International Fingerprint Week
Aims and Objectives
The primary objective of International Fingerprint Week is
- to provide an awareness and appreciation for the role that fingerprints play in the investigation and detection of crime.
Reason
The use of fingerprints as a means on personal identification and as a forensic tool to identify persons at a crime scene has been in existence for over 100 years.
Since the introduction of DNA profiling in the 1980’s, the focus of media attention in the arena of forensic detection has been on this new technique, despite the fact that fingerprints contribute to more crime detections than they ever have.
The fingerprint profession is also facing some challenging times with the continuance of the McKie Case, and the much awaited publishing of The Scottish Fingerprint Inquiry report.
Also, 2011 has seen the publishing of the judgement in the case of R-v-Smith, which resulted in a murder conviction being quashed due to issues with the presentation of the fingerprint evidence.
There is also research being undertaken into the psychology of comparison work and its scientific validity, which further challenges the work being undertaken in police forces.
Morale within scientific support / forensic services within police forces is also at an all time low due to budget cuts in the police service and subsequent redundancies that have resulted.
International Fingerprint Week will be an opportunity to:
- Positively demonstrate the role of fingerprints
- Reflect and celebrate the achievements of fingerprint practitioners
- Engage with the public by providing an educational programme for school children and students
- To raise the morale within police force scientific support / forensic units; especially in the fingerprint bureau.
When
International Fingerprint Week will be:
Monday 16th April 2012 to Friday 20th April 2012
How will it be launched
International Fingerprint Week would be officially launched as part of the Gala Dinner at The Fingerprint Society Annual Conference, which will be on the evening of Friday 13th April 2012.
It is anticipated that it would be launched by a specially invited guest in the presence of other distinguished guests who represent the UK fingerprint profession.
Strategy
International Fingerprint Week will consist of 5 themed days:
- Monday Custody – MobileID - LiveScan
- Tuesday Crime Scene – Powders – Remote Transmission
- Wednesday Enhancement Laboratories – Chemicals – Specialist Techniques
- Thursday The Fingerprint Bureau – IDENT1 – ACE-V
- Friday Court – detections – evidence presentation
The Fingerprint Society will produce a press release on each day, which will highlight the specific theme.
Police Forces will be encouraged to undertake at least one public relations event during the week, to promote the work that their fingerprint bureau carry out to help detect crime and protect their communities.
The Fingerprint Society will promote the event by the creation of a website dedicated to International Fingerprint Week, which will list all events that are taking place; and will also hold educational resource material for schools and universities.
The Fingerprint Society will also launch a social media campaign using tools such as Facebook and Twitter, to promote events.
What next
We are looking for supporters from all around the fingerprint profession to participate in International Fingerprint Week, but not to provide financial support, but to offer time and resources; to organise events; to help in communication.
Confirmed Supporters
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UNIVERSITY OF DERBY |
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Home Office Centre for Applied Science and Technology (CAST) | |
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THE FORENSIC INSTITUTE | |
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THE INTERNATIONAL FINGERPRINT RESEARCH GROUP | |
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THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE | |
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DERBY UNIVERSITY | |
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DE MONTFORT UNIVERSITY | |
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THE UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER | |
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UNIVERSITY OF TEESIDE |
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UNIVERSITY OF EAST LONDON | |
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UNIVERSITY OF DELHI, INDIA |
It must be stressed that the event is not-for-profit, and if any monies are left over at the end, then it will remain banked until the 2013 event. If it is decided not to repeat the event, then any remaining monies will be donated to a suitable charity.