Entry to postgraduate programme in Forensic Science

"Criminalistics: An introduction to forensic science" (7th edition), Richard Saferstein, Prentice Hall (2001) + others as directed in structured learning.

An appropriately equipped Criminalistics Laboratory and a purpose-designed scene of crime facility.

Portfolio of practical exercises (30%) - outcomes 2 + 5

Group report* on crime scene and evidence collection (40%) - outcomes 2, 4 and 5, and

Evaluation on the use of equipment (15%) assessed by observation - outcomes 1 and 4

Performance at the crime scene (15%), assessed by video taken during crime scene - outcomes 3 and 4

Work carried out prior to the workshop through Blackboard will be formative, but a good performance should be reflected in the performance and report production during the workshop

* Normalised through peer assessment of individual's contribution to report production

PASS CRITERIA: Effective involvement in practical and crime scene investigation sessions and contribution to associated discussions. Practical and crime scene reports demonstrating a sound understanding of principles, with neat presentation of results. Evidence of background reading in interpreting results and their subsequent appraisal.
MERIT CRITERIA: Significant contribution to practical and crime scene sessions, with positive and knowledgeable contribution to discussion sessions. Well kept notebook. Practical and crime scene reports showing evidence of significant background reading and critical analysis of results and techniques.
DISTINCTION CRITERIA: Demonstrate leadership qualities in practical and crime scene sessions, and in discussions. Notebook neatly maintained with observations recorded correctly and commented on as necessary. Practical and crime scene report presented excellently, with strong evidence of extensive background reading and signs of originality in evaluation and appraisal of the significance of results.

The bulk of the time will be taken up by an intensive in-house residential workshop. Many of the practical exercises and the crime scene investigation will be carried out in small teams. Prior to the workshop, you will receive information on the techniques and instruments, and practical schedules through Blackboard to aid preparation for the workshop. The laboratory sessions and crime scene investigation will occupy 80h, with the remaining 70h roughly being taken up by: preparation 40h and team discussions and report writing 30h.

This module will provide hands on experience of using techniques generally described as criminalistic methods. The range of techniques covered include: fingerprinting, collection (dusting from different surfaces using a range of agents), enhancement (superglue fuming, ninhydrin etc.) and digitising/analysis (using the DCS 121 system), with appropriate emphasis on the labelling to identify characteristics; footwear impressions, casting, obtaining impressions using ESLA, influence of action (walking, running, jumping etc) and analysis using digital photography and digitising; analysis of fibres through various microscopic techniques; analysis of documents and inks, using ESDA, VSC, Raman Spectroscopy, FTIR Spectroscopy; analysis of paints, especially using FTIR and Raman Spectroscopy and SEM; analysis of glasses, especially determination of refractive index by hot stage microscopy. The module will progress to collect evidence from a simulated crime scene with subsequent analysis of the evidence in the laboratory.