'CSI house' for forensic students

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/bristol/7878255.stm

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Forensic science students will be able to practise their skills at a crime scene investigation house at the University of the West of England.

Six rooms at the 19th Century Upper Lodge on the Glenside Campus have been adapted to stage a variety of simulated scenes like those seen in US drama CSI.

UWE has worked with Avon and Somerset Police to set up the house in Bristol.

The force will be the first of the South West Police Forces to use the training resource.

Variety of crimes

"We can simulate the modus operandi and physical evidence that might be left behind by criminals committing various types of crimes from burglary and murder to child abduction and cannabis farming to name a few," said Fritjof Körber, Principal Lecturer in Forensic Science at UWE.

"It is exciting that we can now devise complex scenarios, where the examination of each room contributes to solving a jigsaw puzzle of clues.

"The adaptations to the house include the installation of Perspex wall coverings so that we can create blood patterns, and removable floor tiles to simulate spillage or burn damage in an arson case," he said.

Every room has CCTV and two-way voice communication, as well as a briefing room that seats about 15 people so that the briefings can be held without the risk of contaminating the scene.

There is also a control room that enables the lecturers to watch teams examining the scenes and to record their efforts.