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Science In Focus
Special:
Fighting Crime With Science
00.00–01.39 Introduction to the programme and
opening titles – a drama scene in which a professor is shot
dead. A murder has taken place and a major crime scene is
established.
01.40–03.10 The Faraday Lecture begins on the
set of this drama at Saddlers Wells Theatre, London. The two
presenters Laura Grant and Chris Young take the parts of scene of
crime officers and describe how the investigation begins to search
and collect vital evidence to help to solve the crime.
Every crime event has a history and Laura and Chris
demonstrate how scene of crime officers begin their work to reduce
the risk of contaminating any evidence at the crime scene.
03.11–04.15 How fingerprints are collected from
several different surfaces and entered into a national fingerprint
database.
04.16–06.30 An introduction to DNA and its
importance in providing evidence that can determine the person who
has committed the murder - in this case a sample of human hair.
06.31–07.42 Analysing a hair sample at forensic
laboratories and an explanation of how DNA provides genetic
evidence that reliably identifies an individual – the chances
of two people's DNA being repeated is one in 60 million.
07 43–09.48 How the sample of hair is prepared,
analysed and a DNA profile of the suspect is established.
09.49–10.51 DNA provides the genetic
information that gives the 'blueprint' of an individual but, at
present, it is possible only to identify certain characteristics.
Detection comes when the DNA collected is matched on a national DNA
database. However, this database only contains DNA samples from
people who have committed a crime.
10.52–13.27 Looking for other evidence at the
crime scene – collecting a footprint mark using ELA
(Electrostatic Lifting Apparatus).
13.28–14.04 Identifying a shoe from footprint
markings.
14.05–15.00 The profile of the murderer is
gradually building. A gun was used to kill the professor –
gunshot residue from the shot will remain on the skin and clothing
of the murderer.
15.01–17.09 Continuing the investigation by
recognition – using VIPER (Video Identification Procedure
Electronically Recorded). However, recognition on a human level is
unreliable.
17.10–18.06 Law enforcement agencies worldwide
are turning to using scientific techniques in developing facial
recognition systems. A brief explanation is given of how facial
recognition systems work – developed in more detail
later.
18.07–19.49 Using PROFIT to create
electronically a facial composite of a criminal from witness
descriptions. These are difficult to create by an individual and
research is underway to combine several descriptions by morphing
the faces to create a combined facial image – this is called
'Evomorph'.
19.50–20.17 The autopsy report of the murdered
professor is produced.
20.18–23.42 The importance of computers in
piecing together evidence – the Force Linked Intelligence
System (FLINTS) developed by the West Midlands Police. A group of
suspects is created based on the evidence collected so far. FLINTS
assembles a large amount of information onto one database and makes
connections.
23.43–28.07 The evidence is beginning to come
together but the investigation is extended further by using CCTV
and ANPR technology (Automatic Number Plate Recognition). This is a
method of finding a suspect through the number plates of cars
– ANPR is used to identify wanted vehicles and a
demonstration is shown. The importance of ANPR to the effectiveness
of police patrol vehicles is emphasised.
28.08–31.04 Crime prevention is big business
and crime costs an estimated £50 billion to the UK economy.
Science and technology can play a huge part in helping crime
prevention. An explanation of 'Biometrics' is given –
measuring the iris in the eye for recognition purposes. Iris
recognition is demonstrated as a security measure for gaining entry
to secure buildings or rooms – personal identification.
31.05–33.41 Iris recognition cannot be used to
identify people in crowds – a video of the full face is
required to do this. Facial Recognition Techniques are explained
further – creating a database of facial images using digital
technology. Digital pictures of a face can be created from
photographs and compared electronically. Thousands of images can be
stored on the database.
33.42–34.06 Two boys, Oliver and Simon are
identical twins and their faces are used to test the effectiveness
of the system.
34.07–36.40 An explanation of the system is
given and the shortcomings of video surveillance systems. Software
programmes are being developed that will observe the images of
large numbers of cameras 24 hours a day – demonstrations are
shown of the effectiveness of this software for public safety
purposes on the London Underground and in detecting unwanted
packages left in the street.
36.41–37.36 Crime prevention using tagging
– clothes, people, animals – and remote detonation
devices as security on computers so disks can be destroyed if they
are stolen or lost.
37.37–38.54 The murderer appears on the set and
is identified and arrested.
38.55–end Credits
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www.iee.org/Events/Lectrs/Faraday/2003/content.cfm
The Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) lecture site about
'Fighting Crime with Science'. It contains background information
and teacher worksheets for use in the classroom before and after
viewing the programme. Level: Teacher
www.iee.org/TheIEE/
The Institution of Electrical Engineers is the largest professional
engineering society in Europe. The IEE Faraday Lecture was founded
in 1924 to commemorate the life and work of Michael Faraday. As a
pioneer in the field of electricity and electromagnetism, his work
laid the foundation for many of today's advances in
technology.
The IEE promotes the advancement of electrical, electronic and
manufacturing science and engineering, and ranges from students to
the most distinguished and highly qualified members of the
profession.
www.iee.org/Events/Lectrs/Faraday/
The Faraday Lecture is organised annually by the Institution of
Electrical Engineers with the support of a sponsoring body and a
team of six presenters, all young people working in the engineering
field. Over the past 75 years, the lectures have developed a
tradition of presenting cutting-edge technology in an exciting and
interactive format.
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