Preface

I am pleased to introduce Challenges in Detection Approaches for Forensic Science as part of the Royal Society of Chemistry Detection Science Series. This presents a comprehensive and critical assessment of the diverse range of detection methods utilised within forensic science analysis and the challenges encountered by forensic scientists. A review of the current developments underway to address these unique challenges within a legislative framework is also covered. In this contribution, Conlan and Theakstone explore the detection strategies for traditional illicit drugs. Brown and Dennany provide a comprehensive and critical discussion around the state-of-the-art approaches for new psychoactive substances and alternative drugs particularly within on-scene detection. They point to the excellent progress made to date, and the challenges remaining. Hamnett and co-authors explore the challenges when analysing and interpreting toxicological samples for this complex field ranging from death investigations, human performance and family law cases to workplace drug testing and wastewater testing. A key area within forensic science is the analysis of fingerprints and de Puit discusses the current challenges within this field alongside the many novel approaches to resolve them in the 20th century. DNA analysis is introduced and discussed by Vennemann with considerations for the advancements in technology, and the unseen issues these have brought with them, and an overview for the direction of this key piece of forensic evidence is also provided. Johnson explores the difficulties often encountered at fire and explosion crime scenes and the innovations being made to facilitate more robust analysis of these scenes. Following on from this, Houck examines the interpretative challenges faced by forensic scientists and how fundamental factors from crime scene to the laboratory can affect that interpretation. Finally, Zadora and Martyna consider the complex approaches for the evaluation of evidence using hybrid likelihood ratio models and how this can be utilised to help standardise evaluation of forensic evidence.

Lynn Dennany