Britain closing in on CSI dream
Similar to a scene from CSI; a criminal commits a crime leaving nothing behind but a shoe print. The agents working the case create a mold of the print to take back to the lab for further analysis. Upon arrival, they load the print into their computers to compare it against the database; within seconds, they retrieve the type, brand, and size. Sound like a fantasy? Britain doesn’t think so.
Starting February 15, Britain plans to launch a Footwear Intelligence database with collected data on thousands of shoes and shoe prints; it will consist of shoe type, branding, color, and even demographic information. The database will be used to assist in tracking down and capturing criminals, and is said to be the first of its kind.
“Footwear marks at the scene are the second biggest evidence type behind blood and DNA,” said Dr Romelle Piercy, of the Forensic Science Service (FSS) in London.
A criminal’s footprint left behind at a crime scene can give vital evidence to the perpetrator of the crime; even two identical types of prints can be distinguished between each other based on the wear it has received.
Previous crime scene footprints will be added to the database as well as information from manufactures such as Nike, who already has over 1,000 models exclusively on their training shoes.
“The technology, like the DNA database, has no upper limits as far I am aware,” Piercy told reporters.
There have been several reported cases of shoe prints aiding in the conviction of a criminal. One such case in California, Kevin Cooper was convicted of murdering Doug and Peggy Ryen, their 10-year-old daughter, and her 11-year-old friend in their home. The prosecution had only two pieces of evidence: a drop of Cooper’s blood left behind at the crime scene, and a bloody shoe print which placed him at the scene of the crime.
Britain believes the Footwear Intelligence Tool will also be a powerful instrument in linking crimes; It will become just as identifiable to anyone who leaves a fingerprint behind.
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January 31st, 2007
As a Forensic Investigator, with more years on the job than I like to think about sometimes, I feel a database like this one can be invaluable. We have the benefit of databases for fingerprints, DNA, missiles, and missle casings, why not something like this. Many times when we go out on scenes shoe prints are the first things we see and document. This new technology will enable more cases to be cleared.