Forensic Criminology by Andy Williams

Author:Andy Williams [Williams, Andy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Social Science, Criminology
ISBN: 9781136233982
Google: 0gocBQAAQBAJ
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2014-09-02T03:18:22+00:00

Figure 7.1 Police strength 1979–20121

Centralisation and the development of the modern forensic scientist

There are two primary reasons why the identification of microscopic material and the information contained within such material became the core business of forensic science: structural changes taking place from central government, and the advent of the forensic scientist. The economic, business and social expansion from the late 1940s until the early 1960s stimulated growth and development in science. The most obvious forensic discovery of this age was, of course, the discovery by Crick and Watson of the double-helix DNA structure in 1953 (Watson and Crick, 1953); although the implications and relevance of this to forensic criminology and criminal investigations would not be realised for another 32 years. Other major advancements in gas and liquid chromatography methods also strengthened the position of science during the same period, brought on, largely because of the developments in the tools and machines used to undertake such analyses. Scientific and technological inventions and developments, therefore, ‘are fusions of an intellectual past with a socioeconomic, functional future’ (Basalla, 1999:113); and is not only that such inventions are shaped to satisfy ‘some human want or need’ (Schmookler, 1966, cited in Basalla, 1999:113).

This potent mix of economic, social, political and technological development saw the move towards central leadership in the area of criminal investigations and its use of scientific analysis (Morris, 2007:27–31). A review of some of the structural developments after the Second World War illustrates how they fuelled the rapid expansion of the role of science in criminal investigations, marking the beginnings of what we today call forensic science. If we take a snapshot look within the period Morris called central leadership (1933–1980) (ibid.:27–31), we find a broad range of developmental activities within science and detective work and a more general reorganisation of the police that brought about the structural conditions for the establishment of forensic science within the area of police investigations. Table 7.1 outlines some of these developments, although this list is not exhaustive.

There are many influential figures that have played a role in developing modern forensic science in the context of policing. Ambage (1987:17) suggests that, in the UK, the development of scientific methods of detection and their integration into the structure of the police was initially imposed from above, planned and implemented from central government and was largely a result of the activities of Arthur Dixon (later to become Sir). Dixon was ‘Principal Assistant Under Secretary of State and head of the Police Department at the Home Office from 1919 to 1941’ (ibid.:17); and it can be argued that his political ‘moral entrepreneurial activities’ were the main force behind modern forensic science and its links with policing. Dixon had a clear vision: to develop detective training; to make training a structured part of a police officer’s career development; and to develop and implement the integration of forensic services into the police. He was a strong believer in the uses, nay necessity, of scientific methods for crime detection and spent a

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