ESR forensic scientists are specialists in examining the crime scene. They attend crime scenes nationwide 24 hours a day, seven days a week. At the scene they use a range of specialised techniques to detect biological and non-biological evidence. The evidence is collected, analysed and the results used to reconstruct the sequence of events.
Some of ESR's specialised crime scene investigation capabilities include:
Clan Lab Investigation
ESR provides analysis and consultancy on clandestine laboratories set up to make illicit drugs. This includes analysis of the methods involved in drug manufacture and the safe investigation and decommissioning of such labs.
Footwear and Tyre Prints and Impressions
Fragmentary prints can be identified as belonging to a certain type of shoe or tyre through identifying individual characteristics of both print and shoe/tyre. Staff are experienced at preserving and/or recording prints by photographic or physical methods and enhancing faint prints.
Firearms and Toolmarks
Firearm investigations include comparison of recovered projectiles and cartridges to identify the weapons that fired them; tracking of projectile trajectory; identification of residues associated with firing a firearm and estimation of distance between firearm and target. Shotgun pattern analysis software is available to help with the investigations.
Toolmark investigations include the comparison of toolmarks at the scene with tools recovered from suspects.
Vehicle Accident Investigations
Investigation of vehicles involved in traffic accidents. Vehicle identification in a "hit and run" situation by means of paint transferred between vehicles; body filler; glass and car parts at accident scene; fabric traces or impressions on a vehicle; DNA profiling of blood and other trace evidence techniques to assist driver identification; establishing exact place of impact; analysis of the driver's blood for alcohol and drugs.
Dye Traps
Cases of petty theft or "theft as a servant" can often be addressed by applying invisible amounts of a fluorescent dye or other substance to money, keyholes, or objects being interfered with. ESR assists in such investigations or provides advice and help to security officers, by preparing unique and characteristic formulations for this purpose, and giving advice on their application and use.