'A cigarette or love for Maccies' can lead CSI to burglars

18 hours ago

Annie KnowlsonNorth West

Crime Scene Investigator, Amber Boswell, gathers forensic evidence to help catch criminals

BBC Woman in a police uniform standing in front of a door holding a clear sheet with a green arrow on it. — Crime Scene Investigator, Amber Boswell, gathers forensic evidence to help catch criminals

On a cloudy morning, Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) Amber Boswell is searching for clues following a burglary.

The 26-year-old is part of a team from Greater Manchester Police who collect forensic evidence, which is used to bring criminals to court - and she deals with a range of crimes, from vehicle theft to murder.

She looks for fingerprints and footprints from crime scenes and extracts marks from tools used by burglars, which can later help identify repeat offenders.

Boswell said recovering a stolen car could lead to vital evidence.

"The gloves are off, they might have a cigarette, they love a Maccies drive through," she said.

"Which gives us a lot more forensic potential."

In July 2021, GMP increased their use of CSIs by launching Operation Castle - pledging to send an officer to every reported domestic burglary. The force said this effort is seeing continued successes in the reduction of burglaries.

'Violation of privacy'

BBC North West Tonight joined Boswell, as she worked on a call-out to a family home in northern Manchester.

The family car was stolen after four offenders broke into their home and found the keys.

Boswell said whenever she visits a burgled residential property she begins her work by checking through bins, looking around the outside of the house and speaking to the family affected.

"It's a massive violation of privacy," she explained.

"We like to think that we're making a massive difference in helping people move on from being a victim of crime and providing some support."

When a tool has been used to break in, Boswell makes a cast to record the markings, which can be used to gather evidence

A door having a substance squeezed onto it using a forensic tool — When a tool has been used to break in, Boswell makes a cast to record the markings, which can be used to gather evidence

Boswell said the tool cast kit is "like a compound", which solidifies when removed.

"You place it over the tool mark - or any other area you want to make a copy of - and wait for it to set," she said.

"When you peel it off you have a copy underneath."

These casts will then be kept for future reference and can be used to link together cases of repeat offenders

A tool cast being held up by a person in a green glove. — These casts will then be kept for future reference and can be used to link together cases of repeat offenders

"We keep them in the hopes that the tool will be recovered at some point soon," Boswell added.

"Whether that be in a vehicle, left behind at a burglary or just found on someone's person when they get arrested - and again that gives us a wealth of forensic potential."

'Wholesale change'

Five years after Operation Castle began, statistics in Greater Manchester - in line with national trends - show residential burglaries are decreasing, with an overall decrease of 33% since May 2021, according to GMP.

"Since its creation in Greater Manchester, Operation Castle continues to see successes," Det Supt Paul Rollinson, Operation Castle lead, said.

"If we go back five years the level of service we were providing to victims of burglary wasn't where we expected it to be.

"We had a wholesale change in relation to our approach, looking at getting there quickly, once we get there it's about doing a good job and arresting the offenders as quickly as possible."

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