Examination of Firearms Review: 2007 to 2010 - Interpol

that should be included in a forensic report of examination to satisfy the
requirements of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors
Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB)-International – Supplemental
Requirements, ISO/IEC International Standard 17025, and United States
Federal Rules of Evidence. In 2010, the Fibre Sub-Group finalised changes
on four chapters of the Fibre Analysis Guideline and submitted them to
SWGMAT for voting. These documents were approved and should be
published shortly. The Fibre Sub-Group is continuing to consider admissibility
guidance, and has begun discussion of data interpretation.
Colleagues in the EFG and SWGMAT continue to collaborate and
representatives from each organisation attend the annual meeting of teach
group. A summary of the background to the formation of the EFG and other
ENFSI working groups is provided by Becker [2]
The recent report of the US National Academy Committee on identifying the
needs of the forensic science community [3] highlighted the need for better
funding and a more unified plan for developing forensic science research in
the US. Whilst there is a temptation to regard the conclusions of this report as
irrelevant from a European perspective, the fact remains that many members
of European working groups are finding it harder to plan, fund and carry out
research due to the present economic climate and the increasing demands on
their time. Despite this, over the past three years our knowledge base
continues to advance, and in particular (see ‘case studies’), it is gratifying to
see the added value that fibre evidence has provided in ‘holistic’ approaches
to major complex enquires. The need to continue the promotion of the ‘added
value’ of fibres (and other trace evidence) has been well argued by Robertson
and Roux [4].
3. Case reports
Over the past three years there have been numerous instances where fibre
evidence has proved crucial in the investigation of complex major inquiries [5-
18], very often in providing an investigative steer through the provision of
intelligence and/ or added value to other evidence types employed.
Through the advent of TV shows such as ‘CSI’, criminals (and the population
generally) are much more aware of the potential evidence which may be
gathered from a crime scene. This so-called ‘CSI effect’ has resulted in many
instances where those involved in the commission of a crime have taken
active steps to remove trace evidence relating to their activities. Hutchinson
[5] reported on a case where the victim of a homicide had been transported to
a deposition site in a car belonging to one of the perpetrators. The
perpetrators then donned personal protective equipment as used by scenes of
crime personnel, and used UV light and tape lift techniques (as seen on TV) in
an attempt to remove any potential trace evidence from the victim. Despite
their attempts, significant fibre evidence linking the deceased to the vehicle
was ultimately recovered.
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