper draws on ethnographic fieldwork completed at the National Policing Improvement Agency's Forensic Centre, observation of CSIs at real crime scenes and interview data to consider the CSI's practices surrounding trace at volume crime scenes. It foregrounds the work that takes place in transforming crime scene trace into admissible evidence or objects for laboratory analysis and the processes of identifying meaningful trace, central to CSI claims of unique expertise. Yet beyond the crime scene and police environment, it is the CSI's ability to record their adherence to prescriptive contamination avoidance procedures which is of paramount importance. This paper demonstrates the agency involved in making sense of crime scenes and the differing ways the CSI and CSI work are understood across police and courtroom environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a previous study by Grima et al. Sci. Justice 52 (1) (2012) 49, it was shown that background particles can aid in the exclusion of firework particles which are indistinguishable from GSR. Issues relating to the persistence of such particle populations were presented. The scope of this project was to examine persistence on the hands in the context of possible post-display scene contamination and how this can affect GSR evidence, especially in light of possible GSR/firework mixtures. Persistence was investigated by recovering firework residues eight hours post-display following contact of the hands with bedding. In addition, particle profiling was carried out using SEM-EDX. Firework particle populations exhibited strong persistence in all displays, with not less than 667 particles persisting in each scenario. This factor challenges GSR evidence, especially if personnel stationed at display sites enter scenes of crime or come into contact with suspects after a display. A survey of UK police force practices following firework displays showed that authorities are not aware of the impact particle transfer may have on GSR evidence. Recommendations for the implementation of basic hygiene practices for particle transfer control have also been made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The entanglement of border control technologies and immigration policies and practices with discourses of race, national identity and belonging has long been a focus of scholarly interest. In this paper we discuss the Human Provenance Pilot Project (HPPP), the aim of which was to evaluate the utility of genetic and isotope testing to corroborate asylum seekers' accounts of their nationality. We subject the HPPP to a detailed socio-technical analysis, highlighting how technologies, practices and modes of thought travelled from the policing context to the asylum context, illuminating the unspoken prejudices that made that transfer possible, and reflecting on implications of the HPPP for academic research, policy advice and the asylum system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific evidence & a field in crisis. The validity and reliability of forensic techniques have been criticized by nearly every actor in the legal community---by attorneys, judges, the legal academy, and even the National Academy of Sciences--and high- profile cases of scientific evidence gone awry have garnered national attention. Policymakers have suggested many solutions to the scientific evidence crisis, including a controversial proposal to remove complex scientific cases from state and federal dockets and to hear those cases instead in a specialized "science court." Science court proposals face one substantial hurdle: they have become exceedingly unpopular. But this &for good reason; it is entirely possible that the architects of the science court did not design it correctly. I argue--with evidence from original psycho- logical experiments--that public approval of a lawmaking body is largely a function of two discrete psychological dimensions: decisional accuracy and procedural legitimacy. Earlier science court proposals failed to maximize public perceptions of these important psychological values. I propose a redesigned science court, which includes features of both adversarial and inquisitorial decisionmaking paradigms and prioritizes these dual values. I then report the results from original experiments that illustrate: (1) that litigants prefer the redesigned science court significantly more than they prefer other proposals to maintain the integrity of scientific evidence, and (2) the redesigned science court enjoys greater perceptions of decisional accuracy and procedural legitimacy from litigants. Implications for institutional design--and for the future of science in the courtroom--are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cash-and-valuables-in-transit ( CViT) robberies have become a substantial problem-especially in the current global economy. Over £19.4 million were stolen in 2008 and £17.1 million in 2009 in the United Kingdom alone. The transportation of cash and valuable items between financial institutions has long been a target of robberies in the U.K. After a robbery has occurred, police collect evidence in the form of ink-stained currency. These stained notes are submitted for analysis. Samples are subjected to polymerase chain reaction in order to amplify any possible botanically derived DNA markers present on the notes. After amplification, capillary electrophoresis allows for the deciphering of the ' DNA profile.' The DNA profile is then linked to a particular cash box, and this information is compared with records of whether or not that box had been stolen. The cases below are three such instances where botanically marked currency was used to help solve robberies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]