ENFSI collaborative testing programme for fingermarks: Past experiences and future perspectives

National fingermark visualisation collaborative exercise 2020

In 2020, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory organised and ran what is believed to be the first UK national collaborative exercise of its kind in the field of fingermark visualisation, on behalf of the Forensic Science Regulator. Laboratories were provided with a piece of wrapping paper, a challenging item for fingermark visualisation due to its semi-porous characteristics, both from a planning and processing perspective, and asked to treat it as a major crime exhibit. Due to the complexity of the substrate, variation in approach was anticipated. 23 laboratories from 21 organisations completed the exercise. In general, laboratories performed well, providing assurance to the Forensic Science Regulator regarding their ability to visualise fingermarks. Key learning points were identified around decision-making, planning and implementation of fingermark visualisation processes - all of which assist in raising the level of understanding around the likely success of fingermark visualisation. Lessons learnt, along with the overall findings, were shared and discussed in a workshop held in summer 2021. The exercise provided a useful insight into the current operational practices of participating laboratories. Areas of good practice were identified as well as the areas within the laboratories' approach that could be altered or adapted.

Error rates and proficiency tests in the fingerprint domain: A matter of perspective and conceptualization

The purpose of this work is to critically analyse the aspects connected both with the measurement of error rates and with the design of proficiency tests and collaborative exercises in the fingerprint domain. All from the dual perspective of practitioners and organizers of PT's/CE's. A thorough analysis of the types of errors, of the methods to infer them through black-box studies and PT's/CE's is carried out, and the limits to the generalization of error rates are described, providing insightful indication on how to design PT's/CE's in the fingerprint domain, which are aimed to represent the complexity of casework.

Fingermark visualisation on thermal paper - A comparison among different procedures as an outcome of the 2018 collaborative exercise of the ENFSI Fingerprint Working Group

In 2018 the Fingerprint Working Group (EFP-WG) of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) undertook a collaborative exercise (CE) with the aim of assessing the ability in developing fingermarks on an item constituted of a thermal layer. The test was prepared and managed by the officially established advisory group. The characteristics of the CE are summarised. Different approaches emerged from the outcomes showing on average valid results. What is evident from data is that the preliminary inspection is highly advisable especially for the thermal side exploiting specific combinations of wavelengths and filters. In general, better performances were achieved by laboratories using multiple processing techniques. Conversely, few laboratories were capable to reach the expected results with only one step process. Finally, data does not support the use of cyanoacrylate, powders, and iodine on this specific substrate.

Interpol review of fingermarks and other body impressions 2016-2019

This review paper covers the forensic-relevant literature in fingerprint and bodily impression sciences from 2016 to 2019 as a part of the 19th Interpol International Forensic Science Managers Symposium. The review papers are also available at the Interpol website at: https://www.interpol.int/content/download/14458/file/Interpol%20 Review%20 Papers%202019. pdf.

The 2016 ENFSI Fingerprint Working Group testing programme

In 2016, the Fingerprint Working Group (EFP-WG) of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI), officially established an advisory group with the task of organising proficiency tests (PTs), as well as collaborative exercises (CEs) as a way of raising standards within the fingerprint profession. This article will provide an overview of the Visualisation collaborative exercise and the Comparison proficiency test, which were carried out in 2016. Both the exercise and the test were organised and co-funded by the Prevention of and Fight against Crime Programme of the European Union [1-3], Direct Grant "Towards the Vision for European Forensic Science 2020 (TVEFS-2020)" HOME/2013/ISEC/MO/ENFSI/4000005962, work package T3 "Proficiency Tests and Collaborative Exercises for the Fingerprint Domain". The characteristics of the testing programme are summarised, followed by an overview of the knowledge that has been gained, including lessons learnt.

The 2015 ENFSI Fingerprint Working Group testing programme

As early as 2004, the Fingerprint Working Group (EFP-WG) of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) has organised proficiency tests (PT's), as well as collaborative exercises (CE's), as a way of raising standards within the fingerprint profession. This article provides an overview of the three collaborative exercises carried out in 2015. The characteristics of the testing programme are summarised, followed by an overview of the knowledge that has been gained, including depicting what lessons have been learnt.