Crime Scene Investigation for Technology-myassignmenthelp.com

Question: How the investigation of major crimes has changed in the UK in the last 50 years? Answer: Introduction Crime scene investigation, as the name suggests, refers to the scene of crime being investigated in order to gain the requisite evidence and to help in understanding what exactly happened and the reasons for such happening. Even though there are a lot of shows on television which show crime scenes being investigated, the working is not as is shown in the televisions. In reality, the investigation of crime scene is the point where science, law and logic meet (Layton, 2018). The processing of crime scene is not a simple process and covers focused documents on conditions present at the scene, and the collection of physical evidence which could highlight what had happened and who did that (Pepper, 2010). Over the course of last fifty years alone, the manners in which the major crimes are investigated in UK have changed drastically. This discussion is focused on shedding light on some of the ways in which these changes took place. Changes with the changed time In order to really highlight the manner in which the criminal investigation has changed in the last fifty years, there is a need to go back in the history, to compare the changes made. The very first use of forensic science can be traced back to 275 BC to the time of Archimedes, where a method of determining the objects volume was presented. In 1302, the very first autopsy was conducted in a legal manner in Bologna. Microscope was only used in criminal investigation after it was invented in 1590. This was a major breakthrough as it allowed for the tiny wounds to be investigated. This is also the time when the human remains were identified through the use of teeth at the very first instance. Despite the power of microscope, the deaths of an individual remained undetectable. By the year of 1832, chemistry was being used in cases, where the evidence in matters of arsenic poising was identified by sampling the lining of the stomach of victim. Before this, the perfect poison for killing a person was arsenic. Though, within the designing of test for arsenic by James Marsh, this weapon lost its appeal. Another major breakthrough came with bullet matching which was possible in 1835. Come 1888, mug shots and crime scene photography were enabled, which still continue to be used in criminal investigations. With the introduction of fingerprint analysis in 1892, blood type determination in 1901, and initiation of crime labs in 1901, the investigation of crimes improved manifolds (BBC, 2018). One cannot deny that the modern advances in technology have resulted in a number of crimes being solved, which would have been discarded some few decades ago as cold cases, due to the lack of technological advances which are presently available. The earlier days of forensic science look like very frustrating ones for the law enforcement officials, owing to the lack of options which they had, save for a trusty magnifying glass and their own skills of inquiry. In the last fifty years or so, modern marvels have filled the crime scene investigations. The use of image enhancement technologies and DNA analysis has eased up the investigation process. Though, there is a need to state there that the advancement of technology is also used advantageously by the modern day criminals. The crime scene investigators, particularly the forensic ones, are not confined to solving murders or the other violent crimes, but have to focus on crimes like chemical attacks, cyber crimes, and the modern days vi olent crimes (Summers et al 2014). The last fifty years have been crucial in the crime scene investigation field particularly because it brought with it the concept of DNA analysis. In 1984, the DNA analysis was discovered which allowed for the unique biological code of an individual being identified and this revolutionised the forensic science. DNA replaced blood as being the most powerful method for identification purposes. The first time DNA profiling was undertaken in the Pitchfork case, where Dawn Ashworth and Linda Mann were raped and murdered back in July 1986 and in November 1983 respectively (Cobain, 2016). DNA allowed for detecting the traces which the criminal left behind and which became invisible to the naked eye. Earlier, even for the DNA analysis, the courts had to wait for weeks before they got the result. However, this time period has since being brought down to hours (Butler, 2005). This technology has further been improved through the databases which have been created, like the Home Office managed N ational DNA Database, which allows for DNA which is found at the scene of crime to be compared to the profiles from the sources which are present in the database (Johnson and Williams, 2004). It is not wrong to stay that the forensic scientists are basically detectives in white courts. The significance of DNA analysis can be emphasised from the notion that it is now deemed as the gold standard of identification (Lynch, 2003). Come 2000, the crime scene investigation process and the manner in which crime was solved in UK was further enhanced with the technology of computer reconstructions. The computer graphics were now being used for creating a compelling visual evidence for clarifying the events of crimes for the jurors. Through the 3D reconstruction of traffic collision, bullet trajectories and crime scenes, the solving of crimes was eased up (Buck et al 2013). Though, such animated reconstructions do have the potential of misleading owing to the persuasiveness which these reconstructions bring. This is the reason why the law enforcements still make use of the older methods in terms of sketching the face of the potential miscreant. Again, the matter is eased up with technology of magnetic fingerprinting as against the traditional method of ink and paper (Michelson, 2015). There is a need to note here that the entire progress in the investigation of crimes in the present day is not based on technology only. The biggest example of this is the use of dog squads, where specific breeds of dogs are bred and are used as a device of sniffing out different chemicals which the decaying bodies release. This is of particular reference in cases of missing persons, or where a chemical in terms of warfare agent has to be established. There is also the new manner of analysing the blood splatter and the plotting of droplets falling from wall or ceiling to recreate the crime scene and to decide on the positioning of different individuals. There are also forensic techniques which can detect the source of impurity in any chemical, which could assist in finding criminals during any terrorist attack (Kealin, 2015). Something which would not have been thought about a century back, but is a part of the criminal investigations at present is the National Footwear Reference Collection. It is a searchable library for the different kinds and patters of footwear and sole. This allows for the marks of footwear to be collected from the individuals who are in custody, and in comparing them with the marks at the crime scene (Bluestar Software, 2018). The reason why the physical evidence is given so much significance stems from the fact that it can help in establishing the elements of crime, along with establishing the identities of the ones who had been associated in a crime. It allows for the suspect to be placed in contact with the crime scene and can also help in the innocent person in being exonerated. The physical evidence can help in getting the suspects to make a confession, and also helps in corroborating the testimony of victim (Pepper, 2010). In the last fifty years, the investigations of crimes have become more sophisticated. There are clear procedures which now have to be followed when any crime scene has to be investigated. From cordoning off the scene to ensuring that the evidence is not tampered with, a lot goes on in the investigation process. To avoid any loss of evidence, vital logs are maintained and chain of custody is established. Photographs, samples, videos and other necessary processes are undertaken which not only allow for the present investigation of crime, but also assist in cases of future possible re-investigations, or in the investigations in the cold cases. Where the gravity of situation surrounding the crime is tense, enhanced measures are adopted in investigating the crime. In this regard, the access is restricted, scenes are protected, and the forensic potential is maximised (Fisher and Fisher, 2012). Another crucial thing which is ensured under the present day investigation is to ensure that there is no cross contamination of the crime scene, particularly where there are multiple crime scene locations. It is not just the use of forensic science, but the modern day criminal investigation encompasses biology, ballistics, entomology, botany, drugs, handwriting, fire investigation, and so much more. Again, the investigation of crime is not confined to crime scene; there are a number of other stages involved in it. Different strategies are adopted in order to undertake the investigation. This includes the formation of search strategy, victim and witness strategy, intelligence strategy, passive data strategy, the TIE strategy, media strategy, covert strategy, and suspect strategy (Fraser, 2010). Even with so much sophistication being brought just in the last fifty years, in the investigation into crimes, there are still cases where the result in unsolved. This is particularly due to the fact that not only the investigation of crimes has seen progress, but also has the crimes itself. There still continue to be crimes, which leave the law enforcements clueless. Even the simplest cases on paper still remained unsolved. An example of this is the murder of Barry Rubery in 2010 where he was beaten to death in his Bristol home. His murders have till date not been found (Herbert, 2018). Conclusion On the basis of discussion which the previous sections covered, it can be concluded that a number of changes have been brought in the criminal investigation process of UK. There have been certain changes in the history, which still continue to be used for investigating into the criminal activities. However, with the passage of time and particularly with the advancement of technology, these methods have also been advanced. The leading example of this is fingerprint analysis, which has moved from the traditional manner of ink and paper, to the more sophisticated digital form, where they are collected and analysed through the use of technology. The most important contribution in modern day criminal investigation is the use of DNA analysis, which has revolutionized criminal investigations. And yet with all this advancement, there continues to be crimes which remain unsolved, even when they are not so sophisticated. References BBC. 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