ABSTRACT
In recent years, UK police fingerprinting services have undergone significant changes, in both their structure and training processes. In 2007 Centrex (the National Police Training Center) was replaced by the National Policing Improvements Agency (NPIA) in an attempt to standardise the delivery of fingerprint training to all UK police forces. With the disbanding of the National Fingerprint Board in 2008, the fingerprint service turned to the newly appointed Forensic Science Regulator for guidance. The Forensic Science Regulator (see Chapter 20) (sponsored by the Home Office) was established to ensure that the provision of forensic science services across the criminal justice system is subject to an appropriate regime
Introduction 305 Recovery of Fingerprints from the Living 307 Recovery of Fingerprints from Items 308
Research Using the Constituents of the Fingerprint Impression 312 Presentation of Fingerprint Evidence in Court 315 Friction Ridge Recovery from Damaged or Decomposing Remains 318
Assessment 318 Cleanup 320 Development/Treatment 320 Heat Treatments 321 Chemical Treatments 322 Capture 323
Case Studies 324 Case 1 324 Case 2 325 Case 3 325 Case 4 327
Conclusion 329 References 330
of scientific quality standards (Home Office n.d.). The year 2012 saw the introduction of Police and Crime Commissioners as well as proposals for regionalisation of some police forces. The impact of these changes has yet to be fully revealed, but they have the potential to affect the provision of scientific support within UK police forces. Further change in 2012 saw the operational functions of the NPIA being transferred to the College of Policing, a new professional body designed to increase professionalism in policing. These revisions, as well as the ongoing review of the fingerprint service by the Fingerprint Quality Standards Specialist Group (FQSSG), mean that further changes to the operation of the UK fingerprint service are highly likely.
