Our projects cover a wide range of specialist areas, from tackling the scourge of monkey dust through to using AI to improve forensic processes.
It means experts from both Staffordshire Police and University of Staffordshire have lots of opportunities to get involved and make a real impact. Across all areas of Forensics we have identified topics for additional research and development.
We have also created virtual reality crime scenes to help assess investigators’ decision making as part of the accreditation process. Staff can demonstrate their decision making using different VR scenarios that can be transferred to real-life serious and complex cases.
The partnership has enlisted the expertise of several visiting professors as well, who are leading a variety of specialist projects. These include the development of anti-contamination processes to preserve DNA. They are also exploring how artificial intelligence can help with initial assessments, including which samples to submit for lab analysis. Each of these examples have been funded via the Home Office’s Test and Learn funding.
Representatives from the Police and University
From across Forensics police staff work alongside university colleagues in their area of expertise. Areas covered include quality standards, improvement to exhibit packaging and drug analysis. At crime scenes the partnership has looked at digital and physical evidence capture, trialling of new equipment and how forensics approaches the management of cannabis factories.
In addition, the ever changing and developing world of digital forensics which is encountered in almost every investigation continues to be an area of focus including wireless acquisition, wearable technology and using apps to support specialist teams.