Hopes fingerprint tech could trace more criminals

It is hoped police could better identify criminals using new fingerprint technology developed by Sheffield Hallam University-led research.

Unlike traditional methods, the project provides molecular images of fingermarks through visualising the chemical traces left behind in a person's sweat when they touch a surface.

At present, under 80% of fingermarks collected by 43 police forces over 12 months could be used for identification, according to Prof Simona Francese from the research team.

The university said the technology, which uses artificial intelligence to analyse molecular images "within seconds", would increase this percentage.

Since its development, the technology has been trialled by West Yorkshire Police (WYP).

Pete Arnold, director of Yorkshire and Humber Regional Scientific Support Services, based at WYP, said: "We were pleased to support the development and early testing of this innovative technology and welcome any advancement that strengthens our ability to recover evidence, protect victims and bring offenders to justice."

Prof Hassan Ugail from the University of Bradford, which was also involved in the research, said the new technology would give law enforcement "a powerful new tool, all from the faintest touch".

It is able to find "high-quality molecular fingerprint images in seconds", the team added.

This includes fingermarks that may not have been previously visible to the naked eye after the application of traditional techniques.

As part of the development, the time taken to process images could also be reduced from two hours to 15 minutes, according to those behind the research.

Prof Francese said: "Fingerprints are still a primary form of evidence in any crime, but not all fingermarks collected at scenes of crimes may be suitable for identification."

She said it also provided the technology to separate overlapping fingerprints.

"This is incredibly useful to eliminate, for example, a victim's fingermark from that of a perpetrator," Prof Francese added.

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