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Become

forensic

scientists

and solve

the crime!!

Junior

Forensic

investigation

Footprints

Copy by Phil Morton. Page Design & Illustrations by Michael O’Kane

Version 2.0 © Copyright Scientific & Chemical Supplies Ltd. 2010

In association with Staffordshire University, Forensics Department

Practical Activity Part 1

Today you will be investigating footprints/ Footwear impressions. These are found atcrime scenes where someone has walked through soft ground, mud, sand or snow.

Step 1: Within your groups look at the soles of your shoes, pick the shoe which has themost unusual patter on its sole (underneath). If you are working outside havethis person step through the soft ground to leave an impression of the sole oftheir footwear.

Step 2: Pick out any loose particles or debris that falls into the impression left behindbut do not move any part of the print.

Step 3: Then taking one of the bags of Casting mix, slowly add 400 ml of water a littleat a time massaging the mixture through the bag. Take it in turns to massagethe mixture until it forms a smooth paste without any lumps.

Step 4: When this is smooth (have your teacher check the consistency) slowly pour themixture into the impression you have made making sure you do not damage itin the process.

Step 5: Using a lollipop stick or spatula smooth the surface of the mixture to ensure youdo not have any trapped air bubbles, then mark your print to ensure that youknow which one belongs to your group.

You will come back to this later.

Junior Forensic Investigation

Sketch the pattern of tread on the sole of the shoes you are wearing; Measure thelength and width of your shoe and also write a brief paragraph describing your shoe.Your description should enable someone who doesn’t know you to be able to pick yourshoe out of a group of other shoes, like a police ‘shoe line up’. This is an example ofdocumenting evidence.

Here are some examples;

Example 1 Skater shoe

Brand Vans

Size 9

Wear pattern at tip

Width 110mm

Pattern distorted by wear

Length 275mm

Brand logo

Wear pattern at tip

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Practical Activity Part 2

Now that your impressions have set carefully touch the top of the plaster to make surethat it is solid and not liquid, then carefully prize up the impression by placing thewooden stick underneath and lifting gently.

Once you have the impression liftedand you are certain that it is dry youcan wash off the soil/sand which isstuck to the bottom, you should beable to do this without damaging theprint.

Use a soft brush if necessary toremove dirt caught small gaps in theimpression.

Ideally these impressions should be comparable with the original footwear that madethem, can your pupils tell which shoe left which imprint, what can they tell about theshoes from the imprint. Have the groups trade their cleaned up impression with anothergroup and then sketch the key features of the one which they have. Make notes on thesize of the footprint, the pattern, can you tell what brand or type of shoe it is etc.

How useful would a footprint be at a crime scene?

Do you think it can tell the investigator who the offender was?

Do criminals have lucky shoes?

Footwear impressions found at crime scenes where the investigators do not have anyidea of whom to suspect can be compared with a database of impressions and so thescene can be linked with other scenes in the area or otherwise they can be given anidea or possible description of the upper so that officers on patrol can look for suspectsin the local area, or those that come into custody for other offences.

As an alternative the methods described here can be used to lift tyre impressions, thesewould normally be compared to a database accessible by the police which can provideinvestigators with a list of possible tyre makes and car manufacturers that use thosetyres—helping the investigators look for a specific car, or once a suspect has beenfound the tyre impression from their car can be compared for more specific details withthose found at the scene.

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In association with Staffordshire University, Forensics Department

An introduction to the science of fingerprints, pupils will practise the investigationskills they have learned by investigating the pattern types on their ownfingerprints. They will each make their own fingerprint cards for them to takeaway. Looking at individuality and patterns; they will investigate which patterns aremore frequent in their class and construct a graph of their results.

l 5 Fingerprinting Ink pads

l 5 Examination magnifying glasses

l Teaching notes, pupil worksheets + CD

ZFK 220 010 Junior Forensic Investigation My Fingerprints Key Stage 2

Liven up yourcrime scenesand evidencedisplays withsome of this

authentic Crime Scene Tape. Strong and weatherproofthe extra mile will pay dividends for realism.

ZFK 080 240 Crime Scene Tape

For use when castingimpressions found on delicatesurfaces. Use snowprint waxand you can carry out this funactivity in the snow or even atthe beach.

ZFK 090 040 Snowprint Wax

Supplied in 5kg sealed container, idealrefill for your Forensic Investigation ofFootprints Kit and further studies intoimpression casting, Dentstone gives adurable cast ideal for handling inclassrooms.

ZFK 090 030 Dentstone Casting Plaster

Use the aluminium castingframe to give a better finishto your impressions and toenable you to store themmore easily; held togetherby clips the frame isadjustable to emcompassmost sizes of footwear.

ZFK 090 010 Aluminium Casting Frame

An introduction to the science of invisible fingerprints, Pupils will practise theirinvestigation skills and knowledge of materials and surfaces to predict what willhappen to their fingerprints. Using different coloured powders they will alsoinvestigate pattern and colour in determining the best powder to use for eachsituation. They will practice the method of lifting fingerprints and will produce theirown developed fingerprints to take home.

l 5 Fingerprinting brushes l 2 Jars of Black fingerprinting powder

l 2 Jars of White fingerprinting powder l 1 Jar of Fluorescent fingerprinting powder

l Authentic fingerprint lifting tape l 20 powder trays

l 20 Cobex sheets l 5 Examination magnifying glasses

l Teaching notes, pupil worksheets + CD

ZFK 220 020 Junior Forensic Investigation Invisible Fingerprints Key Stage 2

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This forensic investigation scenario comes with everything you need to teachfingerprints as part of the syllabus or just a series of fun and educational activities.

l Structure of the skin, sweat and homeostasis l Classification and analysis of fingerprints

l Taking a suspects prints for comparison l Documenting finger prints at a crime scene

l Powder development techniques and Lifting fingerprintsl Classifying and comparing fingerprints.

l Importance of fingerprints at crime scenes l Chemical Development Techniques

ZFK 210 010

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Forensic Investigation of Fingerprints Kit Key Stage 4 / BTEC

Available to purchase via the website www.scichem.com

This refill kit comprises a set of fingerprint powders, lifting sheets, developer reagent and

another fingerprint brush for replenishing the kit or extending the kit for larger class sizes.

This poster is specifically designed as a learning aid to supplement the teaching kit butalso works well on it’s own, individually or part of a larger forensic investigation display.Fingerprint identification and classification and includes a diagram of latent printdevelopment techniques. Size 35” x 23”

ZFK 210 500

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Forensic Investigation of Fingerprints Refill Kit

ZFK 210 020 Forensic Investigation of Fingerprints Poster

This forensic investigation scenario and kit comes complete with simulated bloodsamples and serums, equipment, teachers & technicians guide and crime scenenotes for students. This activity kit covers;

l Components and function of blood l Preparation of microscope slides

l Haemoglobin and Presumptive blood testing l Antigens and Antibodies

l Blood types and blood type testing l Blood type frequencies

l Importance of blood at crime scenes

ZFK 200 010

Also Recommended

Forensic Investigation of Blood Kit Key Stage 4 / BTEC

This refill kit comprises a set of simulated blood samples, serums, presumptive testreagents and more spotting tiles for replenishing the kit or extending the kit for larger classsizes.

This poster is specifically designed as a learning aid to supplement the teaching kit butalso works well on it’s own, individually or part of a larger forensic investigation display.Covers blood components, blood typing and Blood in forensic science. Size 35” x 23””

ZFK 200 500

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Forensic Investigation of Blood Refill Kit

ZFK 200 020 Forensic Investigation of Blood Poster

Another Forensic Investigation booklet from

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