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LA.A Gathering evidence
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Pearson Applied Science 23- Forensics Assignment A
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Unit 23: Forensic Evidence, Collection and AnalysisLearning aim A: Understand how to gather forensic evidence, the integrity to forensic
investigation and the importance of health and safety:
A.P1 Describe the procedures used to gather evidence for forensic investigation.
A.P2 Outline the roles of crime scene and authorised personnel who attend crime
scenes.
A.M1 Justify the importance of the procedures used to gather evidence for forensic
investigations.
A.M2 Explain the structure and importance of Scientific Support Units and
authorised personnel to forensic investigations.
A.D1 Discuss the importance of documentation methods to forensic investigation
and analyse each personnel used to gather evidence in relation to health and
safety and to preserve the integrity of evidence.
A.P1 Describe the procedures used to gather evidence for forensic investigation.
The importance of collecting and recovering evidence:
The importance of collecting, recovering, and packaging of evidence is a crucial aspect of a
forensic investigation because it leads to the competition of a crime investigation. Also, the
type of collection and packaging techniques depends on the type of evidence to be
recovered. Furthermore, appropriate handling of evidence can be used to:
Protect personnel from hazards associated with evidence such as biohazards and
sharp objects.
Protecting the evidence from loss, destruction, or contamination.
Identifying the evidence correctly from the nature or source.
Making sure the evidence is secure and tamper-proof. (Simplified, n.d.)
Evidence that may be gathered at a crime scene:
,Various types of physical evidence can be gathered at the crime scene which is seen
valuable or probative for collection and the investigation. Some examples might include:
Biological evidence might be blood, body fluids, tissues, or hair.
(See Fig 7)
Latent print evidence such as fingerprints, palm prints or
footprints
Footwear and tire track evidence
Trace evidence like fibres, soil, vegetation, or glass
Fig 12- A picture of a weapon tube (Accessed: 05 October
fragments 2023).
Digital evidence might be cell phone records,
internet logs or emails and messages.
Evidence of tools and tool marks
Evidence for drugs
Evidence of firearms (Simplified, n.d.)
However, the type of evidence will depend on the type of crime. For instance, if the case
might be a burglary, it is common to perform tasks in the order which has been listed below
to make sure that evidence is not damaged or destroyed:
1. Document and photograph the scene.
2. Collect the trace materials, specially from the points of entry.
3. Collect the low-level DNA evidence by swabbing surfaces of contact.
4. Collect and locate latent fingerprints. (Simplified, n.d.)
Types of evidence:
Biological evidence- Examples of the most common are body fluids such as semen, blood, or
saliva. The deposited surface determines the collection and packaging techniques being
carried out. Additionally, the wet stains are always air-dried before the appropriate
packaging can take place. Bloodstained garments are categorised in different types of
clothing must never be packaged in the same bag or container. The entire pieces of clothing
or garments should be collected entirely wherever possible. Clothing should also be folded
enough to fit the bag or container, making sure that the stained surface is not creased.
Moreover, paper can also be used to prevent transmitting the stain on other areas of
clothing. Also, bloodstained clothing should be packaged in breathable paper or boxes.
(Simplified, n.d.) (See Fig, 7)
Tracing evidence:
Trace evidence are often tiny fragments of physical evidence such as hairs, fibres from
clothing or carpeting or small pieces that can tell a story of what might have happened.
These objects can be transferred when two objects touch or small particles are disbursed by
action or movement. For instance, paint can be transferred from one car to another in a
collision or hair left on clothing after assault. This evidence is used to reconstruct an event
or show that a person or an object was present. Items which are of small size can easily be
lost during collecting or handling such as hairs, glass fragments, pint flakes or fibres. When
, they have been located and identified safety measures are to be taken to prevent damage,
contamination, or transfer. The appropriate and careful collection of these substances from
a crime scene can convey various amounts of information about where a sample came from
or how it is able to help in order to tell a story. Forensic scientists examine the physical,
optical, and chemical properties of tracing evidence by using various tools used to find and
compare samples and observing the sources or origins of each of the items. Majority of
testing methods need magnification and/or chemical analysis. (Simplified, n.d.)
This type of evidence can be used to link people, objects to locations, other people or other
things which often serve as a starting point or lead for a specific line of investigation. Tracing
evidence helps to put together pieces from an investigation such as direction of the suspect
arriving, the distance the criminal was standing from the victim or even if any stolen goods
were transported in a specific vehicle. In the intelligence investigation, the answer to these
prompts can have a huge impact on the outcome of the trail as these answers might be
found by carefully examining or analysing bits of evidence. (Simplified, n.d.)
The critical developments in tracing evidence can also be used in advances in microscopy,
chemical analysis, database technology and for purposes of evidence comparison. The
capabilities, availability and network comparison databases from scientists or manufacturers
has become more robust over the years. Samples of items like paint, glass or even soil can
be compared against known standards, providing solids and consistent classifications. For
example, the FBI has a National Automotive Paint File database which contains more than
45,000 samples of automotive paint from manufacturers dating all the way back to 1930’s.
Databases such as FormulaExpress, is also helpful in identifying the year, make and model
based on the colour availability. Investigators in tracing evidence must comply with
advances in manufacturing techniques, materials, coatings and processes. Additionally,
every item that can be touched or transported and has a potential ability to become trace
evidence should be considered by investigators or analysts for the potential that a product
might have a new or updated version of it available. (Simplified, n.d.)
Likewise, every case might have trace evidence to consider, as investigators must use their
understanding, training, and experience to thoroughly examine a scene, identifying and
appropriately collecting suitable evidence including traces. This examination needs focused
research and the careful collection of anything that are potential clues or the identification
of key suspects. Examination of tracing evidence could occur at a crime scene, on the
victim’s or suspect’s clothing, or a location of where the victim or a suspect might have been
recently. For instance, tracing examiners might search for lingulate fibres in the case of
strangling or identifying the weapon used in the crime. (Simplified, n.d.)
Examples of some tracing evidence and collection techniques from the crime scene are:
Hair: Forensic analysts are meant to inform investigators if individual hairs are of
human or animal. A sample is then obtained from the body or the surface. These
samples are used to determine the colour, shape, chemical composition or the race
or ethnicity of the individual. A note is then made for the presence of toxins, hair
treatments or dyes in the hair. This type of information can support investigators in
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