The use of vacuum metal deposition for forensic casework in Canada

ABSTRACT

Canada has seen a positive shift in the use of vacuum metal deposition as a fingermark detection method. This article examines the current state of this technique in Canada and offers recommendations and strategies to overcome challenges still present in an attempt to further advance the application of this extremely versatile technique.

KEYWORDS:

• Fingermark detection
• forensic identification
• training
• communication
• workflow

Acknowledgements

I’d like to thank all questionnaire participants; Mack Noel Christiansen (RCMP), Aaron Dove (RCMP), Stephanie Howard (OPP), Cpl Maryse Laurin (RCMP), Cpl Andrea McLeod (RCMP), Cameron Power (TPS), and Jaclyn Slaney (TPS) for information on their VMD chambers; and Dr Della Wilkinson (RCMP) for reviewing this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.