Crime Scene Investigators (CSIs) can be seen travelling about the county in police-marked vans. Each van will carry enough equipment to deal with every type of crime from thefts to murders. This will include carrying plastic and paper bags, containers and boxes of various materials in which exhibits can be placed and sealed to protect them from contamination.

Implements such as sterile scissors, scalpels, tweezers and swabs are available to recover objects. Importantly a CSI will have all there personal protective equipment in the van in order for them to remain safe and protect them from contaminating a scene, these include gloves, face masks, fire proof gloves, shoe covers, eye wear and the white paper suits synonymous with crime scene investigators.

There is also specialist equipment available to assist the CSI in the recovery of evidence which includes:

 

Fingerprint equipment
This includes a range of fingerprint powders and brushes, lifting tape and clear plastic sheets or card to place the lifts on.

 

Digital camera
CSIs use the Nikon D300 camera with a Metz flash gun and tripod to accurately record crime scenes and evidence. Further information can be found on the photographic area of this section.

 

ESLA
This stands for electro static lifting apparatus. This is mainly used to capture footwear marks left on a surface in dust. A black backed foil sheet is laid face down on the mark and a small electric charge is applied via a battery powered pack. This attracts the dust on to the black side of the sheet while still showing the outline of the footwear mark. The foil sheet is placed and secured in a box for further examination at the station or forensic laboratory.

 

Casting material
There are two types of casting material used. The first is to cast small marks such as those left by a tool on a window or door where the offender has gained entry. This is made up by mixing two resins together and applying them to the mark, the resin will harden which enables it to be peeled away from the mark giving an accurate representation of the impression.

The second material is similar to that used by dentists. We use this to cast bigger marks such as those left by shoes and tyres. The powder is mixed with water and poured into the impression, left to dry and then lifted. Both these casts can then be used at the forensic laboratory to be compared to a tool found on a suspect or their shoes or vehicle.

Each CSI office has its own examination room which enables CSIs to examine items recovered from a scene either by themselves or police officers in controlled conditions and away from the adverse affects of the weather.