Claire Gwinnet, reports that the trace evidence research group is currently working on experiments in transfer and persistence of fibres in a variety of environments, such as waterways and common points of entry to aid in reconstructing events at crime scenes. Very important validation studies are being conducted by Staffordshire university for West Mercia and Warwickshire police for their ISO17020 accreditation – validation studies include effective methods for tape lifting at scenes and 3D footwear impression casting methods.

 Forensic Students Beth and Charlotte are having extra tutorials with Dean Northfields in the techniques of 3D bodymapping. This techniques incorporates computer CGI with complex pathology reports to create forensic graphics that are suitable for use in UK courts, in particular when explaining traumatic death of individuals.his techniques bring together disciplines across the STEM spectrum incorporating Post mortem pictures, CGI and technical reporting

 Rachel Bolton-King is undertaking research with firearm expert Paul Olden (Key Forensic Services) to identify manufacturing lines of shotgun cartridges through the forensic examination of fired wadding and shot. The research is supported by National Ballistics Intelligence Service and students from Staffordshire University and Avans University (The Netherlands). Recent research activity involved visiting ammunition manufacturing facilities to further understand and observe manufacturing processes.

Sarah Fieldhouse’s Level 6 Forensics students have been learning about the Bayesian approach to the interpretation and evaluation of evidence.  Students were given a mock crime scenario involving a hit and run case, whereby fibres were recovered from the bonnet of a suspect car that were indistinguishable from fibres taken from the victim’s coat.  Students were required to devise likelihood ratios for the fibres evidence, which were used to assess its probative value.

Myname is Iris Dingemanse, from Avans University in the Nederlands, presently undertaking my graduation placement, which is my second placement here at Staffordshire University.

After performing research into footwear polymers in my first project I am currently testing and developing packaging materials for retaining residues of ignitable liquids, such as petrol, used in relation to arson investigation. In the UK nylon-11 polymer bags are mostly used as containers for collecting and storing fire debris prior to chemical analysis to identify the class characteristics of any ignitable liquids that may be present in the fire debris or on suspects’ or victims’ clothing. However, as reported in the literature these bags do have some disadvantages such as certain components may migrate through the polymer membrane, may demonstrate background interferences and can easily be pierced or torn by sharp items. The aim of this research project is to test and develop packaging materials for the purpose of overcoming some of these disadvantages, with the principal aim to eliminate the loss of volatile components by migration through the membrane. I am testing the migration rates of key volatile chemical components in closed systems and using industry standard methods of analysis such as automated thermal desorption-gas chromatography (ATD-GC).

In October 2016, the Society was involved in the Big Biology Day at Staffordshire University (UK). Activities delivered on the day focused centred around the biological development of children with hands on activities for all the family, including bone identification tasks, quizzes, and demonstrations (all using resin casts). Thank you to Claire Hodson (Durham University) and Dr David Errickson (Teesside University) for your help on the day.

On Saturday 28^th February 2017 the Society ran a joint event with Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (MAA) to mark the closure of the Museum’s Heritage Lottery Funded “Hide and Seek: Looking for Children in the Past” exhibition.

The day involved tours of the exhibition by one of the curators (Dr Jody Joy) and a family day led by the education and outreach team (Sarah-Jane Harknett, Matt Buckley, and Bob Bourn). Dr Sally Crawford (University of Oxford and President of the Society) delivered a key note talk titled “New kids on the block: the archaeology of childhood comes of age”, which attracted around 50 visitors from an array of professional backgrounds. Sally explored the development of the archaeology of childhood and the importance of including children in our interpretation of archaeological sites and objects.

The event closed with a wine reception which allowed visitors to discuss all aspects of childhood in the past and view the exhibition before its closure. This has been a ground breaking exhibition and has helped to publicize the value of acknowledging children in the interpretation of archaeological remains and historical documents. Many thanks to Jody Joy, Imogen Gunn, Eleanor Wilkinson, Sarah-Jane Harknett, Lorena Bushell, and the rest of the MAA team for all your hard work.

Further details about the “Hide and Seek” exhibition can be found at the following website: http://www.hideandseekexhibition.org.uk/

For more information about the Society for the Study of Childhood in the Past, please visit our website: https://sscip.wordpress.com/

Dr Kirsty Squires (Kirsty.Squires@staffs.ac.uk)

My PhD research is investigating innovative and novel technology for documenting crime scenes and the subsequent presentation of such evidence in courtrooms. My research seeks to validate the accuracy and precision of measurements taken using a Spheron VR 360-degree camera using photogrammetry in comparison to traditional tape measurements taken at crime scenes.

In addition, the research explores other similar documentation technologies identifying the advantages and disadvantages of these to provide police services with impartial data which may allow them to make a more informed decision when considering purchase of such equipment.

Another part of my research presents a technique, which allows the simultaneous detection and visualisation of semen and saliva utilising a SceneCam 360^o camera (Spheron VR.), which was adapted to integrate a blue Crime Lite XL (Foster + Freeman).  These preliminary results are presented as a proof of concept for combining 360^o photography using High Dynamic Range (HDR) and an alternate light source for the detection of biological stains, within a scene, in real time, whilst conveying spatial relationships of staining to other evidence

This technique presents the opportunity to rapidly screen a crime scene for biological fluids and will facilitate simultaneous location and visualisation of biological evidence.  The final part of my research explores the current situation with regards to technology use in the courtroom. This study explores scene of crime officers and road traffic officers experiences with the use of technology in the courtroom and their opinions on the use of technology and future technology in the courtroom.

More recently we have started research investigating the use of the Spheron SceneCam 360-degree camera and laser systems of different wavelengths for the detection of biological fluids at crime scenes.