About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

48 Police J. 219 (1975)
Glove Print Identification - A New Technique

handle is hein.journals/policejl48 and id is 227 raw text is: A POLICE JOURNAL EXCLUSIVE COMMANDER GERALD LAMBOURNE Fingerprint Department, New Scotland Yard GLOVE PRINT IDENTIFICATION A New Technique INTRODUCTION The majority of people who wear gloves do so to afford them- selves a measure of protection. Protection from cold or heat- protection from dirt and disease-protection from chemicals or protection for whatever is to be handled by them be it a patient or a precious metal surface-protection from detection when commit- ting crime. It is the last group which prompted research into glove prints. There is nothing more frustrating for a fingerprint officer than to examine a crime scene where he finds glove marks and then has to tell the investigating officer that he cannot help because the criminal was wearing gloves. The materials used to produce the various types of gloves worn in all walks of life are as varied as their uses. From man's natural cover skin, to natural fibres-man-made fibres, rubber, plastics or indeed combinations of some of them. From the constant handling of objects such as door knobs, banisters, shop doors, rails on buses on which people have deposi- ted large quantities of perspiration a glove soon becomes impregna- ted with grease and dirt. Even during the putting on and the re- moval of a glove a layer of perspiration is placed on the glove. Consequently when a glove comes into contact with a smooth hard surface a layer of this grease is sometimes deposited in much the same way as an unprotected finger will leave a fingerprint. As with fingerprints the grease deposit from the glove can be made visible by the skilful application of a fingerprint search powder. The layer of grease left by the glove is, by its mere nature, not as strong and dense as a fingerprint but nevertheless it is detectable, recordable and in certain cases can be as reliable as a fingerprint when it comes to identification. Each glove can be individualized in many ways. The material it was made from; the way it was put together, i.e., machine stitched, hand stitched, knitted, moulded; embossing; perforations; the creases and contours formed when worn constantly; the acci- dental damage caused by the wearer, i.e., cuts, abrasions and burns. Some or all of this data can be revealed in a glove impression left at a scene of crime. 219 July 1975

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most