University joins forensic forces with the Police

The University of Teesside and Cleveland Police have joined forces on a new project.

The University’s Centre for Forensic Investigation is using its expertise to provide professional development to Cleveland’s scientific support staff and police officers. In addition, the Police will offer work-shadowing placements for Teesside’s Crime Scene Science students.

Cleveland Police’s Scientific Support Manager, Detective Inspector Ray Morton, said: “The partnership includes a range of activities from professional development days for scientific support staff and short courses for police officers to work shadowing placements for undergraduate students.

“There will be a firm emphasis on building a successful partnership between the two organisations which will provide long term benefits and opportunities for both sides.”

The development days are delivered in partnership with the Forensic Science Service and Centrex NTC (the national training centre for scientific support to crime investigation based in Durham) and will initially focus on new developments in forensic science.

The first professional development day for Cleveland Police’s scientific support staff takes place at the University on Wednesday 25 January. Subjects to be explored include footwear evidence and intelligence, contamination issues, DNA and fingerprints. There will be an opportunity to photograph the staff at 12.30pm on Wednesday 25 January in the Centre for Enterprise, Victoria Road, Middlesbrough. The staff will demonstrate techniques used to capture and analyse footwear evidence and intelligence.

Detective Inspector Morton added that police officers, who undertake newly created roles as Crime Scene Assessors, will also join a professional development programme. This will include an introduction to forensic science and be aligned to the ‘Scene Protection and Evidence Preservation’ module which is jointly delivered to new police probationers by the force and university.

Postgraduate forensic students will begin research, which will evolve into larger scale projects. This will include a project to develop a footwear recovery system for use in the custody office.

Teesside Crime Scene Science undergraduate students will also be selected in their second year to complete a two week work shadowing placement at Cleveland Police, covering all aspects of scientific support work.

Dr Julie Mennell, Director of the Centre for Forensic Investigation, said: “We are very pleased that Cleveland Police have been able to offer our students this opportunity as it will open their eyes to the real challenges of the job, allowing them to see theory put into practice.

“It will also prepare them for their final year of study, for selection and completion of appropriate research projects and provide realistic experiences of future career options.”

This new collaboration builds on the existing partnership between the University and Cleveland Police. From September 2004, all new probationers with the force have started a two year Foundation Degree in Police Studies at the University. The two year course combines practical on the beat training with rigorous academic work and is believed to be the first of its kind in the UK.

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