Published: 02/09/2010 10:15 -
Updated: 06/09/2010 17:13
Four senior police officers from Japan visited Northamptonshire Police this week to look at the force use new finger printing techniques.
Scientific support manager, Dr John Bond, has developed a pioneering procedure called ‘fingerprint visualising’.
The Japanese delegation wanted to see the method which has been singled out as one of the British innovations most likely to have the biggest impact on the world in the next few years.
Senior research specialists Kuzohito Hibino and Shigeki Takeuchi, both police inspector equivalents and Takashi Masaki a police lieutenant and chief examiner Osamu Shimoda, visited Police HQ on Tuesday.
Dr Bond’s first developed the ‘visualisation’ at home using homemade components joined together by twisted wire and gaffer tape, before working in collaboration with scientists at the University of Leicester’s Department of Chemistry.
The technique can reveal previously undiscovered fingerprints on metal, such as gun shell casings, by applying a large voltage to the metal and adding ceramic beads coated with a fine powder to the surface of the object.
This shows fingerprints, even after they have been wiped off. It is hoped that this can provide breakthroughs on previously unsolved cases by revealing hidden evidence.
All four officers are part of the forensic science division of the National Police Agency Government of Japan.
Speaking before the visit, Dr Bond said: “I look forward to welcoming the visitors from Japan, showing them this technique and demonstrating the variety of forensic work that we do in Northamptonshire Police.
“We have been overwhelmed by how much interest there has been in this technique.
“The interest has mainly come from the United States but lately this has extended to Canada, South Africa, Israel, the Caribbean, Hong Kong and now Japan.
“We presently have about one visit a month to our laboratory from overseas scientists to find out more about what we do.”
Dr Bond
The Japanese delegation wanted to see the method which has been singled out as one of the British innovations most likely to have the biggest impact on the world in the next few years.
Senior research specialists Kuzohito Hibino and Shigeki Takeuchi, both police inspector equivalents and Takashi Masaki a police lieutenant and chief examiner Osamu Shimoda, visited Police HQ on Tuesday.
Dr Bond’s first developed the ‘visualisation’ at home using homemade components joined together by twisted wire and gaffer tape, before working in collaboration with scientists at the University of Leicester’s Department of Chemistry.
The technique can reveal previously undiscovered fingerprints on metal, such as gun shell casings, by applying a large voltage to the metal and adding ceramic beads coated with a fine powder to the surface of the object.
This shows fingerprints, even after they have been wiped off. It is hoped that this can provide breakthroughs on previously unsolved cases by revealing hidden evidence.
All four officers are part of the forensic science division of the National Police Agency Government of Japan.
Speaking before the visit, Dr Bond said: “I look forward to welcoming the visitors from Japan, showing them this technique and demonstrating the variety of forensic work that we do in Northamptonshire Police.
“We have been overwhelmed by how much interest there has been in this technique.
“The interest has mainly come from the United States but lately this has extended to Canada, South Africa, Israel, the Caribbean, Hong Kong and now Japan.
“We presently have about one visit a month to our laboratory from overseas scientists to find out more about what we do.”
