Forensic Science Facilities

Benefit from a Faculty investment of £12 million in new state-of-the-art equipment and facilities which include;

  • Mock Crime-scene House
  • Specialised Forensic DNA laboratory
  • Specialised Physical Evidence laboratory
  • Analytical Chemistry laboratory

  • Crime Scene House
    situated on the edge of the university campus is a typical terraced house that provides the ideal opportunity for realistic training in crime-scene processing and evidence recovery; procedures vital to the whole investigative process

  • Physical Evidence Laboratory
    used for teaching various practical aspects of forensic science in a variety of modules. It contains our forensic microscope and imaging facilities (with compound, comparator, USB, fluorescence and polarising microscopes and digital image capture capability, Raman spectroscopy, VSC-4+ video spectral comparator and electrostatic detection apparatus or ESDA) and our fingerprint development and analysis facilities including superglue fuming facilities and AFIS system

  • Forensic DNA Laboratory
    This specialised laboratory contains our molecular biology and DNA profiling facilities such as PCR, capillary electrophoresis, gel electrophoresis and gel documentation systems. It is used extensively in the 'Forensic Biology', 'Bodies, Tissues and Fluids' and 'DNA Profiling modules'
     
  • Analytical Chemistry Laboratory
    This laboratory provides all the specialised analytical equipment used in routine forensic analysis including; UV-VIS spectrophotometers, FT-IR, a FT-IR microscope with ATR accessory, HPLCs, GCs, Pyrolysis-GC and atomic absorption spectrometers

  • Analytical Microscopy Suite
    Housing a new Carl Zeiss 'EVO HD' 15 scanning electron microscope (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) capability, and, an atomic force microscope; which are used in routine teaching and can be used in final-year project work

We have a range of other equipment housed in specialised facilities which include:

  • Tandem MS/MS
  • GCMS and LC-MS
  • NMR

These pieces of equipment are used primarily to support project work in year 3.