Research and development in all forensic science areas: the rapidly expanding digital forensics; “conventional” areas such as fingerprints and DNA; and many other niche areas. Using general scientific advances and insights in the forensics domain.

Background

Crimes such as homicide and theft, and drugs such as heroin and cocaine have always been of public concern, and there has been a recent focus on areas such as child sexual abuse, modern slavery, new psychoactive substances, online fraud, and online indecent images of children.

Next steps

Get in touch with research@homeoffice.gov.uk

Source

This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:

Areas of research interest relevant to the Home Office GOVUK

Related UKRI funded projects


  • Natural Traces: Natural Traces in forensic investigations - how the analysis of non-human evidence can solve crime

    Literally any crime scene contains animal, plant, soil, microbial or environmental traces. Examples include pet hairs or saliva, pollen and algae, soil and soil organisms like bacteria or nematodes, fungal spores, insect...

    Funded by: Horizon Europe Guarantee

    Lead research organisation: University of Reading

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on the analysis of non-human biological traces in forensic investigations, which aligns with the broader scope of research and development in forensic science areas mentioned in the question.

  • NEXUS: Next-generation Evidence eXamination Underpinned by Semantics — A First-of-a-kind AI Platform for Digital Forensics Investigations

    The police face an uphill struggle against criminals. This struggle is aggravated by globalisation and the widespread availability and increasing capabilities of the Internet, and the mass market for digital technology, ...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: SEMANTICS 21 LTD

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on digital forensics, including the examination of photograph or video files, which is relevant to the question about research and development in forensic science areas.

  • BlindSite: Blood, Lipid and Illicit Narcotics Detection and Situation

    After a serious crime such as murder, physical or sexual assault, crime scenes are forensically examined for body fluids such as blood, saliva, sweat and semen; however, the detection and visualisation of such physical e...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: SMYTEC

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project addresses the detection of bodily secretions, drugs, and explosives at crime scenes, which is partially relevant to the question about research and development in forensic science areas.

  • Quantifying Digital Forensic Investigations and their Evidence

    With the growth of the world-wide web (WWW), there has been a corresponding growth in crimes that use the WWW. Specialist law enforcement investigators are ever more frequently required to examine PCs, laptops, mobile ph...

    Funded by: EPSRC

    Lead research organisation: King's College London

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project aims to address the shortage of digital forensic examiners and the challenge of alternative explanations for digital evidence, which is partially relevant to the question about research and development in forensic science areas.

  • Loughborough University and Foster & Freeman Limited

    To develop a probe capable of identifying forensically pertinent samples at crime scenes and indicating their approx age (the in-situ probe). Once commercialised, the device will not only enhance investigators’ capabilit...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY

  • At scene of crime DNA characterisation

    Forensic science is an important tool in the fight against crime and this proposal will build on cutting edge research to create technology that will revolutionise the way DNA fingerprinting can be used at crime scenes t...

    Funded by: EPSRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Hull

  • The evaluation of evidence in the form of multivariate data and in the absence of population data

    Often in the investigation of a crime and in any subsequent trial it is necessary to evaluate so-called trace evidence. Trace evidence is, in a circular definition, evidence which is in the form of traces. Traces may inc...

    Funded by: EPSRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Edinburgh

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on evaluating trace evidence in forensic investigations, which is a key aspect of forensic science.

  • Towards a Smart Digital Forensic Advisor to Support First Responders with At-Scene Triage of Digital Evidence Across Crime Types

    Over 90% of reported crime involves a digital device, and the increased use of digital devices in criminality has resulted in significant backlogs within the departments that forensically examine these devices. Despite t...

    Funded by: ESRC

    Lead research organisation: University College London

  • FINDER: Forensic Identification via Non-Destructive Evidence Retrieval

    Smytec Ltd has created a ground-breaking Forensic Imaging technology, removing the need for old fashioned fingerprint retrieval methods and replacing these with a high-tech solution. Smytec aims to bring fingerprint evid...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: SMYTEC

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project addresses fingerprint retrieval technology, which is relevant to the broader field of forensic science but does not cover all areas mentioned in the question.

  • Understanding the Use of Digital Forensics in Policing in England and Wales: An Ethnographic Analysis of Current Practices and Professional Dynamics

    Digital evidence can reveal a suspect's intent to commit an offence and help establish when events occurred, where victims and suspects were and with whom they communicated. It has been increasingly used in examinations ...

    Funded by: ESRC

    Lead research organisation: UNIVERSITY OF EXETER

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