Forensic Documents and Handwriting Analysis

Do you need to know:-

• Who signed a document?
• Who wrote a document?
• If a document has been altered?

Document examiners use specialised equipment which can reveal evidence which is “hidden” in a document – such as indented impressions or how many inks were used to write it.

The examination and comparison of handwriting and signatures to find out if documents and signatures are authentic (genuine) is probably the most frequent task that a document examiner is asked to undertake. These comparisons are carried-out by forensic scientists using the strict application of the scientific method but, like fingerprint evidence, the opinion you get will be “opinion” evidence.

Bericon ensures that our expert fully understands the Theory of Probability (Bayes Theory) and you will never receive from us opinions based on spurious odds or percentage results.

In addition our appointed expert has a fully-equipped laboratory and can undertake independent assessments using, for example, the most advanced analytical techniques such ESDA and VSC.

Like any aspect of forensic science, handwriting and document analysis doesn’t stand still and our expert consultant is at the forefront of developing techniques including the use of Raman spectroscopy in the examination of so-called crossed ink lines.

If you instruct a graphologist or “handwriting expert” to carry out a forensic examination you may be putting your client at a disadvantage because, in the United Kingdom, graphologists often do not hold science degrees and may not use the scientific method.

Since the introduction of the Civil and Criminal Procedure Rules it is usual for the Courts to ask experts to try to “narrow the issues” between them rather than appearing to give live evidence. Where the experts belong to different disciplines such as science and graphology – there is probably no common methodology and the successful production of a Joint Memorandum is far less likely to be achieved.