Science of Fingerprints (Forensics)

• Cover 5% of human body
• Hands and Feet
• Ridges run in parallel lines forming patterns

• Create friction and aid grip
• Heighten sense of touch
• Aid sweating

• Formed in early foetal life.
• Constant through life.
• One of last recognisable features to go after death.

Three Main Patterns:

• Loops
• Whorls
• Arches

Contain deltas and cores

Also known as characteristics or 'Galton's Details':

• Ridge Endings
• Bifurcations
• Lakes
• Independent Ridges
• Spurs
• Crossovers

• Alphonse Bertillon - Body Measurements

• William Herschel - India (Payroll)

• Sir Edward Henry - Classification of Fingerprints

Dec 1902 - London

Harry Jackson thumbprint found at scene of billiard ball theft.

Jackson pleaded not guilty but found guilty.

1905 - Stratton Brothers accused of murdering Mr & Mrs Farrow in London

One of brothers fingerprint found on cashbox at scene of murder

Both Stratton brothers found guilty and hanged

•To prove identity •To determine (and prove) previous convictions •To compare with scene finger marks •For elimination purposes

Visible prints = PATENT

Invisible prints = LATENT

Smooth, non-porous - POWDERS

Porous - CHEMICALS

Plastics - SUPERGLUE

• Receive Tenprint sets from custody suites.
• Receive marks from scenes.
• Compare tenrpint sets with tenprint file sets.
• Compare crime scene marks with tenprint sets.
• Manual & computerise systems.
• Attend courts and give evidence.

IDENT1 - automated fingerprint system.  Holds national collection.

LIVESCAN - electronic capture of tenprints in custody.  Ensures quality and confirms ID there and then.