In crime labs around the globe, scientists and technicians are using increasingly sophisticated technologies to bring criminals to justice, prevent innocent people going to prison and develop new ways to gather, present and preserve visual evidence of otherwise difficult to show sites and objects, such as those investigated in forensic archaeology and anthropology.
Innovation in forensic science is bringing new techniques to the fore, which in turn is increasing the reliability of forensic evidence. But just as medical research and provision is critical for addressing illnesses and disease, the same is true of forensic science.
A report published by the House of Lords Science and Tech Committee in May 2019 warned that the UK, once considered world-leading in forensic sciences, is now lagging behind. According to the report, a lack of funding and an insufficient level of research has created a critical national shortfall for forensic science in England and Wales, posing a risk of crimes going unsolved and an increase in miscarriages of Justice.
Chairman of the Committee, Lord Patel, stated: “Simultaneous budget cuts and reorganisation, together with exponential growth in the need for new services such as digital evidence has put forensic science providers under extreme pressure.”
“The situation we are in cannot continue… our forensic science provision has now reached breaking point and a complete overhaul is needed.”
The Committee stressed the need for urgent reforms to forensic science, and called on the government to adequately invest in the field to enable the UK to regain its world class reputation and ensure the effective delivery of justice.
New game-changing facilities at Cranfield set to provide a vital boost to forensics capabilities
Cranfield Forensic Institute (CFI) is already known as a leading international player in the field of forensics, with unsurpassed education and research. A £3.6 million investment in the latest forensic technology for CFI as it moves from Shrivenham to its new home at the Cranfield campus, is set to build upon this distinctive strength and expertise – creating a game-changing ‘centre of excellence’, which will greatly enhance the nation’s forensics capabilities.
It was announced last month that work had started on these new facilities which, once completed, will be some of the best in the world – creating better cohesion between the leading academic knowledge and criminal investigators, and training the next generation of forensic scientists.
The facilities will include crime scene investigation rooms, a simulated mass grave excavation site and a virtual reality autopsy table. Professor Andrew Shortland, Director of Cranfield Forensic Institute, describes the virtual autopsy table as “one of the most technologically advanced virtual dissection tables in anatomy education.” It will allow students to gain experience of multiple clinical examples of autopsies, and to manipulate them as 3D images, allowing sectioning and density differentiation – playing a key role in the University’s forensic anthropology teaching.
Two new comparison microscopes have also been ordered which will be central to teaching and researching in forensic ballistics, allowing scratches caused by a weapon rounds to be compared, linking a weapon to a crime scene or victim.
A forensics centre of excellence made possible by local investment
The construction of these new world-leading facilities at CFI has been made possible by £3.6 million of funding from South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) through the Local Growth Fund, alongside investment from Cranfield University.
Discussing the new facilities, Professor Shortland said: “This is great news, not just for Cranfield but for the UK as a whole.
Forensic science plays a critical part in the criminal justice system and we are proud to be playing our part in enhancing the nation’s capabilities in this field.”
“The investment in these new technologies will create unparalleled facilities for our students and staff, as we develop the next generation of forensic scientists and through our research expand the possibilities of forensic science.”
Judith Barker, Director at SEMLEP, said: “Bringing a world-class forensic sciences institute to this area will foster the development of local forensic businesses, boosting our region’s strengths in science, R&D and innovation, and reputation as the connected core of the UK’s innovation region, the Oxford to Cambridge Arc.”
A new home for CFI
Previously based at the Cranfield Defence and Security site in Shrivenham, the upgrade marks a move to a new home in the heart of our Cranfield campus. The building will include six new laboratories, new student spaces, technician offices and support areas.
The first cohort of students that will be able to make use of the new facilities are set to arrive on campus in October 2020.
Read more about the latest research and thinking from CFI here. You can also read Professor Shortland’s blog posts for updates on developments of the new CFI facilities.