Forensic Science
at Stoke-on-Trent College

Introduction To Forensic Science

The module begins with a discussion of the various definitions and public perceptions of forensic science, a review of the historical development of forensic science, and overview of the current structure and function of forensic science and police scientific support services in the UK. The roles of the FOA and SCI at the crime scene will be discussed, along with the fundamental principles of crime scene investigation and the importance of continuity of evidence, and an introduction to crime scene processing - protecting and documenting the scene, search, recovery, packaging and labelling of physical evidence. Crime scene management issues, and complexities such as multiple linked scenes, will be discussed, along with specialist types of crime scenes, such as fire and bomb scenes and clandestine laboratories.An overview will be given of the types of physical evidence submitted for forensic analysis, the analytical techniques used to examine them, and the types of information that this can reveal. The important issues of laboratory quality control and quality assurance will be discussed in context. The use of forensic evidence in serious crime investigation will be discussed, including the structure and function of the incident room and the HOLMES computer system, and corroborative versus intelligence-led approaches to forensic investigations.A brief introduction will be given to the legal system and the courts of law in the UK, the course of a criminal trial, and the use of forensic evidence in court, will be outlined. The different roles of the scientist appointed by the prosecution and defence will be discussed, along with written reports and the role of the expert witness.Alongside the content above, students will develop their study skills and develop their PDP in a series of tasks.

Module code: FORE40253

Biological Principles For Forensic Sciences

This module encompasses the fundamental aspects of biology, both theory and practical to support the biological aspects contained in later levels of your award and has 3 distinct blocks.1. Practical Skills: this section involves a series of practicals that include many fundamental skills including health and safety that you will be expected to develop in later levels of your studies.2. Genetics: this examines the fundamentals of inheritance starting with the structure, replication and organisation of DNA within the genome. How information flow is regulated and translated into a form useable by a cell will be addressed and the section will culminate with consideration of the vertical transmission of genetic material (reference to Mendelian principles) and introduction to population genetics. Included within this area will be a series of practical based workshops designed to allow deeper understanding of basic genetic principles.3. Fundamentals of Human Physiology: this provides an underpinning to physiological principles in the following areas, organisation, anatomy, physiology of systems and control and balance. Each section does not have equal weighting but completion of all sections will ensure that due consideration is made of all aspects from the fundamental intracellular chemistry to the homeostatic control of the whole organism. This thus provides the basis for your drugs and toxicology study at later levels.

Module code: BIOL40450

Facial Recognition: Scientific And Investigative Tools

Students will develop an understanding of the techniques available for facial identification including biometric and anthropometrical systems, 3-Dimensional facial recognition, and modelling systems and software generation of Identikit images. This module will equip students with an understanding of facial recognition software programmes and future developments in identification and verification of individuals. Specific case studies where facial composites and aged facial composites have been used to aid an investigation will also be examined in this module. Students will also develop an understanding of the reliability and accuracy of eyewitness statements. Factors affecting the accuracy of eye witness accounts including bias, faulty observation, lying, weapon focus, and post-event distortion will be investigated in this module. The module will contain an introduction to the cognitive processes that affect memory recall and false perceptions alongside specific case studies where research has been conducted into the degree in which the perception of the eye witness can be manipulated or affected. Students will also learn about the production of a witness statement followed by a comparison with eye witness statements from peer cohort, to develop an understanding of the potential inaccuracies that can occur.

Module code: FORE40257

Chemical Principles For Forensic Science

From drugs to decomposition, firearms to fire debris, chemistry is at the heart of forensic science. This module will provide the foundations of core chemical knowledge to support your learning throughout the rest of your degree.

Module code: FORE40244

Periodicity

The underlying principles of the chemistry of the s, p and d block elements will be outlined. This will consist of aspects of the fundamental properties of electrons and their significance to chemical properties of the elements. The concept of quantum numbers as related to occupancy of electronic orbitals and how their interaction leads to the formation of chemical bonds. The relationship between physical properties such as ionisation energy and electron affinity and the chemical properties of the s and p-block elements with an emphasis on the unusual effects observed in rows 4 and 6 of the p-block. Chemistry of transition metals, electronic structures and trends in their reactivity. Aspects of complex formation such as chelate effect, and kinetically inert complexes, and their significance in forensic analysis. Some aspects will be illustrated by laboratory demonstration lectures

Module code: FORE40273

Crime Scene Documentation

The content of the photographic material is basic principles, varieties and functions of lenses, focal lengths, depth of field, primer zoom lenses, basic camera movements, exposure, exposure varilians, working with light, controlling light direction, available light, the sun through the day, fundamentals of composition, viewpoint, shape and form, pattern and texture, still life, framing; use of digital cameras.The crime scene photography will look at how photography is used to document the crime scene and any evidence found there in, by means of using overview, approach and close-up photographs. Demonstration of the different types of measuring and sketching methods available for documenting a scene, with discussion to identify their pro's and con's for given situations and/or locations along with the creation of contemporaneous notes and evidence sheets/logs. The recovery of digital evidence from the crime scene.

Module code: FORE40270

Methods Of Crime Detection

This module builds on the level-one Introduction to Forensic Science module. It reinforces some of the fundamental principles, whilst introducing you to a number of key areas of forensic science which are not covered elsewhere in the course. The characterisation of hairs and other fibres as items of trace evidence will be explored as will the evidential value of objects made of textile fabric. An introduction to the interpretation of blood spatter patterns is given. The analysis and comparison of glass and paint by microscopic and other means will be discussed.The comparison of tool marks (including those made by firearms on cartridge cases and projectiles) and their evidential value will be introduced. The individuality of fingerprints will be discussed, along with methods of fingerprint classification. The basic principles of visualisation and enhancement of latent fingerprints, and fingerprint analysis and identification will be outlined. The impressions made by footwear, bare feet will be described and their usefulness discussed. An overview will be given of the analysis of questioned documents, including examination of paper, writing implements and inks, banknotes, credit cards, cheques and wills, typewritten, printed and photocopied documents, handwriting and indented writing, fingerprint and DNA traces. The handling of questioned documents and the techniques for destructive and non-destructive testing will be discussed. This module also examines the increasingly important role of forensic science in the investigation of footwear analysis. This will include current protocols in footwear impression analysis including the search, retrieval and examination of footwear impressions found at crime scenes. The interpretation of footwear marks will be introduced including the use of databases for comparison purposes. The students will also be introduced to the Bayesian approach to the evaluation of evidence. This will require students to understand how to interconvert between probability and odds, and how to construct meaningful likelihood ratios and use these to convert prior odds into posterior odds. Time will also be spent on the common errors of thinking known as the prosecutor's fallacy and the defence attorney's fallacy.

Module code: FORE50314

Dna-Profiling And Forensic Biology

Forensic Genetics and DNA-profiling: Basic genetics ( classical, molecular and population) relevant to forensics - patterns of inheritance (nuclear and cytoplasmic), alleles and polymorphisms . Detection of polymorphisms, genes in populations. Genetic material and its isolation from diverse sources. The practical content includes some basic techniques of molecular biology related to DNA analysis and genotyping; including purification and gel electrophoresis of nucleic acids, hybridisation technology and the polymerase chain reaction. What information can be gleaned from genetic data? Lectures will give the scientific background to the techniques, an overview of the typing systems used (STR typing, mitochondrial sequencing and the developing SNP analysis), when certain systems are applied rather than other ones, the significance and interpretation of the results, DNA profiling databases, quality control and regulation. Laboratory sessions will give practical experience of the procedures from collection of samples to interpretation of results.Forensic Biology: The wide scope of this area includes; the investigation of crimes against the person (such as murder, rape and other sexual offences, assault), endangered species and paternity. In addition you will specifically focus on biological evidence at crime scenes; blood stain pattern analysis; visualising body fluid stains; collection and handling of biological evidential samples; clothing examination; presumptive testing for body fluids; extraction of body fluid stains; microscopy of spermatozoa; hair analysis; conventional blood grouping; determination of species of origin. Applications of microscopy to other biological evidential material. Basic forensic entomology. An introduction to the basic concepts in ante-mortem and post-mortem pathologies using appropriate examples. Professional aspects including hypothesis forming and testing, quality assurance, proper documentation, presenting written reports of investigations to courts of law.

Module code: FORE50317

Vehicle Collision Investigation

Vehicle collisions are a common occurrence and their effective investigation involves a range of forensic techniques and investigative processes. The more serious collisions are managed by a Lead investigating officer who is responsible for appropriately resourcing the scene and the resulting investigation. The module will initially focus on the roles of the collision investigator and vehicle examiner who are responsible for the collection and preservation of evidence and the reconstruction of the collision. Methods, which assist in establishing what factors contributed to the collision, whether they be human, mechanical or environmental, will allow greater understanding of how and why collisions occur. The role of the lead investigating officer will be examined, along with others key roles involved in the investigation of the collison and the policy decisions made during the investigation.

Module code: FORE50319

Experimental Chemistry

You will carry out a range of chemical experiments involving single and multi stage syntheses, determination of reaction ratios, compositional and spectroscopic analyses. Typical experiments include the preparation and analysis of polyiodides, determination of the reaction ratio between hydroxylammonium and bromate ions, multistage synthesis of potassium tris(oxalato)ferrate(III), spectroscopic distinction of isomers of a cobalt(III) complex. You will be required to maintain a written note book for contemporaneous recording of all experimental data and observations.

Module code: FORE50286

Forensic Archaeology

This module will examine the role of the forensic archaeologist, both within UK criminal investigations and international mass death scenarios. The fundamental principles of search, recovery and post-recovery analysis will be explored and the various scenarios in which forensic archaeologists can become involved in investigations centred around buried or concealed remains will be discussed. Students will be introduced to the various methods that can be employed by forensic archaeologists at crime scenes, such as intelligence gathering, remote sensing, geophysical survey and excavation. Case studies involving the search for, and recovery of, human remains, drugs, weapons and other clandestinely buried items will be presented, whilst specific sessions focusing on the logistical and environment factors that may hinder these investigations will be delivered. Sessions discussing the variety of trace evidence and samples that can be taken from a grave and their evidential value will allow the students to consider the methods introduced to them in other modules, such as Introduction to Forensic Science and Science For Justice, in the context of the burial environment. Practical sessions in geophysics and excavation will complement the taught components and provide the opportunity to gain hands-on experience of the methods discussed. Lectures by specialist practitioners regularly involved in case work will offer a `real-world' perspective. Additionally, students will be expected to critique specialist reports in order providing an opportunity to understand up-to-date developments within the discipline, and as enhance their research and analytical skills.

Module code: FORE50327

Drugs Of Abuse

Gain an understanding of the current drug legislation in England and Wales, with particular reference to the Misuse of Drugs Act. Identify issues with legislation such as the impact that the development of new drugs has on policing illegal drug use. Gain experience in the processing of crime scenes involving drugs and related paraphernalia, including the Health and Safety implications and the recovery and packaging of evidential items. Develop an appreciation of the current issues associated with policing illegal drug manufacture, use and trafficking. Gain an understanding of the role of forensic analysis within drug related investigations including outlining the analytical techniques available for identification and association of illegal drugs. Introduce the impact that drug use has socially and economically, highlighting examples of drugs in sport and the relationship between drug use and criminal activity. Examine methods used in workplace testing of drugs and roadside testing for drugs and alcohol, including calculating blood alcohol levels. Specific case studies will be discussed with relation to illegal drugs in sport, in the media and with particular reference to policing and investigative enquiries.

Module code: FORE50316

Methods Of Chemical Analysis

Chemical analysis is a critical skill - this module will introduce you to the state-of-the-art in analytical techniques and develop skills in analysing a range of forensically useful evidence.

Module code: FORE50313

Research And Professional Skills

This module aims to help you develop a wide range of skills in order to enable you to effectively find, evaluate, summarise and present information on designated topics appropriate to your award. You will be given guidance in the effective use of library and IT resources for information retrieval and processing, and in designing a research project.Students will acquire knowledge of a range of statistical tests available for data analysis and learn how to apply and interpret them using statistical packages.You will also study the potential impact of cognitive bias on the development and professional practice of forensic science.

Module code: FORE50241

Techniques In Identification Of Human Remains

This module will provide you with advanced theory and knowledge of advanced forensic techniques that are involved in human identification. The module will specialise in:Victim identification and the problems encountered,Concepts of facial reconstruction will also be investigated along with Biometric analysis for identification andHuman identification protocols in Mass disaster environments will be considered.You will be expected to think analytically and be aware of new research presented in journals. The module will also allow you to develop your own analytical approach within moral and ethical grounds in relation to research in forensic scienceAs well as acquiring knowledge of specialised techniques,you will be made aware of current research and potential future developments in forensic science.Expertise from external lecturers will be employed to bring you 'cutting-edge' forensic presentations.

Module code: FORE60322

Cyber Crime

This final year module will explore the complexities of cyber crime. It will look at the types of activity that constitute cyber crime and consider who and how such crimes are investigated. Learning will take place through interactive lectures including some supported by a range of specialist guest speakers.

Module code: FORE60350

Analysis And Investigation Of Tereff Incidents

Types of firearms and ammunition, examination of suspect firearms, spent projectiles and cartridge cases, and collection and analysis of gunshot residues. Internal, external and terminal ballistics. Fires and their spread (initiation, growth, flashover), problems of fire fighting, evidence collection and analysis, fire scene investigation. Classification of explosives, types of explosives, pyrotechnics, types and extent of damage by explosives and evaluation of oxygen balances and explosive power. Terrorism including CBRN Incidents, examples of terrorist incidents, identification and collection of evidence. Intelligence gathering and application in the prevention of major crime and terrorist incidents. Post bomb scene management and examination, evaluation of witness statements and evidence analysis.

Module code: FORE60320

Forensic Multimedia

This module will develop your depth of understanding in a variety of techniques and concepts including many aspects of acquiring, processing, enhancement, manipulation and presentation of a wide variety of common digital evidence platforms; Imaging, Image processing, Video, Audio, Forensic graphics 2D and 3D.Introduction to national guidelines for dealing with forensic evidence including issues around authenticity and integrity.Topics taught will include an introduction and discussion around current, new and emerging technologies, multimedia and software that currently exist within the forensic industry for the purpose of investigative functions.Horizon scanning of the latest technological advancement in forensic technology and multimediaPractical elements will include using software for hands on experience of processing and preparation of digital evidence for investigation and presentation in courts.

Module code: FORE60351

Advanced Dna Profiling

The module builds on molecular genetic work studied at level 2 where the fundamental knowledge andunderstanding needed to discuss DNA profiling was developed. This module takes the material to a greaterdepth, taking it to a level approaching that of a professional. There will be a detailed coverage of DNAprofiling from the collection of evidence to the interpretation and presentation of the data. Lectures willgive the scientific background to the techniques, the typing systems used (STR typing, mitochondrialsequencing and the developing SNP analysis), when certain systems are applied rather than other ones,the significance and interpretation of the results, DNA profiling databases, quality control and regulation.Statistical interpretation of the evidence will be taken to a deeper level. Issue of data quality andpresentation of DNA evidence will be considered. Laboratory sessions will give practical experience of theprocedures from collection of samples to interpretation of results.

Module code: BIOL60496

Independent Project

Explore new areas of Forensic Science in your own research project. Develop new ideas in partnership with experts and present your results to the world.

Module code: FORE60331

Field School In Forensic Archaeology

This module will allow students to participate in a field course where the knowledge gained as part of the Forensic Archaeology module can be applied to an actual case study site. This fieldwork is likely to be residential and students will work for 10 days, for 8 hours a day. Practical work in field survey, geophysics, excavation and recording will be undertaken, thus providing an introduction to the practical applications of the methods discussed in taught sessions. Additionally, students will be expected to demonstrate competency in generic skills such as team working, communication and time management.Forensic archaeology is a very practical subject area but the opportunities for casework experiences are limited for students. This represents a unique opportunity for the student's to apply their theoretical knowledge as part of an active research project and to gain first-hand experience of some of the issues involved in the study of crime scenes at which buried evidence exists. This field course also represents an opportunity for students to collect data for their third year project, subject to prior agreement with the module leader, thus offering an applied research and publication opportunity.Note: This field course also represents an opportunity for students to collect data for their third year project, subject to prior agreement with the module leader.

Module code: FORE60348

Expert Witness And The Legal System

You will learn about the court system and its personnel and the principle of Criminal Law and forensic science relevant offences. You will study the conduct of a case from investigation to verdict and appeal and the nature of adversarial justice and the process of proof within it. You will gain an understanding of the rules of evidence, the role and responsibilities of the expert witness and how to present evidence in court-examination and cross-examination. There will be lectures on presenting evidence in court by expert witnesses. You will enhance learning from earlier modules about the roles of Bayesian and non-Bayesian statistics in forensic science will be consolidated in this module; the fundamentals of Bayesian statistics will be revised and then built upon. You will also build upon the Case Assessment and Interpretation mode

Module code: FORE60334

Investigating And Reporting Of Crime Scenes

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, drugs raids, murder etc. Each group will liaise with the module tutor to approve the plan for practical analysis of the evidence collected at the scenes. The groups will be assigned a time per crime scene and will be observed during the investigation of the scenes and collection of evidence by a module tutor. There will also be dedicated laboratory time to undertake analysis of the evidence. This analysis 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, obtaining casts and electrostatic lifts of footwear, obtaining casts of tool marks, documenting (photographing, sketching etc.) of the crime scenes, DNA profiling of blood, semen, saliva etc.Based on the results of the analysis, the group will produce a report, which will include 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 the students will undertake a presentation of their analysis of the evidence from the third of the crime scenes in a courtroom situation, acting as an expert witness.

Module code: FORE60332

Toxicology

This module is designed to provide you with a thorough grounding in the essential principles of modern toxicology. These principles will be extended and explored through a series of specific studies designed to appeal to a varied range of scientists. It is envisaged these will include areas such as behaviour altering drugs, agrochemicals, food additives, various air pollutants, organ specific toxins, endocrine disrupting substances, weaponised toxins, poisons/poisoning and post-mortem toxicology.echniques for assessing toxicity within the laboratory and field will be critically evaluated including some of the standard analytical approaches. In addition, the module will include data-handling techniques used in the analysis and statistical treatment of toxicological data.

Module code: BIOL60620

Mathematics And Data Handling

Module code: FORE30347

Biology

Module code: FORE30344

Chemistry

Module code: FORE30345

Applied Science

Module code: FORE30361

Advanced Research Methods

You will learn to critically engage with the literature at a deep level, and design experiments and studies that produce meaningful data of publishable quality. You will learn methods used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. Your learning will be underpinned by tuition in the use of statistical analysis software such as R and Nivo to simulate, present, explore and test data at a professional level.

Module code: FORE70338

Forensic Chemical And Biological Techniques

Content taught through mixture of Blackboard VLE activities and laboratory attendance. This module will cover aspects of forensic biology and forensic chemistry, developing your depth of understanding of a variety of techniques and concepts.Forensic Chemistry will focus on a variety of analytical techniques and will consider their suitability to and applications in, forensic science. Techniques covered will include; separative and chromatographic methods, spectroscopy, X-ray and electrochemical methods. Theoretical aspects are dealt with alongside practical to allow evaluation and appraisal of a specific technique.Biological aspects will include topics ranging from the processing of recovered evidential samples, identification of body fluids and analysis of DNA samples. The processes involved in DNA recovery, extraction, quantification and analysis will be discussed, with specific reference to the current DNA profiling techniques used. Alternative types of DNA analysis, including mitochondrial DNA sequencing and Y-STR analysis will also be introduced. The statistical interpretation of DNA evidence will be covered, enabling an understanding of how DNA evidence is reported in a court of law. Additional topics that will be addressed are forensic entomology, blood pattern analysis and analysis of hair evidence.The practical element will provide hands on experience of a wide range of analytical equipment encountered in forensic science. The main thrust is to provide experiments that allow comparison of techniques and methods. Examples of the type of experiment you might expect are: analysis of drugs to evaluate the potential of different chromatographic techniques, especially GC and HPLC, analysis of fire accelerants through the use of rapid GC (as a preliminary screening technique) then thermal desorption headspace analysis for analysis of a range of accelerants before and after the burning of materials to which the accelerant has been applied, analysis of barbiturates to compare and evaluate selectivity and sensitivity etc... of chromatographic methods with FTIR, analysis of environmental samples to allow comparison of a range of spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques (especially in their application to speciation) analysis of explosives to evaluate a range of analytical techniques. Examination of biological evidence including garments and body fluids. Skills in the analysis of animal and human hairs as well as blood pattern interpretation will be developed. DNA analysis, from different evidence types such as hair, saliva, semen and blood, will be carried out, including all stages of recovery, extraction, amplification, SGM+ profiling and mtDNA sequencing.

Module code: FORE70336

Integrated Masters Placement

You will spend the second semester of your final year working on an internal or external placement. This will give you the opportunity to demonstrate that you can work effectively in a professional environment. You will learn new skills and conduct research appropriate to the placement requirements.

Module code: FORE70571

Specialist Topics In Forensic Investigations

This module builds upon the theories and practical skills gained during L4-6 in the Forensic Investigation, Forensic Science and Policing and Criminal Investigation awards. It reinforces some of the fundamental principles, whilst introducing you to a number of specialist areas of forensic investigation which are not covered elsewhere in the course. You will have the opportunity to choose which specialist topics you would like to study. However, some topics may have specific eligibility criteria that need to be met prior to completing that specialism. These topics are indicative only and subject to change so as to keep module content up-to-date. Examples of specialist topics that may be chosen are as follows;1.Underwater Crime Scene Investigation2.Advanced Wildlife Crime Investigation3.Forensic Firearms Identification and Ballistics4.Forensic ImagingEach topic is described below.1.Underwater Crime Scene Investigation The fundamental principles of underwater crime scene investigation, including underwater crime scene documentation, searching methods, evidence recovery and the role of a police diver will be explored. Practical activities will be conducted in underwater crime scene analysis. 2.Advanced Wildlife Crime InvestigationThe current issues relating to Wildlife Crime in the UK will be explored, including badger baiting, dog fighting, stealing bird eggs and illegally smuggling, trading in wild animals and protected species and the role of the Wildlife Crime Officer. Documentation of a wildlife crime cases, search, recovery and analysis of evidence of an animal origin will be investigated. 3.Forensic Firearms Identification and BallisticsThe role of the firearms examiner in forensic firearms investigations and the underlying principles in the field of firearms identification and ballistics, including; the affect of projectile ricochet on scene interpretation, firearm component manufacturing, forensic firearms identification, internal, intermediate, external and terminal ballistics will be explored.

Module code: FORE70343

The Human Capital Dimension

Module code: HRMG70043