It seems that after 14 years of a Tory Government, the UK public is ready for a change. The same could perhaps be said for the provision of forensic science in England and Wales. The much-maligned Forensic Science Service (FSS) was disbanded by the new Tory Government in 2012 and the provision of forensic science…

“A Belgian man has been cleared of drink driving after doctors confirmed he had an extremely rare condition which causes his body to produce large amounts of alcohol.”  (Sky news) The 40-year-old was found to have auto-brewery syndrome (ABS).   What is auto-brewery syndrome (ABS)? Auto-brewery syndrome, also dubbed “drunkenness disease,” is an exceptionally uncommon…

  Hair Analysis in Forensics In the UK, forensic experts are increasingly turning to hair analysis to unlock vital clues about individuals involved in crimes. This method reveals unique biomarkers, providing insights that are critical for investigations. Solving crimes gets tough when DNA or fingerprints don’t match any records at the scene. Without these matches,…

Excessive drinking often plays a key role in fatal accidents. This makes measuring ethanol in post-mortem  samples crucial in unnatural death cases. Studies in various countries find about 40-50% of unnatural deaths show high blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in post-mortem. Forensic labs often set the BAC cut-off at 0.01 g% using headspace gas chromatography with…

What is Raman Spectroscopy? Raman spectroscopy is an analytical technique that identifies molecular vibrations by scattering laser light off a material. It provides a molecular fingerprint, allowing for the identification and study of substances. Non-destructive and versatile, it’s used across various fields, from chemistry to forensic analysis, for both qualitative and quantitative assessments. The Study:…