Trace Evidence in Serious Crime Investigation
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Non-human trace evidence
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Identification of animal hairs can provide useful evidence in human crime investigation. Wildife DNA Servies provides forensic genetic analysis of non-human hair samples to assist in criminal investigations involving unusual evidence types. Clients include LGC Forensics and several Police Constabularies.
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Animal Persecution
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Forensic DNA investigation of organized illegal dog fighting
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WDNAS were commissioned to identify the species of evidence items recovered from dog-fighting pits. This work was later enhanced to identify individual dogs present at fighting pits. The work helped secure several prosecutions and custodial sentences. |
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Badger persecution cases
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Badger baiting, or the hunting of badgers with dogs, persists in the UK, despite being outlawed. Genetic identification of single hairs and bloodstains has provided evidence to several successful prosecutions.
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DNA profile development
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This project, funded by the RSPCA and in collaboration with the University of Sheffield, developed a microsatellite DNA profiling system to allow evidence items to be linked to a specific badger. This significantly enhances the tools available for prosecutions against suspected badger baiters.
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Illegal Trade
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Development of traceability tools to detect illegal fishing in Europe
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Wildlife DNA Services is a partner on a current FP7 project that aims to develop forensic genetic methods for identifying the geographic origin of fish and allow catches to be traced through the food supply chain.
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Forensic identification of shahtoosh shawls
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Shahtoosh is made from the skins of the Chiru, or Tibetan antelope, an endangered species. International trade in shahtoosh is banned but illegal trade persists due to the high value and luxurious qualities of the material. Wildlife DNA Services has undertaken genetic analysis of individual hairs from suspected shawls seized at Heathrow to identify the species of origin, on behalf of HMRC. |
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Investigating laundering of wild birds
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DNA profiling is routinely used to verify bird of prey family groups, ensuring the accuracy of breeding records and identifying illegal acitivity
DNA profile development
The aim of this three year DEFRA-funded project was to develop DNA profiling systems for the individual identification of Golden Eagles, Goshawks, Merlins, Peregrine falcons, Gyr falcons and Saker falcons. The results are being used to allow closer control of the trade in birds of prey.
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Forensic identification of illegal wild meat entering the UK
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Bushmeat, or non-domesticated livestock trade, is lucrative in both Africa and Europe and may pose a threat to species survival and human health. In this innovative project, unidentified meat products entering the UK were tested ‘airside’ and the source species determined using DNA techniques. |
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Immunological detection of bear products in Traditional Asian Medicines.
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This project developed an immunological assay for the detection of illegally traded bear products in South-East Asia. The assay will be incorporated into a field-based testing kit to allow on-the-spot detection of bear products such as gall bladders and bile capsules.
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Forensic identification of dried bloodstains in a possible deer poaching case.
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WDNAS were asked to examine evidence items collected from a suspected deer poaching prosecution case. The bloodstains were identified to species using DNA techniques.
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Forensic recovery of DNA from dried snake venom.
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This commission demonstrated for the first time the successful extraction of DNA from dried snake venom. This approach offers a new and potentially straightforward method for accurate species identification from wild venomous snakes and for verifying the species type present in commercially available snake venoms. |
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