Government Laboratory

Forensic Science Division

Chemical Sciences Section

The Chemical Sciences Section deals with a wide variety of cases, with particular emphasis on offences against the person and against property. The work of the section is broadly divided into three categories:

• Trace Evidence Examination;
• Miscellaneous Chemical Investigation;
• Fire Investigation.

In addition to laboratory work, the professional staff of the section are also responsible for attending fire scenes where the cause is thought to be suspicious.

While the miscellaneous chemical and liquor analysis work areas involve mainly straightforward analytical work, trace evidence examination is often painstaking and labour intensive. This area of work includes the examination of such trace materials as textile fibres, glass, paint and soil, together with the examination of impression marks made by tools and shoe soles. Although costly in terms of manpower and working time, trace evidence frequently plays a major part in the evidence produced in major crime investigations, justifying the input and commitment apportioned to it.

Key Personnel

The professional staff in the section are as follows:

Key Instruments

Key instruments in the section :

• Automatic thermal desorption - gas chromatograph - mass spectrometer
• Fourier transform infrared – microscope
• GRIM3 Glass refractive index measurement system
• Scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive detector

Targets and Key Indicators

Key Performance Measures Relating to the Forensic Science Services

Targets

Targets are defined as the number of working days required to complete 80% of cases

Key Indicators

Key indicators are the number of cases completed

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