Solutions Archives | Foster+Freeman https://fosterfreeman.com/category/solutions/ Improving the Quality of Forensic Evidence Thu, 02 Oct 2025 16:35:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://fosterfreeman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/cropped-Site-Icon-32x32.png Solutions Archives | Foster+Freeman https://fosterfreeman.com/category/solutions/ 32 32 Wildlife Forensic Solutions https://fosterfreeman.com/wildlife-forensic-solutions/ Tue, 15 Oct 2024 14:14:21 +0000 https://fosterfreeman.com/fingerprints-copy/ Join us as we aim to shine a light on the problems facing forensic professionals in wildlife contexts and explore the ways in which our innovative product range can provide solutions.

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Wildlife Forensic Solutions

In 2023, Interpol stated that “illegal wildlife trade has become one of the world’s largest criminal activities”. They estimated that the black market for illegal wildlife products worth up to 20 billion USD per year, poaching and the illegal wildlife trade has become a major area of activity for organized crime groups and is increasingly linked with armed violence, corruption and other forms of organized crime.

So why don’t we hear more about wildlife forensics? Join us as we aim to shine a light on the problems facing forensic professionals in wildlife contexts and explore the ways in which our innovative product range can provide solutions.

Introduction

Wildlife Forensics is a specialized branch of forensic science that deals with crimes involving animals, from illegal poaching and trafficking to habitat destruction. Its primary goal is to identify, analyze, and interpret evidence related to wildlife crimes, supporting law enforcement agencies, conservationists, and researchers in their efforts to protect endangered species and ecosystems.

Every country faces its own unique variation of illegal hunting that needs to be investigated, prosecuted, and ultimately discouraged. Here in the UK, the National Wildlife Crime Unit has been established to provide operational support to law enforcement and to act as a focal point for wildlife, crime, intelligence, and investigation in the UK. The NWCU website currently lists the following as common wildlife crime offenses here in the United Kingdom hare coursing deer and fish poaching badger persecution including baiting, snaring, shooting and disturbance of assets and bat persecution.

The trade-in ivory, tortoises, rhino horn and other protected species, including caviar, traditional Chinese medicines and even orchids, egg theft and collection and bird of prey persecution through poisoning, trapping, shooting, disturbance of the nest and theft of chicks. The last two items on the list egg theft and bird of prey persecution are growing problems here in the UK, and despite the RSPB highlighting a big increase in cases, very few arrests or prosecutions are taking place.

Research into latent mark detections on difficult surfaces relevant to wildlife crime includes human and animal skins, foodstuffs, fabrics and animals. Cyanoacrylate Fuming and powdering techniques have been reported as potential enhancement techniques for deer antlers, elephant tusks and live reptiles. The use of cyanoacrylate and fluorescent powders is a good example of using existing, commonplace forensic tools and techniques to investigate wildlife crimes.

Abertay University academic Helen McMorris

Not Just Animals…

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service employs the use of the world’s only full-service mobile forensic laboratory specialising in wildlife forensics. It supports the work of enforcement agents and inspectors who protect threatened and endangered species; who prosecute illegal hunting, poaching, and smuggling; and who investigate multi-billion dollar international black-market criminal enterprises trading in hides, skins, eggs, organs, and other wildlife specimens.

Wildlife crime however, is not just about animals, poaching and hunting, it is also about the illegal logging and timber trade, worth an estimated $51–$152 billion annually, the illegal timber industry simultaneously threatens the world’s forests and steals from local communities that rely on forests for food, health, and wealth. In addition to destroying biodiversity and contributing significant greenhouse gas emissions, illegal logging has devastating economic and social impacts in forest countries. From the violence and human rights abuses suffered by local forest communities to billions of dollars in much-needed tax revenue lost each year, these crimes are enabled by international markets and the trade in illegal timber.

Use of ALS in Wildlife Crime

The use of a forensic light source in the detection of ivory or bone fragments plays a pivotal role in the ongoing battle against wildlife crime, especially the illegal trade in endangered species. Ivory, prized for its aesthetic appeal and historical significance, is often trafficked in various forms, including carved artefacts, trinkets, and ornamental items. Forensic light sources, equipped with specific wavelengths, can unveil intricate details on ivory or bone surfaces that might otherwise remain concealed.

The natural fluorescence emitted by these materials under such illumination aids in distinguishing between authentic ivory and synthetic alternatives. This capability is crucial, given that counterfeit ivory, often made from resins, is prevalent in the market. By leveraging forensic light sources, law enforcement can uncover hidden details, assess the authenticity of seized items, and build stronger cases against traffickers, contributing significantly to the enforcement of wildlife protection laws and the conservation of endangered species.

The use of forensic alternate light sources is incredibly important when trying to examine a crime scene or evidence in a setting of wildlife crime. Especially an alternate light source such as the Crime-lite AUTO, is used in the field to capture a full multispectral snapshot of the crime scene and perform visible infrared examinations of any evidence with information being quickly fed back to a central office or laboratory.

Video footage is also possible using the crime light auto at one time. The multispectral imaging achieved by the crime lab auto was only possible using a large lab-based piece of equipment such as a VSC.

View Forensic Light Sources

Fraudulent Documentation

The VSC is employed worldwide in multiple different scenarios, environments, and applications. However, the most popular application for the VSC is the inspection and interrogation of questioned documents.

The VSC can perform a multi-spectral illumination examination of a questioned document to reveal its hidden details and uncover the evidence. It can see through the layers of a document to reveal how it was tampered with. It can differentiate between original and copied signatures and writing.

The VSC is often used to examine documents for ink analysis; different inks fluoresce under varied light conditions based on their properties. Even inks from the same source have different properties; we can use the VSC workstations to analyse these inks and see when/if a document was tampered with.

Fraudulent documents often go hand in hand with illicit wildlife trade, Fake papers are frequently produced, or genuine documents altered to disguise the authenticity, illegality, quantity, volume, origin or destination of Wildlife and wildlife products. This can also involve the removal, alteration, defacing or erasure of customs stamps or labels affixed to restricted animals and plants. In some countries, there are specific offences directly related to the use of fraudulent documents in the context of wildlife trafficking.

View VSC Questioned Document Workstations

Conclusions

In conclusion, the realm of wildlife crime is a complex and pervasive issue that extends far beyond the publicized poaching incidents of iconic species. The interconnected web of illegal activities, from the trafficking of ivory and endangered species to the illegal logging and timber trade, poses a serious threat to our planet’s biodiversity and ecosystems. As highlighted by Interpol, the illicit wildlife trade has grown to become one of the world’s largest criminal activities, with an estimated value of up to 20 billion USD annually.

Wildlife forensics emerges as a crucial tool in the fight against these crimes, addressing challenges specific to animal-related offences, including poaching, habitat destruction, and fraudulent documentation. The use of forensic light sources, such as the Crime-lite AUTO, plays a pivotal role in detecting bone fragments, ivory, and other critical evidence in the field. This technology enables law enforcement to capture multispectral snapshots of crime scenes, perform examinations, and quickly relay information back to central offices or laboratories.

Moreover, the significance of forensic tools extends beyond animals to the realm of documents. The Video Spectral Comparator (VSC) becomes an invaluable asset in uncovering fraudulent documents associated with wildlife trafficking. By employing multi-spectral illumination examinations, the VSC reveals hidden details, exposes tampering, and distinguishes between original and altered signatures. This capability is particularly crucial in the context of wildlife crime, where the production of fake papers and the alteration of genuine documents are common tactics to conceal the illegality of trafficking.

As we navigate the intricate web of wildlife crime, it is evident that a comprehensive approach, encompassing forensic science, international cooperation, and stringent law enforcement, is necessary to address the root causes and consequences of these activities. The research and technologies discussed here offer hope for a transformative impact on wildlife crime convictions, contributing to the global efforts to protect endangered species, preserve biodiversity, and combat organized criminal enterprises involved in this destructive trade.

Wildlife Forensic Products

Crime-lite® X

Advanced, Handheld, Multi-Spectral LED Light Source

A complete ALS kit in a single light source, the Crime-lite X enables the examiner to seamlessly switch between White, UV, Violet, Blue, Blue/Green, Green, Orange, Red, and Infrared LEDs, to perform a comprehensive multi-spectral examination of a crime scene.

Operated via a simple 3-button interface, the Crime-lite X provides new functionality never seen before in a forensic light source that will ensure that crime scene and laboratory examiners reveal the maximum amount of evidence in every examination.

Learn more >

Crime-lite X - A complete ALS kit in a single light source, the Crime-lite X enables the examiner to seamlessly switch between White, UV, Violet, Blue, Blue/Green, Green, Orange, Red, and Infrared LEDs, to perform a comprehensive multi-spectral examination of a crime scene.

Crime-lite® AUTO

Forensic imaging technology meets powerful multi-spectral illumination

A complete solution to the search, detection, and capture of evidence, the Crime-lite AUTO offers all this functionality of a box full of light sources, a camera, filters, and multiple pairs of goggles, in a single package.

Providing complete portability and ease of use for the operator, the Crime-lite AUTO is an essential tool for criminal investigators and first responders and includes all of the technology required to reveal evidence including body fluids (semen, saliva, urine, etc.); blood on dark fabrics; fingerprints; gunshot residues; and traces of physical evidence (glass, fibres, hairs, etc.).

Learn more >

Learn More: Webinar

WEBINAR

Wildlife Forensics

Wildlife forensics is a relatively new field of criminal investigation, which in many countries lags far behind other fields of forensic science in terms of budget and the availability of manpower, equipment and resources.
In this webinar, we focus on getting the most out of a limited range of equipment and using common forensic tools and instruments, occasionally in unexpected ways, to examine wildlife crimes.

Watch Now

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]]> Art and Cultural Heritage https://fosterfreeman.com/art-heritage/ Thu, 22 Jun 2023 13:21:28 +0000 https://fosterfreeman.com/brand-protection-copy/ Brand protection: foster+freeman are able to guarantee the consistent quality and performance of each and every product.

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Art and Cultural Heritage

Technology that is invaluable in the field of modern police forensics also has a major role to play in the world of art and heritage.

In museums, galleries and libraries worldwide, conservators and curators are increasingly turning to forensic-level tech as they seek to learn every possible detail about the artworks in their possession, hoping to uncover the secrets hidden within the layers beneath their celebrated surfaces.

  • Analyse Suspected Fakes and Counterfeits
  • Reveal Minute Differences in Materials and Quality
  • Visualise Underdrawings and Features Hidden Beneath Layers of Paint
  • Examine Fingerprints Left Behind in Paint, Clay, Ink etc.
  • Gain New Insight into the Methods and Processes Employed by Artists

Forensic Imaging Products

VSC®9000

Forensic Analysis of Manuscripts, Paintings, Documents, Canvases and more…

Our most advanced forensic document imaging workstation to date, the VSC9000 combines sophisticated optics with multi-wavelength illumination technology to provide a complete solution to the examination and interrogation of all questioned documents, manuscripts, drawings and paintings etc.

Learn more >

VSC Imaging in Action: Ackland Art Museum

Ackland Art Museum curator, Dana Cowen, and paper conservator, Grace White, use multispectral imaging to examine a rare Rembrandt drawing from the Museum’s Peck Collection the layers beneath their celebrated surfaces.

Video courtesy of the Ackland Art Museum

Crime-lite® AUTO

A Complete, Compact Solution for the examination of artworks

Providing full spectral UV-Vis-IR Imaging capabilities in a single compact device, the Crime-lite AUTO enables the examiner to easily move around objects, capturing images from different angles etc.

In art and conservatism, the AUTO device is capable of providing multi-spectral illumination (much like a VSC) albeit in a compact and easily transportable format. This enables the examiner, conservator, curator etc. to examine objects in-situ with the option to move around objects that may be too precious or impractical to return to a lab environment.

  • High sensitivity Vis-IR sensitive camera
  • Live video capture
  • Crystal clear imaging
  • Multi-spectral UV/Vis/IR examination

Learn more >

Crime-lite AUTO device

Crime-lite AUTO Examines Mount Athos

A team of experienced conservators selected the Crime-lite AUTO when embarking on a trip to uncover hidden details within the Byzantine artwork of Mount Athos.

Using a combination of UV, visible, and Infrared imaging, the team of experts were able to reveal features in the artworks that had remained hidden from view for hundreds of years.

Useful Papers, Publications & Resources

foster+freeman products are widely used by museums, art galleries, universities, and national libraries worldwide, many of whom use the technology to produce valuable research in their chosen fields. Click on the links on the left-hand side of the page for further details of recently published research applications.

VSC8000: multispectral imaging in the Queen’s university arts conservation lab

VSC8000: Non-invasive imaging of historical knotted-pile carpets

VSC5000: Harvard Art Museum, A Secret Madonna and Child

VSC8000: Technical Analysis of Harvard-Yenching Library’s Chʻwisŏng-to Manuscript

VSC: Multispectral Imaging at Duke University

VSC: Hidden Paint Layers in a Gulistan of Sa’di from the Freer Gallery of Art

VSC: Non-Destructive Pigment Identification

Crime-lite AUTO: Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE)

Crime-lite AUTO: Lab on the Road / Museum Jan Cunen

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]]> Document Authentication – Identity https://fosterfreeman.com/document-authentication-identity/ Wed, 13 Jul 2022 15:32:56 +0000 https://fosterfreeman.a2hosted.com/document-authentication-collectibles-copy/ foster+freeman develop a range of Questioned Document Authentication and Examination workstations. Our range is proven in use.

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Document Authentication Solutions:
Travel & Identity Documents


foster+freeman manufacture advanced solutions for use at all 3 lines of questioned document examination:

A first line examination may be described as the visual inspection of overt security features, which may be undertaken by a trained examiner using sight and touch alone.

Second line examination requires users of varying levels of expertise, using simple equipment, to be able to quickly and easily detect and authenticate semi-covert security features that cannot otherwise be discerned by the naked eye.

Third line examinations are conducted by QDE experts equipped with specialist equipment capable of revealing covert security features.


Identity Document Authentication Products

VSC®9000

Our Most Advanced QDE Workstation: Redefining the Limits of Optical Performance

Equipped with a high-performance optical and illumination system, VSC9000 enables the examiner to conduct multi-spectral examinations of documents in microscopic detail to authenticate legitimate documents, reveal sophisticated counterfeits and to identify evidence of tampering or manipulation with unparalleled accuracy.

Learn more >

VSC®900

Complete Solution for Hybrid Document Interrogations

The first in a new generation of hybrid VSC document examination systems, the VSC 900 provides examiners with a comprehensive suite of traditional and advanced tools for the interrogation and verification of passports, ID cards, visas, residence permits, and other questioned documents.

Learn more >

VSC® 90

An Evolution in Versatile Document Examination

Available as a standalone field-ready system for mobile deployment, or a lab-ready device, the VSC90 combines forensic-grade multispectral examination hardware with VSC STAC, a uniquely powerful forensic e-Chip data group extraction and interrogation toolset.

Learn more >

VSC PDi+ Perfect Digital Capture of Travel and Identity Documents
VSC®PDi+Perfect Digital Capture of Travel and Identity Documents  The VSC-PDi+ captures ultra-high-resolution images of documents under a selection of light sources, storing them together with biometric and embedded data to create a full digital record of the physical document.Examination-quality digital copies of travel and identity documents can be interrogated on-the-spot or shared across a secure network for remote examination by users of any connected VSC instrument.

VSC®PDi+

Perfect Digital Image Capture of Travel and Identity Documents

The VSC-PDi+ captures ultra-high-resolution images of documents under a selection of light sources, storing them together with biometric and embedded data to create a full digital record of the physical document.

Learn more >

The ESDA process was originally discovered by Foster + Freeman more than 35 years ago and resulted in the founding of the company.Used by police forces and document examiners worldwide, ESDA instruments remain the systems of choice for the chemical-free and completely non-destructive detection of indented writing.
The ESDA process was originally discovered by Foster + Freeman more than 35 years ago and resulted in the founding of the company.Used by police forces and document examiners worldwide, ESDA instruments remain the systems of choice for the chemical-free and completely non-destructive detection of indented writing.

ESDA® 2

The Industry Standard System for Detecting Indented Writing

The ESDA® 2 works by creating an electrostatic image of indented writing, which is then visualized by the application of charge-sensitive toners. The sensitive imaging process reacts to sites of microscopic damage to fibres at the surface of a document, which have been created by abrasive interaction with overlying surfaces during the act of handwriting.

  • Creation of permanent records
  • Repeatable without loss of information
  • Effective on old documents
  • A3-sized document bed
  • Original cascade development method
  • Improved toner pad development
  • Optional aerosol hood for ‘powder cloud’ development
  • Replaceable vacuum bed

Learn more >

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]]> Philately https://fosterfreeman.com/philately/ Fri, 17 Jun 2022 13:27:58 +0000 https://fosterfreeman.a2hosted.com/cbrne-copy/ Foster + Freeman offer a range of Forensic Technology for Chemical Biological Radiological & Nuclear Crime Scene Investigators.(CBRNE)

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Forensic Philately

Forensic Technology for the examination of postage stamps, letters, and items of philatelic interest

VSC document analysis instruments, designed for the forensic examination of security and travel documents, are ideally suited to the study of postage stamps and associated postal history items.

Using high magnification, multi-spectral imaging and other techniques, a philatelist may detect the fraudulent manipulation of material produced to deceive the unwary as well as flaws and irregularities produced by the printing process, revealing e.g. differences in ink formulations, perforations, embossing and overprints.

“Equipped with VSC instruments, philatelists are able to access ever more advanced forensic analysis tools to reveal more hidden detail than ever before.”

Philately Solutions

Advanced Forensic Solutions for philatelic examinations

VSC®9000

Our Most Advanced QDE Workstation: Redefining the Limits of Optical Performance

Equipped with a high-performance optical and illumination system, VSC9000 enables the examiner to conduct multi-spectral examinations of documents in microscopic detail to authenticate legitimate documents, reveal sophisticated counterfeits and to identify evidence of tampering or manipulation with unparalleled accuracy.

Learn more >

VSC® PDi+

Ultra-high resolution of documents under examination

Captures ultra-high-resolution images of stamps, letters and postage marks under a selection of light sources to create a full digital record of the physical document.

Examining the ‘digital document’, experts can observe the item under multiple illumination conditions, whilst zooming in or out, revealing
hidden features with no loss of detail.

  • Flawless 45MP imaging
  • Create perfect digital copies of physical documents
  • Identify fakes and counterfeits
  • Forensic-level examination, simply operated
  • UV, Visible and Infrared imaging

Learn more >

Foster + Freeman VSC PDI+
VSC-PDi+ forensic document examination device

Advanced Forensic Solutions
for Philatelic Examinations

Detect Counterfeits and Evidence of Tampering

Using high-precision imaging technology in combination with dedicated examination tools

Non-Destructive Examination of Valuable Artefacts

Non-destructive VSC examination makes it possible to establish the authenticity of an item, detect changes that have been made and see beneath the surface of an artefact revealing its history.

Forensic-Level Imaging and Examination

VSC technology has wide-ranging applications outside of the forensic lab including the examination, validation and authentication of high-value collectibles including stamps, trading cards, signatures and memorabilia.

8000HS examines stamps under IR philately
8000HS examines stamps under IR philately
VSC stamp defect
Using VSC technology to observe a physical defect
Stamp defect 3D
3D imaging may reveal near invisible features
stamp color analysis
Using a microspectrometer for stamp color analysis
Stamp high magnification
Observation and measurement of stamps under high magnification
VSC One Cent Magenta
VSC examination of the One Cent Magenta
Charizard Pokemon Card.
Japanese trading card undergoes VSC examination

Webinar

Authentication and Grading of Stamps, Cards and Collectables

foster+freeman VSC technology has wide-ranging applications outside of the forensic lab.

In this webinar, we look at how experts and collectors of stamps, trading cards, signatures and memorabilia are using VSCs to validate and authenticate their high-value collectibles.

Run time: 1-hour

View On-Demand

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]]> Brand Protection https://fosterfreeman.com/brand-protection/ Fri, 22 Apr 2022 09:08:30 +0000 https://fosterfreeman.a2hosted.com/museums-copy/ Brand protection: foster+freeman are able to guarantee the consistent quality and performance of each and every product.

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Brand Protection

State-of-the-art forensic workstations, the VSC® range of systems combine sophisticated imaging and illumination technology with a clear and efficient software interface, to provide a complete solution to the examination of potentially counterfeit goods and packaging.

  • Analyse Suspected Fakes and Counterfeits
  • Reveal Minute Differences in Materials and Quality
  • Examine & Authenticate Secure Packaging
  • Interrogate Pharmaceutical Packaging

Brand Protection Products

VSC® 8000/HS

For the Expert Analysis of Questioned Documents

Our most advanced QDE workstation to date, the VSC8000/HS combines sophisticated digital imaging and multi-wavelength illumination technology with a clear and efficient software interface, to provide a complete solution to the examination of all questioned documents.

  • High-Resolution 12MP camera
  • Super Resolution Imaging (SRI) up to 127MP  
  • 250x magnification
  • 15 Modes of advanced UV-Vis-IR imaging
  • 3D document imaging
  • Integrated microspectrometer 
  • Motorized XY document positioning stage
  • Calibration and self-test diagnostic tools

Learn more >

VSC®8000/HS - The essential document examination system
VSC®8000/HS – The essential document examination system
vsc800 white
vsc800 white

VSC® 800

Compact Workstation for Forensic Examination

A compact and highly capable document imaging system, the new VSC®800 provides document examiners with extensive facilities for the verification of passports, visas and ID cards, and for the general examination of suspect or questioned documents.

Smaller than the flagship VSC®8000, the VSC®800 features similar high quality optics, powerful LED illumination, including pulsed UV and anti-Stokes IR for the examination of 3rd level document security features, and is an ideal workstation for professional QD examiners.

Learn more >

VSC® 80/FS

A Complete, Compact Solution for Questioned Document Examination

An ideal instrument for the analysis and comparison of handwriting, signatures, photocopied and printed documents, banknotes, cheques and secure documents including passports, ID cards, driving licenses, and breeder documents, the VSC80/FS provides a comprehensive suite of examination facilities within a compact yet powerful workstation.

  • High sensitivity Vis-IR sensitive camera
  • Full HD live video output
  • Crystal clear imaging up to x100 magnification
  • Multispectral UV/Vis/IR examination
  • Automated examinations
  • Removeable Transmitted Light Base
  • Expanded field of view (FOV)

Learn more >

VSC80 QDE Workstation
VSC80 QDE Workstation

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]]> Laboratory Screening https://fosterfreeman.com/laboratory-screening/ Fri, 22 Apr 2022 08:48:11 +0000 https://fosterfreeman.a2hosted.com/cbrne-copy/ Foster + Freeman offer a range of tools to detect and identify a range of pharmaceuticals and other drugs.

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Laboratory Screening Solutions

foster+freeman manufacture a selection of UV-Vis-IR multi-wavelength laboratory light sources for the rapid screening of evidence. While ‘traditional’ light sources such as the Crime-lite ML2 have applications including the visible detection and ‘mark-up’ of evidence, new and advanced technologies including the Crime-lite MLD and ML PRO 2 offer new functionality designed to simplify and streamline the process of evidence screening and triage.

Laboratory Screening Products

Crime-lite® ML PRO 2

Rapid Forensic Screening and Imaging to Meet the Demands of Busy Forensic Laboratories

A simple and intuitive imaging solution, the Crime-lite ML PRO 2 is a semi-automated evidence screening tool built to meet the demands of busy forensic laboratories tasked with processing a broad variety of evidence types.

Fundamentally designed around biological evidence detection, the high specifications of the ML PRO 2 are ideal for the examination of all common forensic traces.

Learn more >

Crime-lite® AUTO

Detect more evidence using the all-in-one forensic search tool

Combining advanced forensic imaging technology with high-intensity multi-spectral illumination, the Crime-lite AUTO is a complete solution to the search, detection, and capture of evidence in the laboratory or at the crime scene.

Operated via a simple touchscreen interface, with intelligent filter selection, the Crime-lite AUTO can reveal evidence
including fingermarks, body fluids (semen, saliva, and urine, etc.); blood on dark fabrics; fingerprints; gunshot residues; and traces of physical evidence (glass, fibres, hairs, etc.)

  • A complete, compact forensic search tool
  • All-in-one integrated lights, camera and filters
  • Real-time visible, fluorescent, and IR examinations
  • Search Beyond the Visible to detect every trace
  • Optional laboratory docking system

Learn more >

Crime-lite®ML2 - Bench-top magnifier with multi-wavelength illumination optimized for laboratory examinations.
Crime-lite®ML2 – Bench-top magnifier with multi-wavelength illumination optimized for laboratory examinations.

Crime-lite® ML2

Bench top magnifier with multi-wavelength illumination

The Crime-lite ML2 forensic light source combines the versatility of multi-wavelength, high-intensity LED illumination with wide area bi-ocular magnification. An ideal system for the examination and ‘marking up’ of large items of evidence in the laboratory.

  • 8 x high-efficiency White LEDs
  • Your choice of additional narrowband LED modules
  • large 3.5 dioptre magnifying lens
  • Optimised for the laboratory examination of large items
  • Heavy duty bench or wall mounted arm
  • Three-axis adjustable head mount
  • Air filter to maintain a clean environment
  • 100-240V AC power input
  • Power saving mode
  • Optional Vis/IR Camera Module

Learn more >

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]]> Questioned Document Examination Solutions https://fosterfreeman.com/questioned-document-examination-solutions/ Fri, 11 Mar 2022 16:32:35 +0000 https://fosterfreeman.a2hosted.com/document-authentication-copy/ Foster+freeman have been recognized as world leaders in questioned document examination. Our VSC systems can be found working worldwide.

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Questioned Document Examination Solutions

Recognised leaders in the field of questioned document examination foster+freeman systems can be found in airports, border crossings, immigration controls, banks and forensic laboratories worldwide.

  • Passports & Identity Documents
  • Banknotes, Currency & Cheques
  • Official Letters & Breeder Documents
  • Works of Art & Valuable Artefacts

QDE Products

VSC®9000

Our Most Advanced QDE Workstation: Redefining the Limits of Optical Performance

Equipped with a high-performance optical and illumination system, VSC9000 enables the examiner to conduct multi-spectral examinations of documents in microscopic detail to authenticate legitimate documents, reveal sophisticated counterfeits and to identify evidence of tampering or manipulation with unparalleled accuracy.

Learn more >

VSC®900

Complete Solution for Hybrid Document Interrogations

The first in a new generation of hybrid VSC document examination systems, the VSC 900 provides examiners with a comprehensive suite of traditional and advanced tools for the interrogation and verification of passports, ID cards, visas, residence permits, and other questioned documents.

Learn more >

VSC® 90

An Evolution in Versatile Document Examination

Available as a standalone field-ready system for mobile deployment, or a lab-ready device, the VSC90 combines forensic-grade multispectral examination hardware with VSC STAC, a uniquely powerful forensic e-Chip data group extraction and interrogation toolset.

Learn more >

ESDA® 2

The Industry Standard System for Detecting Indented Writing

The ESDA® 2 works by creating an electrostatic image of indented writing, which is then visualized by the application of charge-sensitive toners. The sensitive imaging process reacts to sites of microscopic damage to fibres at the surface of a document, which have been created by abrasive interaction with overlying surfaces during the act of handwriting.

  • Creation of permanent records
  • Repeatable without loss of information
  • Effective on old documents
  • A3-sized document bed
  • Original cascade development method
  • Improved toner pad development
  • Optional aerosol hood for ‘powder cloud’ development
  • Replaceable vacuum bed

Learn more >

The ESDA process was originally discovered by Foster + Freeman more than 35 years ago and resulted in the founding of the company.Used by police forces and document examiners worldwide, ESDA instruments remain the systems of choice for the chemical-free and completely non-destructive detection of indented writing.
The ESDA process was originally discovered by Foster + Freeman more than 35 years ago and resulted in the founding of the company.Used by police forces and document examiners worldwide, ESDA instruments remain the systems of choice for the chemical-free and completely non-destructive detection of indented writing.

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]]> Security Printing https://fosterfreeman.com/security-printing/ Fri, 11 Mar 2022 16:28:08 +0000 https://fosterfreeman.a2hosted.com/tscm-copy/ Security Printing Solutions VSC Workstations are widely used by Security Printers, National Mints, and Document Security Feature manufacturers seeking to test, quality check, and interrogate the products they manufacture. Security...

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Security Printing Solutions

VSC Workstations are widely used by Security Printers, National Mints, and Document Security Feature manufacturers seeking to test, quality check, and interrogate the products they manufacture.

  • DOVDs, Holograms, and Kinegrams
  • UV activated Fluorescent Features and Fibres
  • Machine Readable Zones (MRZ)
  • Embedded data including Barcodes, IPI and Latent Images
  • Print Features including Intaglio, Watermarks, Anti-Stokes Inks, Embossing
  • Paper quality, by assessing the level of paper fluorescence
  • Print quality, using high magnification up to x43 (approximate, on-screen)

Security Printing Products

VSC®9000

Our Most Advanced QDE Workstation: Redefining the Limits of Optical Performance

Equipped with a high-performance optical and illumination system, VSC9000 enables the examiner to conduct multi-spectral examinations of documents in microscopic detail to authenticate legitimate documents, reveal sophisticated counterfeits and to identify evidence of tampering or manipulation with unparalleled accuracy.

Learn more >

VSC®900

Complete Solution for Hybrid Document Interrogations

The first in a new generation of hybrid VSC document examination systems, the VSC 900 provides examiners with a comprehensive suite of traditional and advanced tools for the interrogation and verification of printed documents.

Learn more >

VSC PDi+ Perfect Digital Capture of Travel and Identity Documents
VSC PDi+, Perfect Digital Capture of Travel and Identity Documents 

VSC® PDi+

Perfect Digital Image Capture of Security Documents

The VSC PDi+ captures ultra-high-resolution images of documents under a selection of light sources, storing them together with biometric and embedded data to create a full digital record of the physical document.

  • 45MP precision camera
  • Full-page passport imaging
  • Multi-spectral examination (UV, Vis, IR)
  • Positionable LED array for hologram imaging
  • Visible band filter and IR Viewing filter
  • Integral eChip RFID reader

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]]> TSCM https://fosterfreeman.com/tscm/ Fri, 11 Mar 2022 16:22:54 +0000 https://fosterfreeman.a2hosted.com/cbrne-copy/ Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM). We offer a range of solutions to aid forensic examiners in uncovering surveillance equipment.

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TSCM Solutions

Our high-intensity forensic light sources are the ideal examination tools for Technical Surveillance CounterMeasure surveys and for the detection of hidden technical surveillance devices/hazards including bugs, microphones and cameras.

TSCM Products

Crime-lite® AUTO

Detect more evidence using the all-in-one forensic search tool

Combining advanced forensic imaging technology with high-intensity multi-spectral illumination, the Crime-lite AUTO is a complete solution to the search, detection, and capture of evidence.

Operated via a simple touchscreen interface, with intelligent filter selection, the Crime-lite AUTO can reveal evidence
including fingermarks, body fluids (semen, saliva, and urine, etc.); blood on dark fabrics; fingerprints; gunshot residues; and traces of physical evidence (glass, fibres, hairs, etc.)

  • A complete, compact forensic search tool
  • All-in-one integrated lights, camera and filters
  • Real-time visible, fluorescent, and IR examinations
  • Search Beyond the Visible to detect every trace
  • Optional laboratory docking system

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crime lite 82s group

Crime-lite® 82S PRO

Powerful alternate light sources for when serious crime demands intensive investigation

The updated Crime-lite 82S PRO features 16 LEDs hand-picked for brightness and wavelength accuracy, ensuring consistent performance and effectiveness. PRO VISION interchangeable viewing goggles and camera filters feature anti-glare coatings unique to foster+freeman, these improve effectiveness by suppressing auto-fluorescence from the basic filters. 

  • 16 x high-efficiency LEDs 
  • Adjustable intensity
  • Ergonomic design and robust finish
  • Up to 19W LED output power 
  • High short range intensity
  • Runs on AC mains or rechargeable battery 
  • Battery run time up to 750 minutes
  • Constant light output throughout the battery charge
  • Low battery indicator

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Crime-lite® X

A complete ALS kit in a single light source

the Crime-lite X enables the examiner to seamlessly switch between White, UV, Violet, Blue, Blue/Green, Green, Orange, Red, and Infrared LEDs, to perform a comprehensive multi-spectral examination of a crime scene.

Operated via a simple 3-button interface, the Crime-lite X provides new functionality, never seen before in a forensic light source, that will ensure that crime scene and laboratory examiners reveal the maximum amount of evidence in every examination.

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Crime-lite®XHandheld, Multi-Spectral LED Light Source with Advanced Functionality
Crime-lite®XHandheld, Multi-Spectral LED Light Source with Advanced Functionality
16 high-intensity white LEDs mounted behind a cylindrical lens give a wide floor level light beam that is ideal for detecting surface debris and shoe prints.

Crime-lite® 82L PRO

A Unique Low-Angle Light Source

16 high-intensity white LEDs mounted behind a cylindrical lens give a wide floor level light beam that is ideal for detecting surface debris and shoe prints.

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]]> Trace Evidence https://fosterfreeman.com/trace-evidence/ Fri, 11 Mar 2022 16:19:38 +0000 https://fosterfreeman.a2hosted.com/fingerprint-lab-copy/ Foster + Freeman offer a range of solutions for the examination and identification of trace evidence. Explore our range online.

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Trace Evidence Solutions

foster+freeman instruments increase the value of forensic trace evidence by enabling examiners to compare and identify fragments of evidence using a range of techniques.

  • Compare & Group Evidence
  • Identify Unknown Materials
  • Analyse Chemical Compounds
  • Characterize a Range of Samples

Trace Evidence Products

ffTATM multi-examination system

A modular system for trace evidence examination

The ffTA is a powerful and flexible multi-functional system that provides the crime laboratory with a range of analytical facilities on a single microscope operated through a single PC. By switching from module to module the operator is able to perform a wide range of analytical tasks to extract the maximum amount of forensic evidence in the shortest possible time.

Built around the Leica DM2700M laboratory microscope with high power LED illumination, the ffTA is a unique modular system that enables the user to add functions to meet specific laboratory requirements. Using an optical multiplexer the operator simply switches the image from one module to another.

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The ffTA is a powerful and flexible multi-functional system that provides the crime laboratory with a range of analytical facilities on a single microscope operated through a single PC. 
The ffTA is a powerful and flexible multi-functional system that provides the crime laboratory with a range of analytical facilities on a single microscope operated through a single PC. By switching from module to module the operator is able to perform a wide range of analytical tasks to extract the maximum amount of forensic evidence in the shortest possible time.
Raman spectrometers for the examination of ink, toners and other materials attached to documents
Raman spectrometers for the examination of ink, toners and other materials attached to documents

foram® 3

Raman Spectrometer ideal for comparing substances of forensic value

Unlike other Raman systems, the foram3 has been developed specifically for forensic examinations and includes dedicated casework management software providing automatic spectral comparisons and data archiving with search and match facilities.

  • Laser spot size of 5 microns diameter
  • External cavity laser for improved stability
  • Adjustable laser power for sample protection
  • A4 size XYZ translation stage
  • Integral video microscope for sample selection
  • Database facilities for identifying unknowns

Learn more >

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