ICJS Open Day
A crime and forensics open day will open up the world of criminal investigation, forensic studies and psychology to the general public. In the first event of its kind, the University of Portsmouth is organising a special one-off day aimed at families, youngsters and anyone aged 10 to 100 interested in finding out about what really happens during a criminal investigation.
Visitors can wander through a ‘real’ murder scene, look for evidence and talk to scene of crime officers to find out how crime scene investigators work with forensic biologists to piece together clues. The forensic facial reconstruction team will show what marks on human skulls can reveal to investigators, while experts will demonstrate how fingerprint evidence is collected and used.
There will be stands on CID, forensic psychology, crime analysis and forensic interviewing.
At the CSI stand there will be displays of different types of evidence gathering and forensic imaging while Hampshire Police will display the work of real forensic scientists.
University lecturers will be on hand to talk about some of their more unusual research such as how to spot a liar, how investigators use our memory recall and how criminals decide on their targets. Psychologists will explain how, by interviewing offenders, police are working out how to best use CCTV to help fight crime. And mobile phone forensic company, Radiotactics, will demonstrate how forensic evidence can be taken from mobile phones.
The event utilises the expertise of university lecturers in criminology, forensics, psychology, law and technology and brings them together with the police and other experts who do the job for real including Hampshire Police.
Professor Steve Savage, Head of the University’s Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, said that it’s a chance for anyone at all to come along and discover the secrets known to specialist criminologists.
“You’ve seen it on television but this is a unique opportunity to talk to the real experts and find out what goes on behind the scenes of a genuine criminal investigation.
“The event is one of a kind – a family day out with a twist and we hope that as many people as possible will come and join us.”
During the day a ‘real’ trial will take place in the University’s mock court room where a domestic abuse case will be re-enacted. Students from the School of Law, in wigs and gowns, will join drama students playing the parts of the competing cases of husband and wife. This will run once in the morning and again afternoon.
Throughout the day there will be mini lectures on topics including -
• Who was Jack the Ripper? – hear how a ‘cold case review’ points the finger of blame
• Facebook – can my ID be stolen?
• The Science of Sherlock Holmes
• What is forensic psychology? –the uses of psychology in criminal investigation
• The Stephen Lawrence trial – how forensic science was used in the convictions of Lawrence’s killers
• Doing crime – stopping crime –crime explained and the history offender punishing
• Crime and the media – how criminal investigations and trials are affected by what we see on television
• Modern methods of criminal investigation
The event is taking place at the University of Portsmouth, organised by staff and students at the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies in collaboration with Hampshire Police and other local partners.
When: The event is taking place on Saturday 3rd March from 10 – 4, booking not required, just drop in
Where: University of Portsmouth, Portland Building, Portland St, Portsmouth PO1 3AH (5 minutes walk from Portsmouth Harbour & Gunwharf Quays)
Who: anyone from 10 to 100
For more information visit http://www.port.ac.uk/aboutus/newsandevents
