1. ENTER SIMULATED CRIME SCENES, SEARCH AND DOCUMENT THEM FULLY, COLLECT AND LABEL EVIDENCE, SHOWING DUE CARE TO FOLLOW CORRECT PROCEDURES TO AVOID CONTAMINATION WHILST WORKING EFFECTIVELY AS PART OF A TEAM AND CONTRIBUTING TO DISCUSSIONS
2. CRITICALLY EVALUATE THE EVIDENTIAL VALUE OF ITEMS RECOVERED FROM THE SIMULATED CRIME SCENE AND DETERMINE A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYTICAL PROGRAMME OF ANALYSIS OF THE RECOVERED EVIDENCE ITEMS.
3. ANALYSE RESULTS FROM THE LABORATORY WORK AND DERIVE CONCLUSIONS, WITH DUE CONSIDERATION OF LIMITATIONS AND ERRORS AND PRODUCE REPORTS WHICH CRITICALLY ANALYSE AND DISCUSS ANY OUTCOMES
4. DISCUSS SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION, AND PRESENT AND DEFEND IT WHEN ACTING AS AN EXPERT WITNESS IN A COURTROOM.

1. Group report of crime scene 3 – produced by group to include all scene documentation (logs, photographs, risk assessments etc.). Outcome 1
2. Individual scientific evidence analysis report – formal scientific report of evidence analysed (marks for report 3 will be adjusted by peer assessment, reports from scenes 1 and 2 will be formative assessment). Outcomes 2 and 3
3. Preparation of a court report based on laboratory analysis and scientific report. Outcomes 3 and 4
4. Cross examination in a moot courtroom setting of the court report. Outcome 4

Students will be provided with formative assessment and feedback via formal sessions with the tutor(s) in regard to reports produced for Crime Scenes 1 and 2
Blackboard will provide information of the marking criteria.

In this module you will work in small groups to investigate three selected simulations of crime scenes. The selected scenes may differ from year to year and will cover situations such as domestic disputes, breaking and entering, violent struggles, murder etc. Each group will work together and liaise with the module tutor to approve the plan for practical analysis of the evidence collected at the scenes.
The groups will be timetabled for each crime scene and will be observed during the documentation (photography, sketching etc.), investigation and collection of evidence from the scenes by a module tutor. There will also be timetabled laboratory time to undertake analysis of the evidence collected from the 2nd and 3rd scene. This analysis will draw on the skills and knowledge you have developed during your degree and may involve aspects such as: dusting, lifting, developing and analysing fingerprints, analysis of hairs, fibres, glass fragments etc., analysis of any suspect powders, particularly but not exclusively drugs, DNA profiling of blood, semen, saliva etc., analysis of documents and handwriting.
Based on the scene processing and the results of the laboratory analysis, the group will produce appropriate report types, plus an individual critical assessment of how their group performed and may improve for subsequent scenes. Reports 1 and 2 will be formatively assessed and feedback given before undertaking the third scene. Each of you will undertake a cross examination of your analysis of the evidence from the third crime scene in a courtroom situation, acting as an expert witness in the case.

This module will put into practice the knowledge and skills you have developed in earlier modules and enables you to experience all aspects of the ‘crime scene to court’ process.
Working as a small team, you will go to the crime scene house and, wearing full personal protective equipment, process a range of different mock crime scenes, collecting all the relevant evidence and documenting your actions. You will also analyse the evidence collected in those scenes using the appropriate laboratory equipment and writing scientific reports on the outcomes. For your final assessment, as well as a scientific report you will also create a court report which you will then be cross examined on in a mock court setting.

You will engage in practical analysis of evidence from collection at mock scenes and the analysis of that material in laboratories. This will be further supported by dedicated feedback sessions and workshops while lectures will build upon theory taught in Levels 4 and 5; there is a strong synoptic component to this module and therefore significant time should be spent revising past module content to gain the most from this module.

Safrestein R. 2018, Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science, 12th edition, Prentice-Hall
Jackson, A.R.W. & Jackson, J.M. 2017,¿Forensic science,¿4th edn, Pearson, Harlow.
Ashbaugh D.R. 1999, Quantitative-Qualitative Friction Ridge Analysis: An Introduction to Basic and Advanced Ridgeology (Practical Aspects of Criminal & Forensic Investigations), CRC Press
White, P. 2016, Crime scene to court: the essentials of forensic science, 4th edn, Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge.
Langford, A. 2019;2018;, Practical skills in forensic science, 3rd edn, Prentice Hall, Harlow.

Crime Scene House,
Cameras (only digital),
Tape measures
Criminalistics laboratory, Analytical suite and other laboratories

None.