Forensic Investigation MSc

• Dr Hannah Moore

The aim of Introductory Studies is to prepare you for your subsequent programme of study on the assessed modules. It is optional and carries a formal credit rating of zero, although your understanding of the material covered may be tested as part of the assessments for the course modules. Students are strongly advised to participate in Introductory Studies.

The emphasis in Introductory Studies is on fundamentals and subjects are covered at first-degree level. Topics include:

• Chemistry,
• MSc themes,
• Computing services and library briefings,
• Study skills and research methods,
• Maths, including Statistics,
• Library resources and referencing,
• Research ethics,
• Healthy and safety.

Introductory Studies is designed to enable students to revise, consolidate and expand their skill and knowledge base so that they can derive maximum benefit from the course.

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

• Self-evaluate educational needs and plan remedial action as required,
• Manage studies using a range of IT,
• Prepare coursework without recourse to plagiarism by fully acknowledging the contribution made by the work or ideas of others,
• Work in accordance to University Health and Safety policy.

• Hannah Allen

To understand the core responsibilities of evidence recording and collection at the crime scene, both in general, and specifically related to operational constraints of a UK investigative context. To understand the operation of forensic and police investigators within the context of a major investigation.

• Role of the CSI,
• Scene approach,
• Volume and major crime scenes,
• Recording the scene,
• Photography of the crime scene,
• Search and location of evidence,
• Evidence recovery techniques,
• Evidence integrity and contamination issues,
• Evidence evaluation,
• Exhibiting and packaging,
• ISO 17020.

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

• Analyse various different strategies of volume and major scene investigation to consider the effects of different approaches.
• Compare the range of evidence collection and investigation techniques available to the crime scene investigator.
• Evaluate the relative merits of the range of systematic crime scene procedures vital to successful investigations.
• Evaluate which of these procedures are appropriate to a particular crime scene and apply these procedures appropriately during a crime scene exercise.
• Create a crime scene report which objectively critiques the methodologies used and draws justified conclusions appropriate for the evidence.

• Dr Thomas Delbey

To provide an understanding of the principles and practical applications of the major analytical techniques used in materials based investigations.

• X-ray fluorescence (XRF),
• Electron microscopy (SEM) and micro-analysis,
• Optical microscopy,
• Spectroscopic methods: Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy,
• Mass spectrometry (including ICP-MS),
• Chromatographic and other separation methods: e.g. GC, GC-MS HPLC,
• DNA analysis and forensic genomics,
• Isotope analysis and radiocarbon dating,
• X-ray diffraction (XRD),
• X-radiography.

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

• Appraise the capabilities and limitations of a wide range of analytical techniques and apply them to the identification and characterisation of forensic and/or archaeological materials,
• Interpret and evaluate the results of analysis using key laboratory techniques through comparison with other samples and reference material, with appropriate regard to experimental uncertainty.
• Collate analytical results and compose a clear and concise written report while ensuring traceability of evidence.

• Dr Hannah Moore

The aim of this module is to further students' understanding of the core responsibilities of evidence recording and collection at the crime scene. To develop a deep understanding of the role of a CSI across a range of scenes.

• Advanced photography,
• Post-mortem evidence collection,
• Scene specific evidence collection,
• Role of SIO in major crime.

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

• Preserve and protect the crime scenes of various natures to ensure integrity of evidence,
• Compile dynamic forensic strategies between three different crime scenes,
• Demonstrate the ability to conduct advanced photography of indoor/outdoor crime scenes and mortuary photography to supplement scene attendance notes,
• Assess and correctly disseminate intelligence of a crime scene.

• Professor Andrew Shortland

To undertake an independent investigation relating to a specific area of the syllabus. This world normally be experimentally or practically-based but could also be based on a meta-analysis of existing data sets, data from existing archives such as public records or information collected from the internet.

• Project planning,
• Safety assessment,
• Statistics,
• Experimental design,
• Library search techniques,
• Web search techniques,
• Technical writing.

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

• Plan a research project, with aims, objectives, risk assessment and time line (Gantt chart),
• Assess novel areas of research and optimise experimental solutions to forensic related problems, appraising a specific area of forensic science based on their knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concept, principles and theories,
• Critically review key issues and evaluate and combine information from multiple sources (journals, internet, interview, court proceedings etc.), whilst being aware of the possibility of bias,
• Evaluate the requirements of a specific test and design, construct appropriate experimental apparatus and critically evaluate the results of experimental work; especially in the light of other published work in that area should it be available,
• Prepare a thesis or a paper plus literature review in a clear and concise fashion using appropriate presentation of data and present their project at an oral examination, justifying its relevance and the experimental procedures and present results.

• Roland Wessling

To introduce the role of the forensic archaeologist within the context of major crime investigation, specifically in the UK. The module aims to describe and discuss all aspects of this role, including project design, wide area search techniques, grave location techniques, excavation, evidence recognition and handling, grave and scatter scene interpretation and the production of specialist reports for court.

• The development of Forensic Archaeology in both UK and international contexts,
• Perpetrator behaviour,
• Search and location,
• Grave digging practical,
• Principles of surveying,
• Stratigraphy,
• Scene documentation and recording,
• Assessing soils,
• Running a forensic excavation.

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

• Evaluate and critically assess the development of forensic archaeology and its current application on UK and international crime scenes,
• Critically assess the main techniques used in the location of buried objects and evaluate their usefulness in different terrains and against different target types,
• Summarise key aspects of stratigraphy, soil characteristics/properties and their impact on both the archaeological record, context and the excavation techniques,
• Critically assess the main techniques used in excavation, documentation and recovery of buried remains and evaluate their usefulness in different soil contexts,
• Plan and implement the practical aspects of a forensic excavation and its documentation.

• Roland Wessling

The module will introduce the principles of mass grave investigations; from finding and assessing sites, setting up and carrying out mass grave excavations to analysing and interpreting graves, victims and associated evidence.

Day 1: Classroom based teaching

Day 2: Site assessment and setup

Day 3-6: Site excavation

Day 7: Site closure and exercise debrief

The seven days include:

• Basic principles and structure of mass grave investigations,
• Methodology of mass grave excavations,
• Operational and logistical challenges in mass grave investigations,
• Recovery of surface evidence at mass grave/mass killing sites,
• Recovery of human remains in a mass grave context,
• Recovery of buried evidence associated with human remains,
• Documentation of human remains and associated evidence,
• Surveying of evidence and site features,
• Crime scene photography processes,
• Evidence registry processes.

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

• Revise their methodologies to a single or mass grave environment,
• Collect and evaluate surface and buried evidence as well as human remains as part of a wider forensic investigation,
• Assess non-material, forensic archaeological evidence in mass grave structures, such as tool marks,
• Assess the site history in order to reconstruct the series of events that lead to the existence of the grave and the positioning of the victims and evidence.

• Dr Nivien Petiti

To provide a broad introduction to the subject, focusing on the role of the forensic anthropologist, human skeletal anatomy and the basic biological profile from human skeletal remains.

• Day 1 Introduction to human skeletal anatomy, biomechanics, and forensic anthropology,
• Day 2 Bone and tooth identification and taphonomy,
• Day 3 Human vs non-human bone,
• Day 4 Biological profile estimation (age-at-death, sex, stature, etc.),
• Day 5 Analysis of a human skeleton.

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

• Examine the role of the forensic anthropologist,
• Recognise, name and describe the bones of the human skeleton,
• Differentiate human from non-human bones,
• Estimate the sex, age-at-death, stature and population affinity of a skeleton.

• Dr David Errickson

To provide you with an understanding of the manner in which traditional archaeology uses field techniques to address practical research questions.

 

• Planning an excavation,
• Understand and implement health and safety when working on the module,
• Practical excavation skills,
• Group work and organisation skills,
• Drawing, planning and recording an excavation,
• Small finds recording,
• The care of human remains,
• Press, the public and other partners.

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

• Plan and manage an excavation,
• Transfer theoretical knowledge of excavation techniques into practical use,
• Organise a safe recovery and record rigorously material uncovered in the excavation,
• Critically evaluate the most important features of an excavation and determine appropriate techniques,
• Appraise results and convey results to externals both archaeological experts and lay members of the public.

• Dr David Errickson

This course provides an introduction to mass fatality incidents (MFI); their definition, categorisation, mitigation and management. It has a strong focus on disaster victim identification (DVI) but also covers more general effects, challenges, lessons learnt, management developments and, the return to normality following an MFI. In particular, the course considers the roles and responsibilities of the personnel involved in the DVI process, practical application of Interpol guidelines and DVI forms, planning and evaluation of temporary mortuary facilities and, DVI humanitarian assistance aspects of mass fatality incident response.

The course may be of interest to a wide range of professionals including; emergency planners, emergency response personnel (police, fire and ambulance), family liaison officers, accident investigators, NGO workers, forensic scientists, medical doctors, lawyers, and those involved in the investigation of missing persons.

• Introduction to mass fatality incidents (MFI); definitions, categorisations and history,
• MFI mitigation, response planning and management,
• Disaster victim identification (DVI) process and challenges,
• Roles and responsibilities of DVI personnel,
• Role of INTERPOL with respect to MFI,
• Needs of the bereaved and humanitarian assistance,
• Potential personal impact of MFI on responders,
• Case study examples,
• Lessons learnt and management developments,
• UK and International perspectives,
• Mock MFI scenarios,
• Media involvement with, and impact on MFI.


 

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

• Formulate the key aspects of mass fatality incidents with respect to definitions, categorisations, mitigation and management.
• Appraise previous mass fatality incidents to critically evaluate the challenges, lessons learnt, management, development of legislation, and the aftercare following a mass fatality incident.
• Formulate an awareness of current best practice guidance for disaster victim identification (DVI), logistical and scientific challenges, and the roles and responsibilities of the personnel involved in the DVI process.
• Compose and synthesise the needs of the bereaved, best practice for humanitarian assistance, and the potential impact of mass fatality incidents on responders.
• Construct effective communications by application of reasoning and collaboration through participation in a range of mock MFI scenarios.

• Dr Mark Viner

To provide an understanding of the principles and practical applications of radiographic imaging techniques used in forensic science.

• Physics of X-ray production and utilization,
• Radiographic equipment and complimentary imaging modalities – computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound,
• Analogue and digital image recording media,
• Radiation protection and legislation,
• Medical imaging techniques and their application in the forensic examination of human subjects; ballistic trauma, narcotics trafficking, abuse, assault, homicide,unexplained sudden death, human identification,
• Virtopsy ® and the virtual post-mortem,
• Radiographic techniques applied to art work and counterfeit objects,
• Industrial radiographic techniques for engineering components including weapons, missiles and improvised explosive devices.

On successful completion of the module you will be able to:

• Evaluate the fundamental principles of a wide range of imaging techniques,
• Identify and assess appropriate radiation protection measures when employing radiographic imaging techniques according to current ionising radiation regulations,
• Critically assess the advantages and disadvantages of different imaging techniques and their use in the individualisation of human remains and characterisation of trauma and/or disease states,
• Critically analyse the advantages and disadvantages of imaging techniques and their use in the identification and characterisation of components and component failure,
• Practically implement appropriate imaging techniques for defined situations and interpret the results.

• Dr Matthew Healy

To present the fundamental principles of hazardous investigations including CBRN and to introduce techniques and working practices that promote risk management during a methodical investigation.

• Introduction to hazardous investigations – principles and practices,
• Recognising a CBRN incident,
• Understanding hazardous scenes, sites, and situations (operational to strategic),
• Management of hazardous scenes,
• CBRN contamination as an evidence challenge,
• Reporting on investigations,
• Techniques and technologies for operating in hazardous environments.

 

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

• Evaluate hazards that might be present at a crime scene, including those associated with an improvised CBRN device,
• Contextualize hazards by recognizing the scope and chronology of events that created them, and the drivers, responsibilities and challenges faced by parties involved in addressing them,
• Forecast potential consequences and assess the likelihood of harm from various hazards, and incorporate reasonable mitigation measures into a justifiable hazard management plan,
• Plan and execute a time-bounded recovery task, utilising critical thinking to prioritise items of greatest forensic value whilst considering their admissibility into evidence,
• Create a crime scene report for a hazardous crime scene that objectively critiques the methodologies used on-scene and draws justified conclusions appropriate for the evidence recovered.

• Stephen Johnson

To provide an understanding of the principles and practical applications of the major forensic analytical techniques used in Forensic Intelligence (FORINT) and exploitation.

• Role of intelligence processes and data management,
• FORINT in Long term policing strategy,
• Exploitation and Military Intelligence,
• Pattern analysis, GIS and mathematics in forensic intelligence,
• Technical exploitation,
• Forensic exploitation,
• Planning and direction of forensic intelligence,
• Collection, processing, production, management and dissemination of FORINT,
• Forms of output and report from FORINT.

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

• Distinguish evidential types for use in court and for intelligence purposes,
• Evaluate the levels and range of forensic exploitation techniques,
• Manage and prioritise the exploitation of forensic intelligence derived from people, places and vehicles,
• Critically assess how forensic intelligence interfaces with other intelligence sources,
• Establish and maintain a FORINT exploitation policy within the frameworks of forensic best practice and the recognized intelligence cycle.

• Dr Hannah Moore

The module will provide an understanding of the contribution of environmental evidence in a forensic investigation with an emphasis on forensic pedology and forensic entomology.

• Introduction to environmental forensic science,
• Forensic palynology and botany,
• Forensic entomology,
• Forensic limnology (diatoms),
• Forensic sedimentology, soil profiling and soil analysis,
• Taphonomic processes of decay,
• Case studies in forensic ecology.

On successful completion of the module you will be able to:

• Assess the value of entomology evidence in the investigation of crime,
• Sample and analyse entomological evidence to give an estimation of post-mortem interval,
• Sample and analyse soil evidence for provenance,
• Appraise a variety of forensic ecology evidence types,
• Critically interpret and evaluate evidence collected from a crime scene to produce a written lab report.

• Dr Nicholas Marquez-Grant

Understand the nature of different weapon types used in criminal activity. Evaluate the construction of improvised weapons and their wounding potential in real life scenarios.

• Discuss and evaluate commonly used weapons by examining case studies,
• Blunt Trauma and the biomechanics of tissue damage,
• The effect of body armour on wounding potential of weapons,
• Use and interpretation of wounding data,
• Microscopy and micro CT analysis,
• Practical use of stab/slash/blunt trauma rigs to examine the effect of a variety of weapons,
• Use of tissue simulants,
• Weapon identification from wounding patterns in historical cases.

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

• Analyse wounding patterns by individual weapons,
• Assess trauma patterns in soft tissue and bone,
• Evaluate the construction of improvised weapons used in criminal activity,
• Identify and discuss the suitability of tissue simulants.

• Dr Graeme Horsman

This module considers the development and growing importance of digital evidence encountered on the crime scene. It looks in detail at a breadth of digital evidence hosts, including carried and worn devices, ‘the internet of things’ in the home and workspace, mobile location devices and digital CCTV. It considers how such things have altered the balance between novel and traditional forensic examination strategies.

The series of workshops grouped under Operation Yellow Caiman give participants the opportunity to engage directly with a range of these technologies and understand first hand the nature of the data derived from them.

• The nature of digital evidence sources on the crime scene,
• Adaptation of the forensic strategy to integrate digital scene evidence,
• Vehicle telematics,
• Cloud-based data storage,
• The internet of things,
• Digital devices and rules of disclosure,
• Mobile phone location,
• Wearable technology,
• Case studies.

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

• Evaluate the application of an understanding of the breadth of sources of digital evidence and intelligence at the crime scene, and critically assess the value of resulting data,
• Critically appraise the nature and form of data derived from scene-based sources of digital evidence,
• Create and adapt a forensic strategy for a major crime scene that can successfully balance novel digital and traditional evidence types, minimising the risk of contamination of either.

• Laura Hugh

The aim of this module is to provide a broad introduction to DNA as evidence, its forensic examination and interpretation.

• DNA - structure and function,
• Awareness of different sources of DNA (crime scene, references and elimination samples),
• Direct and indirect DNA transfer,
• Stages of DNA profiling,
• Modern DNA profiling methods, including DNA 17 and DNA 24,
• Alternative DNA profiling methods, e.g., Mitochondria DNA analysis and Y-STRs,
• Next generation forensic DNA analysis,
• Familial DNA,
• Evaluation of DNA evidence – statistical and non-statistical.

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

• Discuss the role of DNA as genetic material.
• Evaluate the role of DNA evidence within the criminal justice system.
• Appraise a broad range of current DNA technologies used within industry.
• Interpret modern DNA profiles and assess DNA profile reporting styles.
• Distinguish and apply model approaches to the evaluation of DNA evidence within Bayesian frameworks.

• Laura Hugh

This module appraises the investigative approaches and evaluation of expert interpretation within the forensic discipline of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis.

• Bloodstain definitions,
• Types of bloodstain patterns,
• Formation of a blood droplet,
• Force and surface effects on bloodstain formation,
• Bloodstain pattern analysis as an investigative tool.

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

• Categorise different types of bloodstain patterns,
• Critically appraise the discipline of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis as a tool that supports the investigator,
• Interpret bloodstain patterns within Bayesian frameworks of understanding,
• Critically evaluate the variables that affect the formation of blood droplets and the effects of surface features on the formation of bloodstains,
• Synthesize a clear and concise technical report.

• Roland Wessling

The aim of the module is to introduce students to different types of imaging techniques, enable them to apply those techniques in coordinated exercises and allow them to learn and progress through reviewing their images and discussing and critiquing their pros and cons. Furthermore, students will learn how to use images to their best extent in reporting, enabling them to create not only coursework for this module but also to improve any future report or document through imaging.

• Introduction to photographic principles,
• Documentation of imaging operations,
• Application of basic photographic principles,
• Understanding creative photography,
• Forensic photography of a basic crime scene,
• Forensic photography of an advanced crime scene,
• Forensic photography of a night-time crime scene,
• Creating and analysing 3d, photogrammetry models,
• Microscopic imaging,
• Radiographic imaging,
• Use of images in reports and other documentation,
• Group presentations of selected imaging aspects.

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

• Evaluate and critically assess the best imaging technique for any situation that needs documenting,
• Select the best equipment settings and image composition after evaluating a scene to be documented, the purpose and intend of the image and the conditions in which to record the scene,
• Judge how a scene needs to be documented, what images need to be taken and what they can achieve in final reporting,
• Develop imaging abilities in future through critiquing images taken and learn from positives and negatives,
• Improve future reports and other documents by using images to their best effect and full potential.

• Laura Hugh

The aim of this module is to provide a scientific background to body fluids as evidence types within the criminal justice system and associated investigative and evaluation methods.

• Different types of body fluids,
• Body fluid detection methods,
• Transfer and persistence of body fluids,
• Body fluids as an investigative tool,
• Interpretation within Bayesian frameworks,
• Recording of experimental results,
• Current research,
• Understanding of body fluid interpretation within a forensic context by the layperson.

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

• Categorise different types of body fluids and critically appraise the different body fluid forensic detection methods,
• Evaluate the role of body fluids as tools within a forensic investigation,
• Appraise the different ways to interpret body fluids evidence in accordance with Bayesian frameworks by use of casework examples,
• Synthesize a systematic body fluids search using appropriate detection and collection techniques,
• Construct a clear expert witness report.

• Dr Trevor Ringrose

To provide an understanding and experience of the disciplines underpinning critical evaluation of quantitative information applied within the Forensic Sciences.

• Experimental design,
• Interpretation and assessment,
• Effective framing & rebutting of arguments,
• Problem solving,
• Evidential types,
• Use of relevant statistics for design & interpretation,
• Courtroom statistics.

The syllabus will follow the general course of a generic investigative process from the appropriate framing of a question to the critical interpretation of data and information. The appropriate use of data in well-constructed arguments will be considered in order to distinguish between fact, opinion and speculation.  Intellectual rigour will be challenged, and the ability to identify weakness in argument will be developed. Data will be examined for reliability and reproducibility with a focus on the distinct features of forensically related data.  Appropriate use of descriptive and hypothesis testing statistics will be practiced and the ‘prosecutor’s fallacy’ explored. Bayes’ Theorem will be considered and rehearsed through case studies.  

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

• Appraise the fundamental features of effective experimental design and the value of thesis-antithesis-synthesis and evidential arguing in public life,
• Analyse and debate how confidence may be secured through effective reliability and reproducibility assessments and by framing and defending an argument,
• Distinguish between evidential types used in court and research,
• Compose comprehensive arguments, using appropriate statistics, in the analysis and interpretation of forensic cases, and be able to explain these processes to the layman,
• Evaluate forensic evidence using Bayes’ theorem.

• Roland Wessling

The module will provide an understanding of the role and responsibilities of expert witnesses in domestic and international criminal and civil cases and how they can present their evidence to the court effectively. You will also apply knowledge gained in previous modules to strengthen arguments presented in expert witness reports.

• Role and legal responsibilities of the forensic expert,
• Civil and criminal procedure rules,
• Excellence in report and statement writing,
• Presentation of evidence in court,
• Preparation for examination-in-chief and cross-examination.

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

• Compare and contrast between the various legal systems and the concepts of criminal prosecution and civil litigation,
• Evaluate the role and responsibilities of an expert witness in the UK legal system,
• Construct, formulate and appraise an effective expert witness report in compliance to legal requirements for such a document,
• Construct a case to present oral evidence in court effectively and respond successfully to cross-examination, with an insight into how cross-examination is prepared.