1 What is forensic science?

Forensic science is often described as the use of science in the resolution of a legal dispute. A better way of thinking about forensic science is that it is a case-based endeavour which brings a scientific and research-based approach to study traces of a past activity, such as the presence of a person and their actions. This is undertaken through the detection, recognition, recovery, comparison, interpretation, evaluation and communication of the meaning of these traces to understand events of public interest (a crime or other security incidents).

There are seven principles underpinning forensic science:

1. Activity and the presence of individuals and objects that can produce traces that provide information.
2. Scene investigation is a scientific and diagnostic activity which requires scientific expertise.
3. Is case based and reliant of scientific knowledge, investigative methodology and logical reasoning.
4. Is an assessment of findings in context and time.
5. Includes understanding uncertainties.
6. Has multi-dimensional purposes and contributions.
7. Findings acquire meaning when used in context.