Forensics

Yate-based West Technology Forensics develops ground-breaking tech that could help solve thousands of gun crimes

A Yate company has developed ground-breaking forensic technology which could be used to help solve thousands of gun crimes around the world.

Yate-based West Technology Forensics has developed a forensic-science process which enables fingerprints to be obtained from fired bullet and shotgun casings.

The heat and pressure created when guns are fired means there is less than a one per cent chance of recovering fingerprints from used bullet or shotgun casings using current forensic techniques.

But the newly-developed process, which is already attracting the interest of forensic scientists and police forces worldwide, has shown an initial success rate of 68 per cent for some casings.

The technology, Vacuum Metal Deposition (VMD), has been used by the forensic science and police community for several decades – and was used to gather crucial evidence to convict a number of high-profile murderers including infamous Scottish serial killer Peter Tobin.

Tobin was convicted after the VMD technique recovered his fingerprints from a bin bag he used to dispose of the body of one of his victims.