A fully equipped laboratory to facilitate the analysis of evidence recovered from crime scenes.
The types of recovered evidence are many and varied. Many analysis techniques are non-destructive, and some examples are given below with each evidence type:
- Fingerprints
- Chemical enhancing reagents
- Cyanoacrylate (superglue) fuming
- Humidity treatment
- Alternative light sources and DCS5 for visualisation of fluorescent dyed fingerprints.
- Questioned documents
- Electrostatic Document Analyser (ESDA) for visualisation of indented writing.
- Video Spectral Comparators (VSC) for ink analysis and checking questionable document security features.
- Raman spectrometer for ink comparison to check for alteration of documents.
- Illicit substance
- A range of presumptive testing chemical reagents.
- Fourier Transform Infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR).
- Raman spectrometer.
- Glass
- Two high power microscopes equipped with video cameras and warming stages to allow measurement of the sample refractive index.
- Footwear
- Casting equipment for footwear impressions.
- Inkless visualisation system to allow comparison with the cast.
- Electrostatic Lifting Apparatus (ESLA) for lifting dusty footwear marks from hard surfaces.
- Tool mark impressions
- Casting silicone for comparison to suspected tool marks.
- Macro comparison microscope system, for the comparison of cartridge cases from firearms.
- Hairs and fibres
- Two high-powered comparison microscope systems for comparison of trace evidence.
- FTIR microscope for determining the infra-red spectra of trace evidence.
Equipment
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Thermo-Nicolet iS10 FTIR spectrometer coupled to a Centaurus microscope.
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Renishaw inVia twin laser Raman microscope system.
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Foster and Freeman Foram 685-2 Raman spectral comparator.
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Foster and Freeman ESDA system.
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Foster and Freeman VSC4+ video spectral comparator.
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Leeds Forensic LCT comparison microscope system.
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Nikon LV400POL microscope with camera and warming stage.
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Mason Vactron MVC3000 superglue fuming cabinet.
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Foster and Freeman SUPERfume portable superglue fuming equipment.
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Pathfinder portable ESLA. × 3
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Fluoroscope.
Video Spectral Comparator
Staff
Location
- R328
- Science Centre
- Leek Road
- Stoke-on-Trent
- ST4 2DF
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Opening Times
Monday – Friday
9.00am – 4.30pm