The Fingermark Visualisation Manual (FVM) has been updated by
the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) on
behalf of the Home Office, and for the first time is being
published on the UK Government’s website to enable free and open
access for the global forensic community, including academia and
industry.
In a world of rapidly evolving crime types and emerging forensic
science disciplines, the visualisation and identification of
fingermarks remains essential to the recovery of key evidence
from crime scenes.
The updated manual contains a wealth of new material and provides
law enforcement forensic practitioners with the critical
information needed to maximise fingermark recovery to aid
criminal investigations.
The key changes included in the FVM Second Edition are:
- new technical developments such as the use of Indandione,
Longwave Ultraviolet (UVA) Reflection and MALDI-MS, reflected in
updates to charts and processes
- updated best practice guidance
- updated health and safety information
- improvements to the layout and text
Supporting standards and accreditation
Accreditation to the ISO 17025 standard is now well established
within fingerprint laboratories, whilst crime scene activities
(including fingermark recovery) are now required to be accredited
to the ISO 17020 standard.
Although the FVM is not a guide to
accreditation, it does align with its aims and supports
organisations pursuing and maintaining the required standards.
It continues to provide comprehensive information and guidance to
assist with effective fingermark visualisation, starting at the
basics and moving through to complex situations and advanced
methods.
A First to Second Edition Technical Changes document has been
published alongside the FVM to support
accreditation requirements by providing an audit log of the
revised content.
Rich basis in research and development
The information within the FVM is underpinned by
decades of Home Office funded research and development conducted
by the authors with the support from, and collaborations with, UK
and international colleagues.
The updated Fingermark Visualisation Source Book (v3.0) published
alongside the updated manual includes details of the scientific
theory behind each process, validation work conducted by the
authors prior to operational implementation and the supporting
literature.
Through publishing the FVM and its associated
material on GOV.UK, it will continue to promote the UK as a
world-leader in forensic science and supports the ambition to
make scientific research and its dissemination more open and
accessible, with benefits for authors, researchers, funding
bodies and the wider education sector.
Gary Pugh OBE,
Forensic Science Regulator, said:
The UK Fingermark Visualisation Manual is renowned around the
world as a leading source of knowledge of the underpinning
science and practical guidance on the development of fingerprint
ridge detail in the investigation of crime and the administration
of justice.
Since the publication of the First Edition in 2014 the scientists
who contributed to the First Edition and to this Edition have
provided invaluable and crucial advice to the organisations who
undertake fingermark visualisation. This support is critical to
gaining accreditation to accepted international standards and
compliance with the Forensic Science Regulator’s Codes of
Practice and Conduct.
Access the updated documents
