Expert Witness Journal Issue 65 February 2026 - Flipbook - Page 11
How 昀椀ngerprint experts can make
their mark on your defence case
by Forensic Access
When shopkeeper Thomas Farrow and his wife Anne
were murdered in 1905, a bloody thumbprint found
at the scene made this the 昀椀rst British murder to be
solved and prosecuted using 昀椀ngerprint evidence.
The arrangement of friction ridge details, which
make up 昀椀ngerprints, are unique to each individual.
They are made from raised areas of skin called
‘ridges’ which are separated by depressed areas
called ‘furrows’. Fingerprints - as in the arrangement
of friction ridge detail patterns - remain essentially
unchanged throughout life. And no two people
have been found to have the same arrangement of
friction ridge detail, including identical twins.
This case seemed to herald a new dawn of evidence.
One where anyone who left a 昀椀ngerprint at a crime
scene could be caught and prosecuted. However, the
reality is somewhat di昀昀erent. This article is drawn
from a Forensic Access webinar exploring the use
of 昀椀ngerprint evidence in criminal proceedings.
During the session, 昀椀ngerprint expert Alan Gore
examined how marks are captured, analysed and
interpreted, and highlighted the limitations of
昀椀ngerprint evidence and the opportunities for
challenge within the criminal justice system.
Prints from toes and feet can also be used to identify
someone as everyone has individual arrangements
of friction ridge detail - as with 昀椀ngers and hands,
prints can be taken from the heel to the tips of
the toes. This uniqueness and the persistence of
昀椀ngerprints - as well as palm, toe and footprints means these marks provide a useful way to identify
someone.
As we explore in this in-depth article which covers:
•
How 昀椀ngerprint evidence includes more than
昀椀ngerprints
•
Capturing the 昀椀ngerprint
•
The importance of 昀椀ngerprint quality
•
Analysing 昀椀ngerprints - opinion not fact
•
Opportunities to challenge 昀椀ngerprint evidence
•
What can in昀氀uence 昀椀ngerprint analysis
outcomes?
Capturing the 昀椀ngerprint
Watch any police drama on TV and you’ll have seen
the basics of gathering 昀椀ngerprint evidence. Black
carbon powder is dusted onto surfaces, sticking to
the sweat left by the friction ridges of the 昀椀ngerprint.
These marks are then photographed or lifted using
DCF tape which is 昀椀xed to a plastic sheet so it can be
stored as evidence.
If the prints are on a movable item, they can be
developed using specialist 昀椀ngerprint enhancement
equipment and techniques. The context in which a
昀椀ngerprint is found is important. Which is why it’s
good practice to record the location and position of
the 昀椀ngerprint to support later analysis.
More than 昀椀ngerprints
Did you know that 昀椀ngerprint evidence can
include more than prints of your 昀椀ngers? The term
‘昀椀ngerprint’ actually covers a wide range of areas
which includes
•
The entire palm surface from the wrist to the
tips of the 昀椀ngers.
•
The pieces of skin between the 昀椀ngers.
•
The friction ridges along the inner surface of
the 昀椀ngers and thumbs (known as phalanges)
EXPERT WITNESS JOURNAL
The importance of 昀椀ngerprint quality
Finger and palm prints are usually left at a crime
scene by chance which can often result in a limited
number of prints of varying quality. This frequently
leads to partial marks, like the side or tip of a 昀椀nger,
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FEBRUARY 2026
