Fingermark recovery from riot debris: Bricks and stones

•Study shows recovery of latent fingermarks from riot debris, listed by the Home Office as a research area of interest.•Materials included common house bricks, limestone and sandstone with development using current safe techniques.•Positive results with fluorescent fingerprint powder, silver nitrate and superglue•Isomark™ T-1 Rapid Grey High Resolution Forensic Impression Material shown as extremely effective recovery medium•Results suggest ability to recover fingermarks from an often underutilised source.

During the UK riots in August 2011, large volumes of bricks and stones were used as weapons or projectiles in acts of violence or to gain illegal entry to properties. As a result, it has been emphasised that it is necessary to determine suitable chemical treatment(s) that will enable the development of fingermarks on such items in order to identify those involved. This study has undertaken the task of attempting to develop latent fingermarks on common house bricks, limestone and sandstone using current techniques including ninhydrin and fluorescence. Results produced have shown that, with fluorescent fingerprint powder, silver nitrate and superglue providing the best results, it is now possible to enhance fingermarks that were previously left undeveloped. In addition, Isomark T-1 Rapid Grey High Resolution Forensic Impression Material has proved extremely effective as an alternative method of recovering fingermarks developed with fluorescent fingerprint powder.