Abstract

The different methods of both DNA and fingerprint recovery from arson scenes are analysed within this literature. Arson is often used as a mode of concealment due to the wide misconception that fire destroys fundamental evidence. Advances in recent research and technologies have meant that techniques have been developed to further aid and enhance the recovery of evidence that has been exposed to the extreme conditions of a fire. In the forefront of all fire investigations where evidence recovery is paramount, the stages of the fire should be taken into consideration and pre-eminent soot removal techniques carried out in order to expose and visualise any evidence present. Although evaluation of current literature demonstrates that exceptional results from both fingerprints and DNA exposed to fire can be obtained, through different enhancement techniques, further research and developments are required in order to ensure these essential developments are standardised and mandatory to all arson scenes.

Keywords

arson, DNA, Fingerprints, enhancement, evidence investigations, techniques