The Forensic Science Service is launching the UK’s first online footwear coding and detection management system.
Footwear Intelligence Technology (FIT) is designed to help police increase crime detection rates by quickly identifying footwear marks left at crime scenes and linking these to other crimes and suspects.
The online system is updated daily and is the most comprehensive crime-scene related collection of footwear patterns in the UK. It contains thousands of footwear patterns including sole and upper shoe images, brand logos and examples of each type of footwear.
Footwear marks are the second most common evidence type left at crime scenes and the new technology will give police immediate information on what make and model of shoe has left the crime scene mark in question. It can also help them link crime scenes to potential suspects, searching for links at local and national level.
Jon Goodyear, national footwear intelligence manager for the Forensic Science Service said: “The FSS leads the way in new forensic technology, and this is about using the latest software and expertise to provide intelligence to police quickly and accurately. This will help police identify and apprehend offenders, and ultimately solve crimes, more quickly.”
The new system is being piloted by six forces in Wales and the North of England, and will be available to all forces from March.
The FSS already provides a range of other footwear services for police, including training and awareness for Scene of Crime Officers, to help increase recovery rates of footwear marks from scenes. It is the only provider to provide so-called Cinderella analysis, which can show who the regular wearer of a shoe is through information such as the angle of footfall and weight distribution.
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