AC1.2 - Assess the usefulness of investigative techniques in criminal
investigations
Intelligence Databases
Police National Computer
- PNC is used to help investigations and share information of both national and local
security.
- Makes critical missions easier for the police, UK enforcement agencies and other
criminal justice agencies throughout the UK.
- PNC also provided real time data on people, vehicles, crimes and properties as well
as alerts such as: missing people, stolen objects or vehicles as well as vehicles
requiring discreet checks.
- Effective - provides useful information when investigating crimes. Has links to
European databases to allow sharing of info internationally. Provides real time
checks on vehicles, properties and people as well as crimes.
- Ineffective - Database does not show photos. Basic information. Generally not used
as often anymore.Police often have to guess whether a person is the suspect they
are looking for based upon the description of the suspect.
Police National Database
- Available to all UK police forces and selected law enforcement agencies.
- This allows different organisations to share the information they have on a specific
suspect.
- Contains 3.5 billion records. 20 Million records added every month. 222 databases.
4000 users.
- This database specializes in safeguarding children and vulnerable people, countering
terrorism and prevents organised crime.
- Useful - Allows sharing of information between forces. Handles billions of records
and images. Can help prevent and identify different crimes. Includes allegations as
well as number of convictions.
- Separate Database to Police National Computer. Supposed to be replaced in 2020.
National DNA Database
- Created in 1995. Individual samples obtained and stored in a computer. Connects
individuals to crimes.
- Can lead police to certain suspects. DNA records are kept for comparison.
Technology improvement.
- Human rights and privacy means that suspects who are not convicted have their
DNA destroyed. There is a risk of data abuse. Contamination of evidence is still
possible.
Forensics
, Forensics are the scientific techniques which are used in investigations. Once evidence is
collected by CSI’s at the scene of the crime, it is then sent to the laboratory for analysis by
forensic specialists and forensic scientists. Forensic evidence includes things such as
fingerprints, biological material and hair and fibre.
DNA Evidence
- Techniques that have been used to extract and analyse DNA evidence have rapidly
advanced in the past years
- Every person’s DNA is unique which is helpful as it helps identify suspects
- DNA profiling has been one of the most important developments in helping to solve
crimes
Problems with DNA Evidence
- If DNA is not handled in the right way, it can lead to contamination. This can cause
miscarriages of justice, like it the case of Adam Scott.
Fingerprints
- Fingerprints are the ridges, whorls and valley patterns at the end of each finger. No
two people have the same fingerprints. Everyone's fingerprint is unique. There is a
one in 64 billion chance that two people will have the same fingerprints. Can be
found on any hard surface including the human body.
- Visible prints are formed when blood, dirt, ink, or paint is transferred from finger to
surface. Patent prints found on a wide variety of surfaces. Paper, cloth, wood, metal,
glass and plastic.
- Invisible prints are formed when a body's natural oils are deposited onto another
surface. Found on a variety of surfaces however they are not as visible and are a lot
harder to find.Requires the use of fingerprint powders, or chemical reagents to find
these prints.The smoother the surface, the greater the chance of finding the prints.
- Fingerprint examiners use small magnifiers called loupes to view finite details of a
print. A pointer called a ridge counter is used to count the friction ridges.
Evaluation of Fingerprints
- Fingerprints are reliable because two people cannot have the same prints.
- Excludes people from investigations if their prints were not at the crime scene.
- It is not expensive to collect fingerprints.
- There may be problems with fingerprint analysis. For example, if someone wears
gloves, it will be harder to collect their fingerprints.
- Biometric systems for phones and computers are expensive to create and maintain.
Need 2 samples of a fingerprint to get a match.
- It is a tedious process to analyze fingerprints which could lead to mistakes.
Case Example - Colin Pitchfork
investigations
Intelligence Databases
Police National Computer
- PNC is used to help investigations and share information of both national and local
security.
- Makes critical missions easier for the police, UK enforcement agencies and other
criminal justice agencies throughout the UK.
- PNC also provided real time data on people, vehicles, crimes and properties as well
as alerts such as: missing people, stolen objects or vehicles as well as vehicles
requiring discreet checks.
- Effective - provides useful information when investigating crimes. Has links to
European databases to allow sharing of info internationally. Provides real time
checks on vehicles, properties and people as well as crimes.
- Ineffective - Database does not show photos. Basic information. Generally not used
as often anymore.Police often have to guess whether a person is the suspect they
are looking for based upon the description of the suspect.
Police National Database
- Available to all UK police forces and selected law enforcement agencies.
- This allows different organisations to share the information they have on a specific
suspect.
- Contains 3.5 billion records. 20 Million records added every month. 222 databases.
4000 users.
- This database specializes in safeguarding children and vulnerable people, countering
terrorism and prevents organised crime.
- Useful - Allows sharing of information between forces. Handles billions of records
and images. Can help prevent and identify different crimes. Includes allegations as
well as number of convictions.
- Separate Database to Police National Computer. Supposed to be replaced in 2020.
National DNA Database
- Created in 1995. Individual samples obtained and stored in a computer. Connects
individuals to crimes.
- Can lead police to certain suspects. DNA records are kept for comparison.
Technology improvement.
- Human rights and privacy means that suspects who are not convicted have their
DNA destroyed. There is a risk of data abuse. Contamination of evidence is still
possible.
Forensics
, Forensics are the scientific techniques which are used in investigations. Once evidence is
collected by CSI’s at the scene of the crime, it is then sent to the laboratory for analysis by
forensic specialists and forensic scientists. Forensic evidence includes things such as
fingerprints, biological material and hair and fibre.
DNA Evidence
- Techniques that have been used to extract and analyse DNA evidence have rapidly
advanced in the past years
- Every person’s DNA is unique which is helpful as it helps identify suspects
- DNA profiling has been one of the most important developments in helping to solve
crimes
Problems with DNA Evidence
- If DNA is not handled in the right way, it can lead to contamination. This can cause
miscarriages of justice, like it the case of Adam Scott.
Fingerprints
- Fingerprints are the ridges, whorls and valley patterns at the end of each finger. No
two people have the same fingerprints. Everyone's fingerprint is unique. There is a
one in 64 billion chance that two people will have the same fingerprints. Can be
found on any hard surface including the human body.
- Visible prints are formed when blood, dirt, ink, or paint is transferred from finger to
surface. Patent prints found on a wide variety of surfaces. Paper, cloth, wood, metal,
glass and plastic.
- Invisible prints are formed when a body's natural oils are deposited onto another
surface. Found on a variety of surfaces however they are not as visible and are a lot
harder to find.Requires the use of fingerprint powders, or chemical reagents to find
these prints.The smoother the surface, the greater the chance of finding the prints.
- Fingerprint examiners use small magnifiers called loupes to view finite details of a
print. A pointer called a ridge counter is used to count the friction ridges.
Evaluation of Fingerprints
- Fingerprints are reliable because two people cannot have the same prints.
- Excludes people from investigations if their prints were not at the crime scene.
- It is not expensive to collect fingerprints.
- There may be problems with fingerprint analysis. For example, if someone wears
gloves, it will be harder to collect their fingerprints.
- Biometric systems for phones and computers are expensive to create and maintain.
Need 2 samples of a fingerprint to get a match.
- It is a tedious process to analyze fingerprints which could lead to mistakes.
Case Example - Colin Pitchfork
