Benchmarking of proficiency tests for the fingerprint field - ScienceDirect

Abstract

Since 2015, European fingerprint service providers carrying out laboratory activities must be EN ISO/IEC 17025 accredited. Consequently, relevant and reliable proficiency tests are required by those accredited forensic laboratories to regularly assess and certify their analytical capabilities. In this context, Work package #10 of the ENFSI-EU funded project named "Competency, Education, Research, Testing, Accreditation, and Innovation in Forensic Science" (Grant #101051099) aimed at proposing guidance to forensic laboratories for the selection of proficiency tests in the fields of fingermark visualization, imaging, and comparison/identification. In this paper, the methodology that has been set and followed is described, and the resulting guidance document presented. Additionally, a critical overview of the current market of commercial proficiency tests dedicated to the fingerprint field is proposed.

 

 

Forensic analysis of an alleged improvised explosive device (IED) from a multidisciplinary perspective: Organisation and outcomes of the ENFSI 2023 exercise - ScienceDirect

Abstract

Interdisciplinary examination of test materials requires careful consideration of how forensic routines can influence each other. This influence can be direct and obvious, or indirect and subtle. A multidisciplinary collaborative exercise (MdCE) should test a forensic laboratory’s ability to account for these difficulties. Therefore, the MdCE should be set up in a way that considers how the applied procedure (i.e., the sequence of forensic disciplines) can impact the outcomes (i.e., the ability to recover traces).

Building on lessons learned from a previous experience, this article summarises the concepts, planning, design, preparation, implementation, coordination and evaluation of the ENFSI 2023 Multidisciplinary Collaborative Exercise (2023-MdCE) covering a range of forensic disciplines, specifically DNA, fingerprints, explosives, fibres, and hair morphological analysis.

The exercise consisted of a glass jar with black adhesive tape around it, representing an improvised explosive device. The analysis of the results highlighted: a) the importance of a joint preliminary optical examination; b) some critical issues regarding the explosives/fingerprint sampling strategies; c) the potential impact of contact marks that may contain friction ridge detail on items that were different from those deposited by the organiser; d) the importance of avoiding discrepancies in labelling exhibits and/or traces is emphasised as it is related to the communication strategy of scientific forensic results.

Additionally, recommendations and suggestions are provided for those who may wish to undertake such a collaborative exercise.