A 28-year-old Maltese graduate received a prestigious forensic science award for his groundbreaking research examining the links between fireworks and gunshot residue.
Matthew Grima, who obtained a Master’s degree from Teesside University, the UK, was recently presented with the Forensic Science PW Allen Award by the Forensic Science Society.
The award is presented annually to the best or most meritorious paper published in the Forensic Science Society journal Science and Society.
“When the communication reached me I was shocked”, Mr Grima admits. “I had to read it a few times for it to sink in as it was totally unexpected. When you carry out research, it is already an incredible feeling when your work is accepted for publication.
It feels great to be recognised for making a contribution
“However, it came as an immense surprise to be given this award. You do not work for awards but you work to contribute to knowledge, increase expertise and awareness. So it feels great to be recognised for making a contribution.”
The application of science to law always fascinated him. He was intrigued by problems that needed scientific investigation before they could be solved.
“Scientific factual power is second to none. I can categorically state that I am not one of those who became obsessed after watching CSI,” he laughs.
Mr Grima carried out his research to determine whether particles generated during a fireworks display were similar to those found in gunshot residue and whether they could jeopardise the outcome of an investigation, especially through transference.
Gunshot residue materialises whenever a firearm is discharged. The deposits are not visible to the naked eye. Detection of a significant amount of residue on a suspect is a powerful piece of forensic evidence that the person was very near to, or even holding, the gun when it discharged.
Mr Grima’s study revealed that some particles typical of gunshot residue can also be found in fireworks. He therefore proposes that police officers forming part of support staff at fireworks display sites should follow anti-contamination procedures before being called to a scene of crime. This also applies to members of the Civil Protection Department, healthcare staff operating an ambulance, court experts and their vehicles.
“The ideal would be having two separate teams: one for the fireworks display site and another for the scene of crime. However, this is costly.
“The next best thing would be to ensure that the people who were at the fireworks display wash themselves thoroughly, change their clothes and preferably use a different vehicle before making their way to a scene of crime.
“This would minimise transferring particles from fireworks residue and contaminating the evidence.”
Mr Grima also carried out a survey, which will be published shortly, on the level of awareness among British police forces that fireworks particles could mistakenly be identified as gunshot residue.
He found that 25 per cent were aware of possible misidentification but that they nevertheless did not wash their hands and carried out other anti-contamination procedures before heading to a crime scene.
Mr Grima explains that this may be down to the fact that they may still harbour the idea that gunshot residue can be easily discriminated from similar pyrotechnic particles.
“There needs to be a framework in place as well as a multidisciplinary approach which incorporates police officers, healthcare professionals, court experts and other people who will be working on the scene of crime.
“It may all sound overly-rigorous but we’re talking about very small particles here – it’s very hard trying to control something which you can’t see. All possible preventive measures should be taken.”