Bond solves old crimes

Forensic scientists at Leicester University's Forensic Research Centre have been working with Northamptonshire Police to develop a new method that enables scientists to ‘visualise fingerprints’ even after the print itself has been removed.

'For the first time we can get prints from people who handled a cartridge before it was fired,' said Dr John Bond, Honorary Fellow at Leicester University and scientific support manager at Northamptonshire Police.

The procedure works by applying an electric charge to a metal - say a gun or bullet - which has been coated in a fine conducting powder, similar to that used in photocopiers.

Even if the fingerprint has been washed off, it leaves a slight corrosion on the metal and this attracts the powder when the charge is applied, showing up a residual fingerprint.

'The technique works on everything from bullet casings to machine guns. Even if heat vapourises normal clues, police will be able to prove who handled a particular gun,' said Bond.