Police unveil new forensic device

A pioneering new forensic device capable of producing a 360 degree image of a fingerprint from a discarded cartridge has been unveiled.
The Cera (Cartridge Electrostatic Recovery and Analysis) machine was shown to an international audience at Northamptonshire Police's Wootton Headquarters last week.
Produced by Consolite Forensics, the device is a self-contained laboratory machine which reveals fingerprints with minimal user intervention. The device includes a fully integrated camera and lighting
system and is capable of producing a 350 degree image of a fingerprint, which can then be analysed using the police's automated fingerprint identification system.
The development is based on the work of Northants Police Scientific Support Manager Dr John Bond, who first developed the technique in 1998.
Chief Constable Adrian Lee said: "To put this into context, the development of this device will serve to improve the
trust and confidence of the people we serve.
"A key part of improving trust and confidence is crime reduction, and anything which helps detect offenders is obviously a key part of this.
"The link between developments in forensic science aiding detection of offenders, and trust and confidence, is clear."
The device will now undergo further testing before being sold throughout the world.