An investigation into the effect of surveillance drones on textile evidence at crime scenes

With increasing numbers of Police forces using drones for crime scene surveillance, the effect of the drones on trace evidence present needs evaluation. In this investigation the effect of flying a quadcopter drone at different heights over a controlled scene and taking off at different distances from the scene were measured. Yarn was placed on a range of floor surfaces and the number lost or moved from their original position was recorded. It was possible to estimate "safe" distances above and take off distance from the bath mat (2 m and 1 m respectively), and carpet tile (3 m and 1 m) which were the roughest surfaces. The maximum distances tested of 5 m above and 2 m from was not far enough to prevent significant disturbance with the other floor surfaces. This report illustrates the importance of considering the impact of new technologies into a forensic workflow on established forensic evidence prior to implementation. (C) 2017 The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.