The technology uses an innovative chemical to recover
fingerprints from surfaces that were previously extremely
challenging or even impossible to work with, making them visible
so that forensic scientists can identify guilty individuals.
This includes items exposed to high temperatures, including IED
components and fired ammunition cases in a warzone, as well as
metal items that have been deliberately cleaned, such as knives
at a domestic crime scene. The new technique could help identify
criminals ranging from insurgents to burglars.
Defence Minister said:
British innovation is progressing at a rapid pace and we are
investing millions in it to keep our country safe. Whether it’s
used on a foreign battlefield or a British crime scene, this
pioneering fingerprint technology will make it much harder for
criminals to escape justice.
Steve Thorngate, from the Defence Security Analysis Division of
Dstl, said:
Through our work with Dr Paul Kelly at Loughborough University,
the ability to significantly increase fingerprint recovery
rates from items recovered, means that criminals will find it
much harder to conceal their identity. Although the technology
needs further refinement, it will be of significant benefit to
forensic scientists across the world.
The advanced fingerprint visualisation technology has been
developed jointly by the Defence Science and Technology
Laboratory (Dstl), the Centre for Applied Science and
Technology (CAST) and Loughborough University.
The project started life at Loughborough University where the
concept was inadvertently discovered by Dr Paul Kelly, and
developed by Dstl into an operational capability. Foster +
Freeman (F+F), one of the world’s foremost forensic science
equipment suppliers, will refine the technology before making
it commercially available early next year.
The announcement also comes as the MOD prepares to host the
two-day Artificial Intelligence Hackathon this week to explore
the opportunities that ‘AI’ can provide to the defence of the
UK.
Funded by the MOD’s £800m Innovation Fund, the Hackathon will
bring top representatives from the MOD, defence industry, SMEs
and academia together to brainstorm ideas on how AI can be
applied across businesses, the military and civil society.
Defence Minister added:
This Hackathon is yet another example of how defence is
getting together with academia and industry to ensure the UK
remains a world leader in research, collaboration, and
security.
The MOD has committed 1.2% of the rising defence budget to
cutting-edge science and technology.
The licence for the fingerprint technology has been negotiated
by Ploughshare Innovations, Dstl’s technology transfer company,
and has since been licensed by F+F.
