Hi-tech police clear up the crime scenes

Nov 4 2008 by Andrew Hirst, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

NEW technology created by West Yorkshire Police forensic experts has helped put offenders behind bars for a total of 460 years.

The hi-tech presentations from the force’s Forensic Imaging Unit have been used in some high-profile cases among 49 convictions over the last two years.

These have included the Harold Shipman inquiry, the Yorkshire Ripper Hoax and the murder of Pc Sharon Beshenivsky in Bradford.

A presentation from the unit was first used during the trial of the Soham murders, which led to Ian Huntley serving life for killing 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Cambridgeshire in August, 2002.

The court presentations use the latest forensic technology, including video enhancements from CCTV, 3D reconstructions and 360-degree interactive packages using 3D laser scanning of crime scenes.

An interactive computer package is created to show the evidence to the courtroom via a laptop and plasma screens.