2012 Fingerprint Society Annual Educational Conference

[fpsociety]

It is now only one month until the start of The 2012 Fingerprint Society Annual Educational Conference and Gala Dinner.
This years events are being held in The Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick, Derbyshire.

There is a fascinating programme of lectures, presentations and workshops to attend that cover some of the most topical subjects that are currently affecting the profession, including Quality Standards, Mobile Identification and Evidence Preparation... plus much, much more.

We also have a social aspect to the event, that includes our Gala Dinner, which is a “Black Tie” evening that incorporates an Award Ceremony, a charity raffle and entertainment from a live band. This will also provide attendees to talk to peers from all over the world and make new friends and contacts.

The weekend will also be used to launch our inaugural International Fingerprint Week, which will see a number of events being hosted worldwide to provide an awareness and appreciation for the role that fingerprints play in the investigation and detection of crime.
Due to the current economic climate and the financial pressures that are currently affecting UK policing, every effort has been made to minimise the cost to police forces, organisations and individuals. We have been able to achieve this by it being a non-profit event, and using sponsorship from our generous supporters to supplement attendance.

You can attend the whole weekend for £130 (members), £156 (non-members). This incredible price includes 2 nights accommodation, breakfast on the Saturday and Sunday, lunch on the Friday and Saturday, Gala Dinner attendance and meal on the Friday and evening meal on the Saturday. The only additional costs would be any workshop attendance, which is £10 that is donated to this years chosen charity, Safe and Sound Derby.

There is also the opportunity to book for individual sessions.

For further information, please see our website http://www.fpsociety.org.uk or book using our convenient online facility at http://fingerprintsocietyconference.eve ... uk/?ebtv=C

You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

[Taggart]

I wish the Fingerprint Society every success with their forthcoming Conference. I wonder if someone might be able to provide me with the links to where I can find the following details. They relate to previous postings by Society Committee member Richard Case:

Will the Fingerprint Society be issuing a response in relation to the Scottish Fingerprint Inquiry report?
Yes, the Fingerprint Society intend to hold an extraordinary committee meeting following the publishing of the report to review its findings and recommendations and to devise a formal statement.

Can someone possibly provide either the link or indeed post the actual formal Statement issued by the Fingerprint Society following their extraordinary committee meeting.

Will the Fingerprint Society be holding a debate on the Scottish Fingerprint Inquiry at its 2012 conference?
A debate session has been included in the programme and we are seeking persons to take part in the discussions. I acknowledge and welcome the volunteering of Iain McKie to take part in the discussion.

I have studies the programme of events and see no reference to the debate session that was to be originally included in the programme.

http://www.fpsociety.org.uk/files/2012% ... -12-11.pdf

Given the Society is as Educational Society I would be stunned if there was nothing in the programme about the findings of the Fingerprint Inquiry, the biggest ever Judicial review of a fingerprint case in the UK. (Which incidentally found society members to have erroneously identified two fingerprints)

I would be obliged if someone from the Society could either post the link, or the formal statement and also confirm there is debate at the forthcoming conference.

It might also be an idea to indicate who is taking part in this debate.

Many thanks

[Taggart]

I would like to thank those who reminded me the Fingerprint Society are being represented at the "Fingerprints – a road map for reform" Workshop being held next week in Glasgow. It was set up to look at lessons after the recent Fingerprint Inquiry.

http://www.scottishinsight.ac.uk/Portal ... 240212.pdf

The Fingerprint Society have half an hour on the third day. While I had hoped we could have seen their formal response to the Inquiry findings, at least they will be given the chance to give their response, along with their detailed overview as to how they have dealt with any members who have brought the Society into disrepute.

[Ernie Hamm]

I have just returned from the 2012 Conference of The Fingerprint Society held at Swanwick, Derbyshire, England. I was able to drive/navigate from London (Heathrow) to Swanwick and back without injuring myself or others with the difference in automobile motoring techniques between the US and UK (wrong side references are relative).

I have to comment that is was an EXCELLENT conference. I am no longer a practitioner, but I was especially impressed with presentations of various techniques associated with latent print development that are being explored in the UK. There are many applications that are so advanced and promising that go beyond my experiences in latent print development, some were truly amazing. Do you expect to develop latent prints on metallic surfaces that have been battered, submerged in a pond and exposed to extreme heat (fire)? Those of your currently in the profession have remarkable opportunities.

It is unfortunate that ‘official’ representation by other professional organizations was not apparent. The Fingerprint Society set forth a well-rounded series of presentations dealing with techniques, standard considerations and concerned matters in the area of professional issues as a result of legal developments in various areas.

The Fingerprint Society demonstrated in this conference its dedication to the education and professional contribution of persons in the field of latent print examination. It permitted open discussions in matters associated with current perspectives regarding latent print identification procedures. It is truly a professional organization.

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fingerprint Society is alive and well, dedicated and committed. If you have the opportunity to attend a future conference, you should not be disappointed. They select many of their presenters from the forensic research areas in academia and the work being done in these areas is remarkable. You WILL gain from the experience.

As a footnote, I was honored at this conference with a life time award and given life member status in The Fingerprint Society. This completes my ‘life’ memberships in the IAI, American Academy of Forensic Sciences (Retired Fellow), Florida Division of the IAI and The Canadian Identification Society. I have no remaining professional associations with which I have an affiliation. Life Membership in organizations is often determined by longevity in maintaining an association over a number of years, which is in recognition for supporting an organization for a long time. The recognition by The Fingerprint Society was special as it was ‘awarded’, not something that ‘evolved’. I am very appreciative!!!

Colleagues, I wish you well and travel safe. Take care,

Ernie

[Bill Schade]

Congratulations Ernie

Well deserved recognition of your stature in the worl of Forensics!

Bill Schade

[rmcase]

Hi Ernie,

Thank you for the positive review of the conference.

I have to agree that this years events were particularly good and I enjoyed the overall feel of it.

My task of working the techy side of things was made all the easier by the excellent AV facilities it had at the venue.

I must admit, that like you, I was amazed at the new development / enhancement techniques that are on the horizon. Just when you think the laboratory geeks (meant in the nicest possible way) have done as much as they can to find friction ridge detail, they come back and surprise me… and the new chemistries seem to be more sensitive and effective than some others that have been given international acclaim in recent years.

Your recognition as a life member was thoroughly well deserved and probably came later than it should. You have always been an active and enthusiastic fellow and supporter of the Society, and an amazing servant to the profession, and we cannot thank you enough for that.

It was a personal honour and privilege to introduce myself properly to you and I hope to maintain regular contact and glean some of that experience and knowledge from you.

I am glad you had a safe trip back, especially navigating the British road network and best wishes for the future.

Richard

[Taggart]

I came across this on the Fingerprint Society Facebook page this evening. It is their official response to the Fingerprint Inquiry regarding the McKie / Asbury misidentifications
http://www.facebook.com/fpsociety

16 April 2012
The following is the official statement from The Fingerprint Society in response to The Fingerprint Inquiry Scotland:

"The committee has discussed the review process undertaken of the evidence presented by both sides at The Fingerprint Inquiry Scotland and accept the findings of the inquiry in regards to Y7 and QI2.

With regard to the remaining findings and recommendations in the report, we will be assisting other stakeholders in their review process."

Now the Society has now made a public statement and have now changed their official position from one of neutrality to one of accepting mistakes, I wonder what action they will take against members who made these mistakes and presented 'evidence' at the Inquiry?

Suspect I already know the answer……

[Taggart]

Thanks to the Society twitter account we know nothing was / is being done with regard to those members who were named and shamed in the Fingerprint Inquiry Report

Fingerprint Society ‏ @fpsociety 13 April
Karen Stow, President addresses the conference and outlines the Society's stance in relation to Scottish Fingerprint Inquiry

Fingerprint Society ‏ @fpsociety 14 April

After a non-controversial AGM its back to the presentations

Non-controversial AGM. Business as usual then.

So it’s back up on that old rickety fence!

Sad, but not at all unsuspected.