Turning a crime scene into a lab
31 May 2005 by Evoluted New Media
The Forensic Science Service (FSS) and BT have unveiled the world’s first mobile laboratory that can travel to crime scenes and enable real-time forensic investigation
The Forensic Science Service (FSS) and BT have unveiled the world’s first mobile laboratory that can travel to crime scenes and enable real-time forensic investigation.
The FSS will use the Forensic Response Vehicle (FRV) to deliver its new forensic response service. This is a 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). Five police forces - West Midlands, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Warwickshire – have volunteered to carry out extensive pilot testing of the FRV this summer, with results expected in the autumn.
Stuart Hyde, Assistant Chief Constable West Midlands Police said: “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.”
Police will have access to several FSS services including DNA analysis of samples from the crime scene, footwear and fingerprint intelligence and electronic forensic science.
Throughout the planning stage of the 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.
