Have you ever wondered how a forensic VMD system works? Watch the videos below, where Anita and Ian tell you all about it!
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Forensic Vacuum Metal Deposition (VMD) – Frequently Asked Questions
Over the past 5 years, forensic VMD has been completely transformed due to West Technology Forensics' development of the systems and the technique. There are many misconceptions and myths around VMD so to hopefully help dispel a few of them, here are our top 20...
VMD Accessories – 3D Object Holder
INNOVATIVE DESIGN This adjustable accessory magnetically attaches to the VMD evidence holder for the safe and easy mounting of bottles (both plastic and glass), knives, mobile phones, drinking containers with wide openings and many more. To clamp a bottle into...
VMD Accessories – Shotgun Cartridge Holder
FURTHER DEVELOPMENT As a further development to the ammunition rack, the shotgun cartridge holder also magnetically attaches to the VMD evidence holder for quick and safe mounting of up to 8 discharged shotgun cartridges. Each cartridge is mounted via the open...
VMD Accessories – Ammunition Rack
INNOVATIVE DESIGN The lightweight, easy to use accessory, magnetically attaches to the VMD evidence holder for quick and safe mounting of up to 10 live or discharged cartridges. Each cartridge is mounted via the rim or extractor groove, ensuring that the...
Fingermarks Developed on Fired Ammunition
Recent research carried out at West Technology Forensics’ laboratory concluded that high quality ridge detail could be consistently developed from a range of fired rifle and shotgun cartridges using the forensic Vacuum Metal Deposition (VMD) process. Our latest...
Grab mark impressions on pillowcase
We recently received an enquiry regarding the effectiveness of the VMD process in developing grab marks on a pillow case to help identify if someone had been smothered. We decided to test the VMD process on a 100% cotton, old (used) white pillowcase that had been used...
Fingerprints developed on mobile phone and sim card
We regularly receive queries on whether VMD might be successful on certain exhibit types. Recently, we were asked whether a mobile phone would survive the VMD process (due to the levels of vacuum required for the process), and whether it would be worth trying VMD...
Visualisation of grab mark impressions on fabric
Visualisation of grab mark impressions on cotton/polyester fabric using silver/zinc Vacuum Metal Deposition – preliminary study Eleigh Brewer BSc Aim: To determine if the type of grab action can be differentiated by analysis of the grab mark impression. Background The...
Case study: £5 Polymer bank notes
An example of the benefits of Vacuum Metal Deposition (VMD) over the traditional methods of visualisation of fingerprints with particular reference to new polymer bank notes -Courtesy of Cumbria Constabulary, June 2017 Back story During one evening in 2017, enquiries...
New Research: Aged fingermarks from spent cartridges and bullet casings
Aim: To test the VMD technique for its ability to develop fingermarks from spent cartridges and bullet casings. Natural and sebaceous marks to be deposited onto bullet/cartridge by a single donor and the bullet/cartridge fired after a set time period (< 5mins, 1...
VMD Fingerprint developed on polystyrene cup
10th May 2017 – James Price During recent training with the New Zealand Police, one of their Forensic Scientist successfully developed a great print on a polystyrene cup using a gold/zinc + silver VMD process in their new VMD1260.
VMD Fingerprint development on leather
6th April 2017 – Ian Harris I recently used one of our VMD360 Latent Fingerprint Development systems to carry out an experiment in order to develop a mark on a sample of leather from a luggage label holder. I placed a natural mark on the leather and the next day...
Fingermarks developed on wood
We often ask customers to list a range of problematic substrates that they struggle to develop good fingermarks on. Wood always seems to be high on the list. Here’s an example of good ridge detail developed using a Silver/Zinc VMD process
£5 BoE Polymer Bank note
Here’s a quick update on our research project looking at the effectiveness of different VMD processes in developing fingerprints on the new BoE polymer £5. So far the Gold/Zinc vs Silver/Zinc results are pretty even. Stay tuned for the copper process results..!
Narcotic wraps
Narcotics and money bundles are usually wrapped up in flexible plastic food wrap such as Clingfilm or Saran wrap. This can be particularly difficult to recover prints from, however, once again we have seen much success when processing with VMD. Here are some examples...
VMD Fingermark development on waterproof jacket
VMD Fingermark development on waterproof jacket: VMD fingerprint development – waterproof jacket. The great thing about having our own on-site laboratory, is the ability to rapidly process specific items which enables us to advise customers which processes...
Fingerprints on Polymer banknotes
Polymer banknotes usually have very complicated backgrounds made up of different textures, colours and patterns. Even if you successfully develop fingermarks, visualising the prints can still be very difficult. Here’s one solution using a copper VMD process followed...
How to develop further ridge detail
When processing exhibits with VMD, occasionally you might find that you develop an outline of a print which contains limited ridge detail. This is when a 2nd or in this case a 3rd metal evaporation is worth a try to fill in the missing gaps! Here’s a great example of...