House of crime full of vital clues

To help nurture the next generation of super sleuths, the University of Teesside has converted a large terraced building on the campus into a Crime House.

Inside the rabbit warren of 16 rooms will be the remnants and hidden clues to simulated 'criminal acts' of every sort - from break-ins and burglaries to murder!

Students from the University's excellent and growing portfolio of Forensic Investigation courses will be able to apply crime scene and forensic investigation techniques, learnt in the classroom. And under the watchful eye of CCTV cameras they will be able to perfect their skills in collecting vital evidence that will stand up to intense scrutiny in a court of law.

It might sound like something to attract the attention of Dana Scully from The X-Files or Amanda Burton in the BBC's hit drama, Silent Witness.

But Dr Julie Mennell, who has spearheaded the £26,000 project, says: "What it will do is put Teesside in the forefront of degree-level courses in Forensic Investigation and Crime Scene Examination.. The Crime House will allow us to simulate any crime scene and we can even arrange for other students to take on roles such as injured parties and victims of crime and even the press. Crime Scene examiners can be among the first on the scene and they need to know how to handle delicate situations and make sure the vital evidence is not disturbed."

Julie, who is Assistant Director of the University's School of Science & Technology, says Teesside's Crime House is the biggest and most elaborate facility of its kind in any university in the UK. Some courses were developed with the National Training for Scientific Support to Crime Investigation and many key staff were formally employed by the National Training Centre and have extensive practical experience of crime scene examination and police work.

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