FSS? and BT Launch World?s First Forensic Science Mobile Laboratory
Bringing the lab to the crime scene - a world-first from the Forensic Science Service and BT
UK-/16 May, 2005 - Wi-Fi Technology Forum/-The Forensic Science Service? (FSS?) and BT are taking forensic science to the scene of the crime with the launch of the world?s first mobile laboratory that will travel to crime scenes and enable real-time forensic investigation and analysis.
This innovative service is being unveiled to senior police officers at their annual ACPO-EXPO 2005 conference, held at the NEC on May 17th to 19th.
The FSS will be using the Forensic Response Vehicle (FRV) to deliver its new forensic response service. This is a complete package of services and expertise to bring forensic science to the crime scene, aimed ultimately at helping police arrest suspects more quickly.
The FRV is the world?s first mobile facility capable of in-depth forensic analysis of several different types of evidence, and was developed in partnership with police forces in England and Wales through the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). Four police forces - West Midlands, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Warwickshire ? have volunteered to carry out extensive pilot testing of the FRV this summer, with results expected in the autumn.
In providing instant access to a range of forensic services at the scene of crimes, the FRV will deliver vital intelligence on suspects and witnesses far sooner than if evidence was required to be processed at a separate laboratory.
The combination of expertise in forensic science and rapid-response communications technology provided by BT will give police access to a range of FSS services, including:
DNA analysis of samples from the crime scene ? samples will be fed into the van, analysed, and checked against The National DNA Database? and police will have a match report back in approximately eight hours. As well as being at least three times faster than the current DNA turnaround time, this cuts out administration effort as items of evidence have until now been passed along a supply chain which eventually sees them arrive at a laboratory. The advance has been made possible through technological developments allowing the condensing of an entire DNA-processing line (whole building size) into a mobile environment.
Major Crime Service ? expert forensic scientists advising police on forensic strategy and maximising use of the vehicle and services.
Footwear and fingerprint intelligence ? marks captured digitally (or by casts or lifted from the scene) can be analysed in the van, and satellite links allow interrogation of databases, with rapid results back to police at the scene. Also access to a specialist location and recovery service, to retrieve and preserve marks, working with police experts.
Electronic forensic science ? facility on-board to access and retrieve stored data from mobile phones.
FSS Chief Executive Dave Werrett said: ?The FSS is bringing forensic science to the scene and making this blue chip investment in the FRV to support its objectives of providing a real-time forensic service. This will help police to progress investigations much more quickly. The FSS leads the world in research and development in forensic science, working with commercial companies such as BT to deliver real improvements to the criminal justice system.?
Sally Wilcox, General Manager for BT Central Government Justice and Police, says, ?The launch of the Forensic Response Vehicle supports the rapid and responsive investigation and detection of crime. This has dramatic implications for the future of the criminal justice system, and demonstrates the importance of networked IT services in the facilitation of forensic analysis.?
Stuart Hyde, Assistant Chief Constable West Midlands Police says, ?The use of forensic evidence has become increasingly important in identifying those who commit crime. Undertaking DNA checks close to the scene of a murder, for example, is a significant step forward. This brings science and technology closer to the investigator and will help to improve our response and make it more likely that we will identify murderers and rapists earlier. This is a major contribution to crime investigation.?
Chris Eyre, Assistant Chief Constable Leicestershire says, ?The Leicestershire Constabulary is delighted to be one of the pilot forces for the Forensic Response Vehicle initiative by the FSS. The intention is to bring criminals to justice quicker, by bringing forensic science direct to crime scenes. What is starting off as a specialist service for major crimes will become, we hope, the way ahead for investigating offences like burglary and car crime. Our eagerness to get involved in this is another example of us 'getting personal' with criminals in Leicestershire.?
Throughout the planning stage for this project, BT worked closely with the FSS to design the mobile laboratories. Each van is equipped with a Local Area Network for connection to the FSS network, enabling rapid forensic database interrogation via a BT Media and Broadcast satellite.
The FSS is an executive agency of the Home Office and is the market leader in the supply of forensic science services to police forces in England and Wales. It is also an internationally renowned centre of excellence for casework, research, training and consultancy and has assisted over 60 countries in the field of forensic science.
For more information, visit http://www.forensic.gov.uk.
For more information about BT, visit http://www.btplc.com
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