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QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION
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The leading high resolution multi-spectral imaging system for questioned documents .................................... Read More
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A compact high resolution multispectral imaging system for all questioned documents ................................... Read More
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A modular multi-spectral document examination system for checking a wide range of questioned d Read More
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A multi-spectral imaging system for the examination of security printing, large documents and works of art ............ Read More
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Compact portable device for checking security and travel documents at border control .................................. Read More
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Leading electrostatic imaging system for detecting indented writing on documents ................................... Read More
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A compact ESDA designed for ease of transportation and supplied with a padded case .................................... Read More
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A range of Raman spectrometers for the examination of questioned documents ............................................ Read More
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Optional reference databses available for use with the VSC range or as a standalone products............................ Read More
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Questioned Document Examination (QDE) is considered to be the oldest of the forensic sciences pre-dating the use of fingerprints as means of identification by over 50 years. The primary purpose of questioned/forensic document examination is to answer questions about a disputed document using a variety of scientific processes and methods.
Questioned document examination systems are most commonly used by police forces, customs and excise, border patrol, and immigration as well as in banks, casinos, and specific fraud detection departments of insurance and benefits offices.
Some of the most commonly examined documents include:
Passports, visas, financial / fiduciary documents, driving licenses and other vehicle documents, identity cards, insurance documents, terror threats, and almost any other document that can be counterfeited or fraudulently modified.
Foster + Freeman’s document examination products can be divided into three main categories, multi-spectral comparison (the VSC range), Raman spectroscopy (Foram), and electrostatic detection (ESDA2 and lite).
About Multi-spectral comparison
Foster + Freeman’s flagship range of instruments are capable of viewing and recording the response of documents/inks when exposed to light of varying wavelengths including: - Visible, infrared (lighting and luminescence), ultraviolet, transmitted, coaxial, and oblique lighting.
This allows for the detailed examination and comparison of inks, security features (such as holograms and OVD’s), altered or obliterated information, and invisible personal information (IPI).
View products: VSC6000 - VSC400 - VSC40
About Raman spectroscopy
As different inks give different Raman spectra this means that they can be differentiated or matched using a Raman spectrometer such as the Foram. This method of examination is both cost effective and quick to perform.
View products: Foram
About Electrostatic Detection Apparatus (ESDA)
Originally created by Foster + Freeman in the early 1970s the ESDA device is commonly used by questioned document examiners to reveal indented impressions on paper which may not be visible to the naked eye. The ESDA process is non-destructive meaning that further investigation of a document is possible.
View products: ESDA 2 - ESDA-lite
*In addition to the above document examination techniques, elemental analysis of pigments is also possible using the Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) capabilities of the Foster + Freeman Ecco (see trace evidence examination).
About LIBS
This technique utilizes a very high energy pulse laser to ablate a microscopic amount of material and raise its temperature by tens of thousands of degrees. As the various elements return to their ground states the excited matter emits a characteristic emission spectrum that can be measured and compared.
View Products: ECCO
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SHOE & TYRE PRINT EXAMINATION
A casework management system for processing shoe prints and tyre tread mark evidence ................................. Read More
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Footwear database with sole patterns for identifying scene of crime shoe prints .................................. Read More
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A database of tyre tread patterns for the identification of crime scene marks ........................................ Read More
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An internet service for identifying footwear from shoe prints uploaded to the site .................................... Read More
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Shoe Print Evidence
Footwear evidence in the form of shoe prints (also referred to as tread marks or impressions) is often the most abundantly available evidence to be found at a crime scene. Because of this a latent shoe print can often go on to become a key piece of evidence during an investigation.
Foster + Freeman products offer police forces and investigators a complete solution for the identification and management of footwear evidence.
SICAR 6 – This 6th iteration of SICAR is a full evidence management system for recording and monitoring crimes involving shoe print and tire mark evidence. At its most powerful when used in conjunction with a reference database of footwear marks such as SoleMate (see below), SICAR allows the operator not only to identify crimescene prints but to store and manage information on footwear worn by suspects, link crimes where identical marks have been recovered, share access to databases with networked forces, and more. For full product details click here to Read More
SoleMate – This is a footwear database for use in conjunction with SICAR, containing images and details of a huge number of shoes, trainers (sneakers), sandals, boots, and all other varieties of footwear available. Currently the database contains records of over 23,000 individual tread patterns and is updated quarterly with each new season. The unique pattern coding system employed in SoleMate allows even partial shoe prints to be identified. Read More
crimeshoe.com – an online shoe print identification service where you only pay for results. Upload your scene of crime shoe print images to crimeshoe.com for fast and efficient analysis with the promise of No Result = No Fee. With results usually being made available for download within 24 hours of a shoe impression being uploaded, crimeshoe.com is the perfect solution for police forces or private users who only process a moderate number of shoe print searches each year. Read More
Tyre Mark Evidence
Also known as skid, acceleration, braking, or tire tread marks the evidence left behind at road accident scenes or in the access and escape routes of other crime scenes can often provide invaluable evidence to investigators.
SICAR 6 – As with shoe prints SICAR is the ultimate tool in the field of tire tread identification. Using a similar pattern coding technique, investigators are able to manage all treadmark evidence within a single software solution. Read More
TreadMate – This reference database containing images and details of over 7,750 records of tyres produced by a wide range of manufacturers is much the same as SoleMate in format and use. Available by annual subscription TreadMatecan only be accessed using SICAR. Read More
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FINGERPRINT RECORDING & EXAMINATION
Latent fingerprints collected at a crime scene, or on items of evidence from a crime, have been used by governments and police forces worldwide to identify suspects, victims and other persons during the past 100 years and remain the most commonly used forensic evidence to this day.
As fingerprint identification continues to expand as the premier method for identifying persons it is of the utmost importance that forensic laboratories ensure they are equipped to deal with this vital evidence as accurately and efficiently as possible.
Fingerprint Detection Products
Friction ridges contain rows of sweat pores, and sweat mixed with other body oils and dirt produces fingerprints on smooth surfaces; however these prints are not always immediately visible to the naked eye and often require high powered illumination, powder dusting, and /or chemical fuming before they can be seen and recorded.
Foster + Freemans Fingerprint Detection Products include a complete range of high powered LED and Xenon arc light sources suitable for use both at the crime scene and in the laboratory, as well as the MVC range of superglue fuming cabinets for the detection of fingerprints on items of evidence, and the SUPERfume Scene of crime cyanoacrylate fuming system.
Fingerprint detection products include:
MVC™ cyanoacrylate fuming cabinets – a range of Superglue fuming cabinets for the controlled development of latent fingerprints Read more…
SUPERfume® - Scene of crime cyanoacrylate fuming system for the detection of latent fingerprints Read more…
Fingerprint Enhancement, Examination, and Recording Products
It is often the case that a fingerprint retrieved at a crime scene is incomplete, in these circumstances the fingerprint expert must turn to a powerful instrument such as the Foster + Freeman DCS 4 workstation in order to convert the fragmented ridges and whorls of a partial print into valid evidence fit for courtroom presentation.
With a comprehensive suite of enhancement techniques including high resolution imaging, multi-wavelength lighting, and a powerful range of software tools, Foster + Freeman products offer the expert fingerprint examiner a complete solution for the capture, examination , matching, and presentation of fingerprints.
Fingerprint recording and identification products include:
DCS 4® - A dedicated workstation for the recording and image enhancement of latent fingerprints Read more…
Russell Comparator® - An optical projector for the visual comparison of record and recovered fingerprints Read more…
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FORENSIC LIGHT SOURCES
One of the forensic investigators most valuable tool is the forensic light source (also referred to as an Alternative Light Source (ALS)). From uncovering evidence that is poorly revealed, or even invisible by conventional light to indepth investigation of evidence, the use of high-powered multiple wavelength lighting is essential both in the field and forensic laboratory.
The effectiveness of forensic light sources such as the Foster + Freeman Crime-lite range can be put down to fluorescence, an optical phenomenon wherein a material absorbs light at one wavelength and emits light at a longer wavelength. Most organic materials can be made to fluoresce at a given wavelength, below is a list of just some of the evidence types that forensic light sources are routinely used to uncover:
- Fingerprints
- Body fluids including blood, saliva, semen etc.
- Trace evidence such as fibres’, glass, hair, paint etc.
- Gun shot residue
- Bite marks and bruises
At one time alternate light sources were so unwieldy that they were deemed to be unsuitable for use at the crime scene. Recent developments in technology has reduced the size of this vital piece of equipment to a handheld torch or flash light.
Foster + Freeman’s latest forensic light sources include:
Crime-lite 2 - a rugged, portable LED light source that is able to provide 8 wavelengths of high intensity light (including UV) with constant light output and uniform shadow-free illumination. Read More...
Crime-lite 8X4 – High intensity multiwavelength LED photographic ringlight with 118 modes of illumination. Read More...
Crime-lite 80S – Super high intensity portable light source for intensive crime scene investigation. Read More...
Crime-lite 80L – A wide linear light source designed to reveal shoe prints and particulate evidence. Read More...
Crime-lte ML – A combined multiwavelength LED light source and benchtop magnifier for laboratory use. Read More...
Quaser - Compact and portable high intensity 300w xenon arc lamp for use by investigators at the crime scene. Read More
TRACE EVIDENCE EXAMINATION
Best described as a minute quantity of evidence found at a crimescene or upon an object relating to a crime, trace evidence is increasingly being used to ever more accuarately piece together and reconstruct crimes, as well as to describe the people, places, and things involved in them. Foster + Freeman remain at the forefront of trace evidence examination and manufacture a collection of instruments that provide criminal laboratories with the ability to examine trace evidence including hair, glass, body fluids, blood spatter, soil, skin, metals, and paint etc. with ever increasing precision and microscopic detail. Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) Instrument(s): ECCOEvidence type(s): Glass, metals, paint, tapes Description: The technique utilizes a very high energy pulse laser to ablate a microscopic amount of material and raise its temperature by tens of thousands of degrees. As the various elements return to their ground states the excited matter emits a characteristic emission spectrum that can be measured and compared. Raman Spectroscopy
Instrument(s): Foram, ffTA-1
Evidence type(s): Drugs, explosives, inks, fibres, plastics, paints
Description: Raman spectroscopy is a non-destructive technique that can be performed on trace amount s of evidence and is commonly used in the field of forensic science for the identification of unknown substances. Raman spectra exhibit numerous features specific to molecular structure which can give a valuable 'fingerprint' for comparing and differentiating materials. The need for a fast and effective instrument that requires minimal technical training has, in recent years, become even more pronounced as governments worldwide increase anti-terror measures.
Glass Refractive Index Measurement (GRIM)
Instruments(s): GRIM3
Evidence type(s): Glass fragments
Description: With so many criminal offences including burglaries, criminal damage, vehicle thefts, and road traffic collisions providing the potential for glass to be smashed it is vital that these minute fragments of evidence can be accurately measured, compared, and discriminated between. Refractive Index (RI) measurement is a highly accurate test that can be used to distinguish between a large number of glasses allowing investigators, in some cases, to buid an accurate map of a crime scene.
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