Research and analysis

Fingermark visualisation source book

Research and scientific rationale behind the processes within the Fingermark Visualisation Manual Second Edition (2022).

• From: Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and Home Office
• Published: 12 March 2024

Documents

Fingermark Visualisation Source Book v3.0

Ref: ISBN 978-1-3999-3393-3

PDF, 15.2 MB, 690 pages

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Details

The Fingermark Visualisation Source Book provides the background and validation for the techniques recommended by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) in the Fingermark Visualisation Manual.

This document also gives the UK Forensic Science Regulator and the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), which carries out ISO 17025 accreditation in the UK, with the scientific rationale behind the advice given in the Fingermark Visualisation Manual.

The information in this publication can be directly referred to by police forces seeking to maintain their BS/EN ISO 17025 accreditation. Its detailed justification of the Fingermark Visualisation Manual’s recommended fingermark enhancement processes reduces the requirement on police forces to conduct their own lengthy in-house validation exercises (although local verification experiments will still be necessary).

The Source Book shows that the best processes are being used for crime scene evidence. This encourages transparency for criminal investigations allowing for public scrutiny.

Its comprehensive description of current techniques enables researchers to progress the field of fingerprints further, promoting the development of even more effective means of forensic evidence recovery.

Published 12 March 2024