Forensic collection
When someone you love is missing it is highly distressing and being asked to provide forensic material can be confronting. As part of a standard missing persons investigation police will often collect forensic material. The circumstances surrounding a person’s disappearance will dictate when this collection process will take place.
This information provides an overview of what police may collect and why it is useful to an investigation.
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DNA testingThis section contains information for close genetic relatives of long-term missing persons (LTMP) who are considering voluntarily providing reference DNA samples.
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FingerprintsFingerprints are a well known method of uniquely identifying a person. Fingerprints are made up of a series of whorls, loops, ridges and arch formations as are the palms of the hands.
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Age progressionThe forensic imaging technique of age progression is used within missing persons cases to provide an insight into a persons appearance many years after their disappearance.
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Dental recordsThe configuration of a person’s teeth and dental work done over time is unique to an individual and can be very useful in the identification process.