Making an impression in fight against crime

How do you capture a footprint before it’s destroyed or damaged?

A young Yorkshire entrepreneur has found a way of creating a footprint cast in minutes, which should make it easier to bring criminals to justice.

Lucy Nuttall is the managing director of Frontline Forensics, a company which aims to help law enforcers get rid of outdated technologies.

Her company is poised for rapid growth with help from Incub, the product ‘incubator’ which has been established by Sheffield-based firm Gripple.

Incub aims to find ‘cubs’ with an exceptional idea, and with help from experts at Gripple, turn this idea into a fast-growing business.

Ms Nuttall decided to become an entrepreneur after hearing her sister Claire, a scene of crime investigator, complain about delays in gathering footprint evidence.

Ms Nuttall recalled: “Claire and many forces have been concerned that due to the long delays in the current process, footprint casts are not being done.

“Some forces I have spoken to have said that they tend to take a picture of footwear marks and don’t bother to make a cast, even though all scene of crime officers are trained and advised to do both.

“Lab analysts I have spoken to have said that, most of the time, a photo is not enough.

“A photo doesn’t show the depth and detail of a footprint, for example.

“Every mark should be cast, because it’s evidence, just like finding a fingerprint or a knife.

“Often, if somebody has stolen something they will run away from a house and may put their feet on the flower bed.

“By studying the footprint, you can find out somebody’s height, or if they are carrying something heavy.”

Ms Nuttall devised Frontline Forensics while taking part in an enterprise challenge at Sheffield Hallam University, where she was studying for a degree in business and marketing.

Her idea, to set up a business which aimed to improve the police’s forensic work, was voted the winner by the audience.

The contest was supported by Hugh Facey, the entrepreneur behind Sheffield-based manufacturer Gripple.

Mr Facey encouraged her to develop her products further by using the research and development facilities available at Incub.

Ms Nuttall said: “Not only have Gripple provided the financial support to get the business off the ground, they have also provided significant help in terms of ideas from their engineers.

“They have also provided advice on where and how to progress the business, information regarding legal and accounting obligations and the free use of the new facilities at The Hog works in Sheffield.” With help from Incub, she’s devised a technique which dramatically reduces the time it takes to make a footprint cast.

Ms Nuttall said: “Under the existing system, when a footprint mark has been identified they take a bag of crownstone, find and mix water in the bag and massage by hand to get all the lumps out and thoroughly mix the components.

“They cut the bag corner with scissors and pour it into the print.

“They then tap the top of the cast to get some of the air bubbles out and wait 30 minutes, at best, before they lift the cast out. It is then placed in an evidence box and sealed.”

With help from the experts at Incub, Ms Nuttall has devised a casting product called NuCAST180, which has been proven to capture a footprint cast in just four minutes.

She said: “Using my system, powder is poured into pre-measured liquid in a pot. The lid goes on. You shake the pot for 35 seconds and pour it into the print.

“You lift it out and place into an evibubble (a bag devised by Frontline Forensics for storing evidence with help from an external company).

“Time is crucial when you’re examining scenes of crime.”

Frontline Forensics’ products are being trialled by 19 police forces, and detailed feedback is expected within weeks.

Ms Nuttall sells products to senior figures at major police forces, to ensure that her name becomes known nationwide.

“Every police force has been really positive,’’ she said. “They say the products are easy to use.

“There is no margin for error with the quantities of water and powder, and therefore, there is a consistency in the mixed product. There is little mess so it’s easy to pour into the impression.

“I hope that the use of these casts will lead to more convictions.

“My vision is to sell casts worldwide.

“Eventually, we would like to have our own chemists and manufacture our own range of products.”

[email protected]