Fingerprint Development Techniques

Fingerprint Development
Techniques
Theory and Application

Stephen M. Bleay
Home Office Centre for Applied Science and Technology, Sandridge, UK

Ruth S. Croxton
School of Chemistry, University of Lincoln, UK

and

Marcel de Puit
Ministerie van Veiligheid en Justitie, Nederlands Forensisch Instituut, Digitale
Technologie en Biometrie, The Hague, The Netherlands
This edition first published 2018
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Cover images: (Background) © chokkicx/Gettyimages; (Fingerprint images) Courtesy of Stephen M. Bleay

Set in 10.5/12.5pt Times by SPi Global, Pondicherry, India

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Contents

Series Preface xi

Acknowledgementsxiii

1 Introduction1
Stephen M. Bleay and Marcel de Puit
References10

2 Formation of fingermarks 11
Stephen M. Bleay and Marcel de Puit
2.1 Introduction 11
2.2 Initial contact 12
2.3 Interaction outcomes 13
2.4 The finger 17
2.5 The surface 24
2.6 Removal of the finger from the surface 30
2.7 Summary of the initial contact 32
References 33

3 Composition and properties of fingermarks 35

Ruth S. Croxton, Stephen M. Bleay and Marcel de Puit
3.1 Chemical composition of fingermarks 35
3.2 Biological properties of fingermarks 55
3.3 Physical properties of fingermarks 57
References 62

4 Ageing of fingermarks 69
Stephen M. Bleay and Marcel de Puit
4.1 The ‘triangle of interaction’ 69
4.2 The fingermark 70
4.3 The surface 70
4.4 The environment 78
4.5 Interactions 81
4.6 Time 94
References 96
vi CONTENTS

5 Initial examination and the selection of fingermark

enhancement processes 99
Stephen M. Bleay
5.1 Introduction 99
5.2 Processing options 100
5.3 Process selection 103
5.4 The processing environment 105
References 109

6 Optical detection and enhancement techniques 111

Stephen M. Bleay
6.1 Introduction 111
6.2 Current operational use 116
6.3 Visual examination 117
6.4 Fluorescence examination 125
6.5 Ultraviolet reflection 138
6.6 Infrared reflection 141
6.7 Colour filtration and monochromatic illumination 144
6.8 Multispectral imaging 149
References 151
Further reading 153

7 Vapour phase techniques 155

Stephen M. Bleay and Marcel de Puit
7.1 Introduction 155
7.2 Current operational use 156
7.3 Superglue/cyanoacrylate fuming 158
7.4 Vacuum metal deposition 172
7.5 Iodine fuming 181
7.6 Radioactive sulphur dioxide 185
7.7 Other fuming techniques 189
References 193
Further reading 196

8 Solid phase selective deposition techniques 199

Stephen M. Bleay
8.1 Introduction 199
8.2 Current operational use 200
8.3 Powders 201
8.4 ESDA 213
8.5 Nanoparticle powders 216
References 219

9 Amino acid reagents 221

Stephen M. Bleay
9.1 Introduction 221
9.2 Current operational use 223
 CONTENTS vii

9.3 Ninhydrin 224

9.4 1,8‐Diazafluoren‐9‐one 231
9.5 1,2‐Indandione 237
9.6 Ninhydrin analogues 242
9.7 Fluorescamine 246
9.8 o‐Phthalaldehyde250
9.9 Genipin 252
9.10 Lawsone 256
9.11 Alloxan 259
9.12 4‐Chloro‐7‐nitrobenzofuran chloride 260
9.13 Dansyl chloride 262
9.14 Dimethylaminocinnemaldehyde and
dimethylaminobenzaldehyde263
References 268
Further reading 272

10 Reagents for other eccrine constituents 275

Stephen M. Bleay
10.1 Introduction 275
10.2 Current operational use 276
10.3 4‐Dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde 277
10.4 Silver nitrate 279
References 281
Further reading 282

11 Lipid reagents 283

Stephen M. Bleay
11.1 Introduction 283
11.2 Current operational use 285
11.3 Solvent Black 3 (Sudan Black) 286
11.4 Basic Violet 3 (Gentian Violet, Crystal Violet) 290
11.5 Oil Red O (Solvent Red 27) 295
11.6 Iodine solution 297
11.7 Ruthenium tetroxide 299
11.8 Osmium tetroxide 301
11.9 Europium chelate 302
11.10 Natural Yellow 3 (curcumin) 305
11.11 Nile Red and Nile Blue A 308
11.12 Basic Violet 2 311
11.13 Rubeanic acid–copper acetate 313
11.14 Phosphomolybdic acid 315
References 317
Further reading 320

12 Liquid phase selective deposition techniques 321

Stephen M. Bleay
12.1 Introduction 321
12.2 Current operational use 323
viii CONTENTS

12.3 Small particle reagent 326

12.4 Powder suspensions 330
12.5 Physical developer 336
12.6 Multi‐metal deposition 345
References 352
Further reading 355

13 Enhancement processes for marks in blood 357

Stephen M. Bleay
13.1 Introduction 357
13.2 Current operational use 361
13.3 Protein stains 363
13.4 Peroxidase reagents 369
References 380
Further reading 381

14 Electrical and electrochemical processes 383

Stephen M. Bleay
14.1 Introduction 383
14.2 Current operational use 385
14.3 Etching 386
14.4 Corrosion visualisation 388
14.5 Electrodeposition 392
References 397
Further reading 399

15 Miscellaneous processes: lifting and specialist imaging 401

Stephen M. Bleay
15.1 Introduction 401
15.2 Current operational use 403
15.3 Lifting 404
15.4 Scanning electron microscopy 407
15.5 X‐ray fluorescence (and X‐ray imaging) 410
15.6 Secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) 413
15.7 Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass
spectrometry (MALDI‐MS) 414
15.8 Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared
spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR) 415
References 417
Further reading 419

16 Evaluation and comparison of fingermark

enhancement processes 421
Stephen M. Bleay
16.1 Introduction 421
16.2 Technology Readiness Level 3: Proof of concept 423
16.3 Technology Readiness Level 4: Process optimisation 425
16.4 Technology Readiness Level 5: Laboratory trials 427
 CONTENTS ix

16.5 Technology Readiness Level 6: Pseudo‐operational trials 437

16.6 Technology Readiness Level 7: Operational trials 439
16.7 Technology Readiness Level 8: Standard operating procedures 439
16.8 Technology Readiness Level 9: Ongoing monitoring 440
References 440

17 Sequential processing and impact on other forensic evidence 443

Stephen M. Bleay and Marcel de Puit
17.1 Sequential processing of fingermarks 443
17.2 Test methodologies for developing processing sequences 449
17.3 Integrated sequential forensic processing 453
References 466

18 Interpreting the results of fingermark enhancement 469

Stephen M. Bleay
18.1 Introduction 469
18.2 Location of the mark 471
18.3 Type of substrate 473
18.4 Constituents of the mark 478
18.5 Enhancement process 480
18.6 The environment 482
18.7 Image processing 483
18.8 Image capture 484
References 487

Index489
Series Preface
Developments in forensic science

Practising forensic scientists are constantly striving to deliver their very best in the
service of national and international justice. As many types of forensic evidence
come under increased scrutiny, the onus is on the forensic science community in
partnership with academic researchers, law enforcement and the judiciary to work
together to address these challenges. We must have confidence in the scientific vali-
dation of the methods used to develop forensic evidence and in how that evidence is
correctly and scientifically interpreted within a case context so that it can be admit-
ted within our criminal justice systems with confidence.
As we develop new knowledge and address the research and practical application
of science within the forensic science fields, the consolidation, scientific validation
and dissemination of new technological innovations and methods relevant to foren-
sic science practice also become essential.
The texts developed in this book series aim to highlight and report the areas
where scientific validation is in place as well as areas where challenges remain. It is
the objective of this book series to provide a valuable resource for forensic science
and law enforcement practitioners and our legal colleagues and in so doing provide
a realistic scientific position of the evidence types presented in our courts.
The books developed and published within this series come from some of the
leading researchers and practitioners, and I am indebted to them as they make their
forensic science disciplines, warts and all, accessible to the wider world.

Professor Niamh Nic Daeid

Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science
University of Dundee
UK, 2017
Acknowledgements

This book would not have been possible without the contributions of several groups
of people, and I’d like to acknowledge them here:
Firstly, to my predecessors and past and present colleagues in the Home Office
Centre for Applied Science and Technology Fingerprint Research Group, without
whose dedication and innovation the forensic science field would be a much poorer
place and several of the processes reported in this book would not be available. In
particular I’d like to thank Dr Helen Bandey, the late Dr Val Bowman, Rory
Downham, Lesley Fitzgerald, Andrew Gibson, Sheila Hardwick, Terry Kent and
Vaughn Sears for their inspiration, challenge and support to me and to each other in
the provision of a fingermark visualisation and imaging capability the United
Kingdom can be proud of.
I’d also like to acknowledge all the placement year, Masters and PhD students
that have provided the underpinning and groundbreaking research on which the
Home Office work is founded, much of which is described here. Our academic col-
leagues have been generous in providing their time and expertise to this area, often
for little funding, and particular thanks are due to Dr Melanie Bailey, Dr Simona
Francese, Prof Sergei Kazarian, Dr Paul Kelly, Mrs Sophie Park and Prof Geraint
Williams for the provision of illustrations for this book.
Fingerprint research would be of little value unless it meets the needs of practi-
tioners, and we have been fortunate to have input from laboratory managers and
specialists with a genuine interest in new techniques and improving the way things
are done. David Charlton, Martin Cox, Paul Deacon, Kenny Laing, Nick Marsh,
John O’Hara and Tim Watkinson are just some of those that have made a difference
during my time working with fingerprints and have shown me how laboratory
research gets put into practice – thanks to you all.
The international fingerprint research community has always been a welcoming
one, and I value greatly the discussions and interchange of ideas that I have had with
IFRG colleagues. I now understand the trials and tribulations that several have
already faced in writing textbooks and hope that this text complements rather than
rivals what has gone before.
Finally, to my wife Deborah, family and friends, thank you for your understand-
ing while I have been immersed in preparing this book and for providing a range of
welcome diversions!