Forensic Research Case Studies

1
Forensic Research Case Studies

• Professor Jim Fraser
• Centre for Forensic Science, University of
  Strathclyde
• Associate Director, Scottish Institute for
  Policing Research

2
Exploring Forensic Science in Scotland

• PhD Project 50 funded by SIPR
• Examined use of forensic science in volume crime
• Lothian Borders and Strathclyde Police
• Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service
• Literature review and questionnaire based
  methodology
• Completed 2013
• Two publications (plus one pending)

3
Exploring Forensic Science in Scotland

• Ludwig, A., et al. (2013). "Crime Scene Examiners
  and Volume Crime Investigations An Empirical
  Study of Perception and Practice." Forensic
  Science Policy Management An International
  Journal.
• Ludwig, A. and J. Fraser (2014). "Effective use
  of forensic science in volume crime
  investigations Identifying recurring themes in
  the literature." Science Justice 54 81-88.

4
Evaluation of the National Forensic Science
Gateway

• 2 x Knowledge Exchange Projects
• Approx 11k SIPR small Grant and Scottish
  Government funded
• Timescales 2 x 6 months
• Partners Police Scotland, SPA Forensic
  Services, Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service

5
Evaluation of the National Forensic Science
Gateway I

• (Procedural) effectiveness of the Gateway in
  improving performance e.g. throughput of cases,
  reduction of non-value cases and reduction of
  backlogs
• Potential to improve processes, training, and
  decision making
• other factors relevant to improving forensic
  services such as crime scene examiner tasking and
  demand management

6
Evaluation of the National Forensic Science
Gateway II

• understanding the organisational and professional
  factors (cultures, systems, perceptions etc) that
  contribute to sub optimal use of forensic science
  in the investigation and prosecution of crime

7
Homicide Investigation and Forensic Science
Tracing Processes, Analysing Practices

• Leverhulme Trust, - 217k
• Universities of South Wales, Strathclyde,
  Northumbria
• Three year ethnographic study of forensic
  technologies in homicide investigation
• Police Scotland, SPA Forensic Services,
  Metropolitan Police, Avon Somerset Police
• Commenced Jan 2015