Year 9 students from St Chads took part in a CSI event day at The Runcorn CLC as part of Halton’s Literature Festival Week. The aim of the project was to engage students real life forensic/crime scene investigation activities, making use of a range of technology in order to solve a crime. It enabled students to go through many of the motions which real crime scene investigators go thorugh in order to solve crimes.

Students were presented with a brief, outlining details of a burglary that ha been committed in Runcorn. In groups, students analysed a range of evidence found at the scene of the crime, to find out who committed the burglary and why. Throughout the day they undertook the following activities;

• Use of Open Minds to create a Crime File Mind Map, giving ideas about what they needed to find answers to in order to solve the crime.  As the evidence was analysed, the results were attached to the mind map for incorporation into a final report to the Chief Inspector.
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• As new evidence came to light, details were streamed to the student’s PDA’s for further investigation. This took place at various intervals throughout the day.
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• Analysis of photos of the crime scene using PDAs to zoom in closely, and Photoshop to manipulate aspects of the images taken.
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• Analysis of audio interview from owner’s house explaining what happened the night of the crime.
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• Analysis of orange drink found at scene – using Data Loggers & pH sensors, and USB Microscopes.
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• Analysis of white powdery substance found at the scene using USB Microscopes.
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• Analysis of fibres found at the scene using USB Microscopes.
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• Analysing information provided by witnesses.
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• Fingerprint analysis using real life fingerprint kits used by the police.
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• Audio analysis of cough recordings.
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• Analysis of statements by four suspects.

Once all the evidence had been analysed and conclusions drawn, students were in a position to complete a crime report providing details about which suspect committed the crime and why. This was presented to the Chief Inspector in charge of the Crime Scene Investigations.