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The Fingerprint Bureau: Primary Inspection 2000

7. Training

7.1 General

7.1.1 The need for training in respect of fingerprints extends beyond the professional training of the fingerprint expert. The staff of the SCRO Fingerprint Bureau comprises fingerprint experts, trainee fingerprint officers, tenprint identification officers, fingerprint clerks, administrative staff and senior police managers, all of whom have different training needs.

7.1.2 The position is similar within forces where the requirement for staff training includes scenes of crime officers, technicians, trainee fingerprint officers, fingerprint experts, crime scene managers, senior investigating officers, senior managers and police officers in respect of both crime scene management and the use of Livescan.

7.2 SCRO Trainee Fingerprint Officers

7.2.1 Prior to 1993 SCRO fingerprint staff were all trained "in-house" and did not receive any external training input. In 1993 the format of SCRO fingerprint training courses was restructured to include two of the courses at the National Training Centre (NTC) for Scientific Support to Criminal Investigation at Durham. SCRO informed HMIC that the inclusion of these courses was to "augment" the SCRO training and provide an independent assessment of standards.

7.2.2 Between 1993 and 1999 training for SCRO trainee fingerprint officers included:

7.2.3 SCRO trainees do not attend the Advanced Course at Durham because SCRO consider it to be too focused on English courts and legislation to be relevant to staff working in Scotland. SCRO is now considering its position in relation to the two courses which its trainees do attend as there is now concern that these too have become less relevant to Scottish experts because of the training provided in the English "NAFIS" system. "NAFIS" stands for National Automated Fingerprint Identification System and is the equivalent in England and Wales and Northern Ireland of the Automatic Fingerprint Recognition (AFR) system used in Scotland. A new modular interim course is being considered to replace the intermediate course at Durham. This would be provided "in-house" at SCRO.

7.2.4 Since April 1999 the training programme for trainee fingerprint officers at SCRO has been changed to include six months training as a tenprint identification officer (TIO) prior to attendance at the Initial Training Course at Durham. This six months period includes 7 weeks formal training and study followed by 3 months structured training in the operational environment within the bureau. Competency is tested throughout the six months training and successful completion results in certification to undertake the role of a TIO.

7.2.5 Later courses including the advanced and expert courses focus on the presentation of evidence in court and the preparation of joint reports. Practical exercises are included which are video recorded. Staged competency (proficiency) testing takes place throughout the training period.

7.2.6 SCRO considers that the training given to its trainees not only meets that in the rest of the UK but is enhanced by a more relevant focus on the Scottish criminal justice system and legislation. The need to continually evaluate training needs is recognised and the two SCRO trainers attend Bureau Trainer conferences in the UK.

7.2.7 Two newly recruited fingerprint experts are the first qualified experts to have been recruited by SCRO, both having been trainees and later experts in another fingerprint bureau.

7.2.8 The continued focus on "in-house" training by fellow staff members at SCRO presents a risk that bad practices may be spread, elitist attitudes reinforced and new ideas stifled. This is recognised in other organisations where training is undertaken outwith the organisation wherever possible. SCRO have taken some steps in addressing this issue by providing four half day or one day courses to staff since January 2000, which were provided by external experts. However, these were the first such courses since one half-day seminar in 1999 and a one-day course in 1995. HMIC suggests that a strategic re-assessment of how training is delivered is necessary and this should be undertaken by the APRT.

7.3 Force Trainee Fingerprint Officers

7.3.1 There is no national programme for trainee fingerprint officers working within force bureaux. Rather each force has its own policy, which almost universally includes attendance at the courses held at the National Training Centre at Durham. This use of Durham courses has replaced the previous practice of training "on-the-job" within local bureaux.

7.4 Role of Trainee Fingerprint Officer

7.4.1 In addition to the recruitment of the sixteen Tenprint Identification Officers in 1999 which released four experts from Livescan duties, six clerical staff were employed on a temporary basis to undertake filing and general administrative duties. HMIC notes that trainee fingerprint officers are required to assist with filing and clerical duties when their time should be spent on fingerprint work.

7.5 Training for Fingerprint Experts

7.5.1 HMIC found that little provision is made for refresher training for fingerprint experts. (Paragraph 7.2.8 above refers). Given that many of the fingerprint experts throughout Scotland have been in post for many years and received their training in-house and "on-the-job," there has been opportunity for 'bad habits' to develop and to be re-enforced over time. While competency testing may highlight potential problems in respect of competency it does not guarantee the detection of bad practice.

7.5.2 The two SCRO trainers recently attended a week-long training course on ridgeology at Durham and they are to cascade that training to SCRO staff. Four experts had also recently attended a two-day seminar on the non-numeric standard at the Scientific Support College at Hendon.

7.5.3 SCRO retains a selection of books for reference purposes and minutes of national and international group meetings are circulated to keep staff abreast of developments. It was found that many fingerprint experts are members of the Fingerprint Society and receive the Society's quarterly journal, which includes articles on new developments relating to fingerprints. Not all experts are members of the society. SCRO and some of the Scottish forces circulate publications on fingerprinting within the bureau to keep staff informed. Circulation does not guarantee that it is being read or understood. HMIC found professional development to be too patchy.

7.5.4 HMIC found some assertions by experts that once qualified and experienced in the role of expert there was little to be gained by further training. This view is not supported and HMIC recommends that regular refresher training should be incorporated into a national training standard for fingerprint experts to ensure that expertise is maintained at the highest level taking account of developments in theory and technology. The training required for the introduction of a non-numeric standard provides an opportunity to begin such a training programme.

7.6 Presentation Skills

7.6.1 The presentation of fingerprint evidence is an essential part of the role of the fingerprint expert. This is covered in training courses including the SCRO advanced and expert training courses provided by SCRO

7.6.2 Once expert status has been approved, a fingerprint expert may be called as a witness to give evidence regarding a fingerprint identification. Many experts are very experienced in this aspect of their role. Some experts however have never given evidence in court. This could be for a number of reasons such as, the acceptance of expert evidence prior to trial by way of minute of agreement, the introduction of interim diets and the longstanding perception of the irrefutable nature of fingerprint evidence. In the cases where they do give evidence they are seldom cross-examined. The manner in which evidence is given and the visual aids which are used to assist presentation have not changed over decades. Those responsible for the prosecution of cases (principally the Crown and the police) should consider what improvement is required and then jointly address the issue.

7.6.3 HMIC found that SCRO staff acknowledged that there was room for improvement in their presentation skills and some positive steps have been taken. Shortly after the McKie case, the deputy head of the bureau visited the FBI academy in the United States to examine training there in respect of presentation skills. SCRO staff subsequently received a one-day training course in March 2000 from independent training consultants. This was well received by staff.

7.7 Role of SCRO Training Officer

7.7.1 SCRO currently has two accredited trainers performing the role of training officer when required. One of the trainers holds the dual post of Quality Assurance Officer/Training Officer and the other is an acting principal fingerprint officer from within the SCRO bureau, currently designated an acting training officer. The need to separate the roles of Quality Assurance Officer and Training Officer is discussed in Chapter 2, paragraph 2.12.1 of this report. This was a recommendation by the independent consultants in 1999 and is recognised and accepted by SCRO. A full time post of Training Officer was approved in September 1999 and this had been advertised at the time of the inspection.

7.7.2 The Quality Assurance Officer deputises for the deputy head of bureau and undertakes supervisory duties within the bureau as well as his quality assurance, competency testing and training responsibilities. The acting training officer assists with administrative duties in the bureau but is primarily committed to training, particularly in relation to the development of trainee fingerprint officers and tenprint identification officers. In addition, she monitors, co-ordinates and organises training for the continuous professional development of fingerprint experts and other staff. SCRO informed HMIC that, as part of her role in ensuring that SCRO training standards are at least equal to that at the National Training Centre (NTC) at Durham, the acting training officer has attended trainee courses to observe mock trials held at Durham. She has since been invited to act as an assessor at these exercises.

7.7.3 Both experts currently undertaking the training officer role have recently been awarded the NVQ Core Trainer Award and SQA accreditation as assessors. Consideration is being given to a further three accredited modules which would, on successful completion, earn both trainers a diploma in training. SCRO is the only fingerprint bureau in Scotland to seek accreditation for its training staff although this is now a requirement in the rest of the UK. This positive step by SCRO is consistent with a move towards a standards based approach.

7.7.4 Both trainers are qualified and approved to give training in AFR and Livescan by the manufacturer, SAGEM and deliver this training within the SCRO Fingerprint Bureau and in forces throughout Scotland. They have assisted SAGEM and the National Bureau of Investigation in Finland by carrying out an evaluation of the AFR training provided in Finland.

7.8 Training for Police Staff

7.8.1 Police officers receive training from SCRO staff in a number of areas. This includes inputs on courses at the Scottish Police College and within forces. SCRO has undertaken successful "roadshows" in the past, visiting Scottish forces to raise awareness among police officers and support staff of the facilities available at SCRO and how to make best use of them.

7.8.2 SCRO also provides training to police staff in the use of AFR and Livescan.

7.8.3 In respect of fingerprinting, HMIC emphasises that a lack of awareness among police officers can increase the workload of the fingerprint bureau and present problems for SCRO staff. An example of this is the potential for less experienced senior investigating officers in charge of major crime enquiries taking huge numbers of crime scene marks for submission to SCRO for elimination. Unless sound judgement is applied to the submission of such requests, and effective communication takes place with fingerprint staff, they can seriously disrupt the working of the bureau. Such occurrences are rare.

7.9 Training Towards New Standard

7.9.1 The non-numeric standard does not alter radically the methods of fingerprint comparison and identification currently used by fingerprint experts. However for those individuals whose entire experience has related to the 16 point identification for court purposes there may be a need to develop their skills in explaining the new approach.

7.9.2 The two trainers at SCRO have attended a ridgeology awareness course at the National Training centre at Durham and that training has since been cascaded to all staff at SCRO. Staff have also received short training courses by experts from countries where the non-numeric standard is currently applied. Video recordings were made to assist in future training sessions.

7.9.3 It is clear that much has been done in the training field and some attention has been given to preparing for a change to the non-numeric standard but it has not been as part of a planned project dealing with the criminal justice system as a whole.

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