Metropolitan police blog reveals tools of crime-solving trade

The Met has revealed the contents of a crime scene manager’s bag
Lewis Aaltonen21 June 2016

In the TV crime series CSI, forensic examiners use the latest in hi-tech equipment to solve complex crimes.

Now Scotland Yard has released an interactive image of a real-life crime scene manager’s kit — complete with Sherlock Holmes-style magnifying glass.

Because whether you are Holmes or Dr Nikki Alexander, as played by actress Emilia Fox in Silent Witness, the classic magnifying glass is an essential tool of the trade.

The kit box also includes swabs for collecting DNA and fluids, exhibit bags to safely recover evidence from a scene, a measuring tape to record where evidence is found and arrow labels to indicate where fingerprints have been recovered.

A mask is worn on scene to prevent investigators from inhaling the fingerprint powders that they use. The most sophisticated items in today’s forensic examiner’s kit include different types of powder used to dust for prints on different surface materials.

They range from a silver aluminium powder to a black powder used to recover prints from rough surfaces.

The Met released the image as part of a blog series which highlights the variety of roles in the force.

In the blog, crime scene manager Tania — who has more than 15 years of experience — said: “When I recover evidence that then leads to the person who committed the crime being identified — it’s all worth it.”

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