Fostering Forensics Ltd

Another Airport breakfast , first stop Amsterdam 🌷🌷🌷🇳🇱🇳🇱🇳🇱

Time really flies when you're having fun — and while you're training!
Week 3 complete, with just 2 weeks left in this Initial Fingerprint training course alongside the new practitioners from the Estonian Forensic Institute.

This week, the focus is on palm print recognition.

Palm print evidence was first admitted in a British court in 1931. It was the only material evidence against John Egan, who was found guilty of housebreaking, and sentenced to 14 months of hard labour.
Although still friction ridge detail it took a long time to establish the reliability of this "new" type of evidence. This conviction using palm print evidence came nearly 30 years after the first conviction using fingerprints.

Although palm prints are recovered less frequently from crime scenes compared to fingerprints, palm print evidence is still commonly used in forensic investigations today.
Palm marks found at crime scenes are often partial, revealing only small portions of detail, which can make it challenging to determine the source of the impression. Recognising different clues in a palm impression can greatly enhance a fingerprint practitioner's ability to orient and identify the area shown, ultimately aiding the comparison and identification process. Factors such as size and shape, creases, ridge flow, deltas, and patterns can help in recognising a specific area on the palm and determining which hand it came from.

Do your staff need a refresher in Palm recognition?
Drop us a comment below or get in touch via email [email protected] for more information on our Palm Workshop.

On Feb 14, 1929, North Clark Street, Chicago, seven men from the Moran gang were lined up against a garage wall and killed with Thompson submachine guns and a shotgun. The crime has been immortalised as The St Valentine’s Day Massacre. ❤️👮‍♂️

The murders occurred during a time of fierce competition for control of organised crime during prohibition. The perpetrators, believed to be a rival gang headed by Al Capone , were disguised as police officers making the scene appear to be a routine police raid.

Forensics played a crucial role in the investigation.

Dr. Calvin Goddard, a pioneer in the new field of ballistics testing was able to prove that no two revolvers are made exactly alike — that every weapon makes characteristic marks on a bullet and a cartridge shell, and that they are the same every time that gun is fired. Testing bullets and shell casings recovered from the crime scene, Goddard confirmed that two Tommy guns seized in rural Michigan were used in the Massacre.

While forensic evidence pointed to the Capone mob, they were never convicted, leaving the case as a famous, partially unsolved historical mystery.

The violence associated with the Thompson machine gun in events like the St. Valentine's Day Massacre led to changes in gun control legislation in the US, with the introduction of the National Fi****ms Act in 1934.

Week 2 - Initial Fingerprint Training - Estonian Forensic Institute

This week we have focused on the identification process ACE-V (analysis, comparison, evaluation - verification).

This is a standard scientific methodology used in forensic science, specifically in this case fingerprint examination.

We have discussed the importance of a detailed analysis, and how subjective interpretation of an impression can alter our opinion of what we may be looking at. The comparison process has been explored, with emphasis on following a coincident sequence of features in both impressions under comparison.

Decision making has been tested in the evaluation stage, when considering the sufficiency of detail required to form an accurate and robust conclusion, and finally we have discussed in detail the importance of the verification stage, not only as the final peer review, but also as part of our own integral practice to verify our own work at every stage of the process.

Considerable progress has been made in recent years to develop the ACE-V protocol too ensure correct practice, although interestingly there is still a lack of standardisation, and the application of ACE-V varies widely across organisations.

How do you approach your fingerprint examinations?



Fostering Forensics Ltd

Final day of week 1 of a 5 week initial fingerprint training course, with a great group of students from the Estonian Forensic Institute.
This week we have been learning about development of friction ridge skin and pattern recognition
Fingerprint patterns, used as part of the identification process, are categorized into three main families —loops (most common 60–65%) whorls (approx 30–35%), and arches (least common approx 5-10%).
These friction ridge patterns are permanent and unique to individuals.
They are classified into specific types including plain, converging loops, tented arches, twinned loops, lateral pockets, composites and others depending on the country.
Here are a couple of examples of the unique pattern arrangements you could find……. Do you know what patterns you have?

Palm workshop Forensic Science Ireland 🇮🇪

Great to be back in Dublin last week , and a very warm welcome from the Fingerprint Section Forensic Science Ireland. 🇮🇪
A great Palm workshop filled with discussions and learning. Thank you to everyone who participated.


Fostering Forensics Ltd

Cheers 🥂 to a great 2025!!!!!!
Full of enthusiastic students, great courses and fantastic new places
Here’s to another prosperous year 2026 🎉

#Carolofthebells #Christmas #drum #rolanddrums #drummerboy #drummer #vicfirthdrumsticks #drumming #drumsRolandVic Firth