foot prints
sarada avadhanam

Chapter 16: Introduction to track mark preservation at the scene including discussion on importance of track marks. Description of various footprints and methods of developing footprints. Including precautions while developing. Their evidentiary value.

Principles and methods of evaluation all marks are same though some collection techniques differ for prints and impressions. The evidence is helpful in tracking down the criminals to their houses and hideouts.

The individuality in a mark is established from the following Dimensions ,Shapes ,Patterns
The tracks and impressions that an IO is likely to find at a crime scene can be either in the form of impression or residues.

The tracks and impressions that an IO is likely to find at a crime scene can be either in the form of impression or residues.

Indented impression are those appearing in same pliable yielding substances such as mud soft clay wet loose soaked sand or snow.

Shoe pressure and toe tracks are at out door crime scene are perhaps the most common of these . residue prints are those recorded on relatively hard surface by an object that has deposited some visible or detectable material onto it ,

most residual prints are created of a criminal steps in blood , wet paint spilled cosmetic powder or flour there is a good chance that residue tracks of those substances will be deposited as the criminal continues walking.

These types of evidence are very often made on surfaces that cannot be transported to the lab. Shoe imprint and foot print tracks are often found at crime scene.

Running prints can often be differentiated from walking prints by the depth of the heel Indentation. The direction of travel and whether heavy objects were being carried or dragged.

A person carrying a heavy load tends to waddle some what and place the feet farther apart from side to side so that the heel marks appear well to either side of a straight line between them.

A person of average weight normally walks in such a way that a straight line can be drawn through the person’s heel marks. An overweight person’s pattern resembles that of a person carrying heavy weights.

Some of these patterns can give class characteristics information such as shoe size, stride length, sex, weight, height, or any abnormality in movement , or gait, lame ness ,diseases like hernia , pelvic disorders, whether lady is pregnant, or is she old.

Collection of footprints The methods commonly used for collecting foot prints are:
1 By preserving the original Impression intact :
• If the foot print is found on a portable object such as a mat, slab, plank, card board
• It is convenient to carry the object bearing the print to the laboratory for photography and further analysis.
• It is advisable to take the photography of the print even in such cases before removing them to the laboratory, as there is always the risk of the original impression being damaged in packing.
2 Photograph All footprints
• 1 whether sunken or surface or any other track marks should first be photographed.While photographing keep the lens of the camera parallel to the surface on which the marks or impression is found.
•The aperture of the diaphragm should be adjusted to get a proper depth of field.
•At least three photographs are to be taken, one direct view from the top and the other two from either side at an angle of 450.
•Before taking the photograph place an identification slip or card (containing crime number, section of law, date, police station, district etc., with initials of the I0& witness close to one side of the print and a foot rule on the other side to record the actual size of the foot print.

3 Tracing :
• Tracing is a rough method to record surface prints.
•A glass (or preferably a celluloid sheet) is held over the print as close as possible.
•Care should be taken to ensure that it does not come in contact with the print.
•Then the contours are drawn along the print line by a sketch pen.
•Details such as the characters of the toes, ball of the foot, instep and heel together with crease, cracks, warts should carefully be traced on the sheet.

After the tracing is complete the sheet is removed and all the particulars of the case should be written on the glass together with the signature of the investigating officer and the witnesses. On the basis of such prints on glass any number of tracing can be obtained on tracing paper. The glass sheet and a tracing paper should be packed in between two cardboards for transport to the court. The value of a traced print depends upon the personal observation skills of the person who is tracing the print and therefore is highly subjective and not very reliable. Other methods of recording like lifting and casting are preferred to tracing.
4 Lifting When the print is formed on a surface that is of a similar colour to the print, for instance, a blood stained print formed on a red surface, dusty (white) print formed on a white surface, dark (black) print formed on a black surface it becomes difficult to photograph the print because of the similar colour of the background. Under such conditions the print could be collected using an appropriate photographic paper.
For a dusty or light coloured print, black photo bromide paper is utilised and for a blood stained or black print, white photo bromide paper is used This black or white photo bromide paper can be obtained by exposing the photo sensitive paper to light before development to get black paper and directly developing it to obtain white bromide paper.
•The processed paper so obtained should be moistened for few minutes in water, preferably with a few drops of ammonia added. When all the excess water is removed it is placed over the print with the emulsion side of the paper in contact with the print and beaten firmly with a cloth taking care to prevent slipping or sliding of the paper over the print. The paper is lifted after few minutes and allowed to dry. The foot print particles get attached to the surface of the photo bromide paper forming a clear and visible print. Particulars of the case with signature of I0 and witnesses should be written by the side without disturbing the print.
Footprints can also be lifted using photographic film or transparent adhesive tape. The fixed photographic film is moistened in water for few minutes until the emulsion side becomes tacky and then placed over the print with the sensitive side in contact with the print. A uniform pressure is applied over the film for few seconds and it is then lifted carefully. The print is transferred on to the film which can then be used as a negative to make copies from
5 Casting: INCLUDED IN PRACTICALS.

Collection of test prints for comparison
•The crime scene foot prints have to be compared with the test print obtained under similar conditions from the suspect / accused if the surface crime print is made with a liquid medium, the test print must also be made with a liquid medium for comparison. If the surface crime print is in human blood the test print should be caused with goat or fowl blood. To get the complete picture of the sole it is worth while to obtain prints in different positions in normal standing position, with pressures on inner and outer side, when walking, running
gait pattern when a person while walking running makes a series of foot prints or impressions it is called gait pattern or walking picture or walking ensemble, it is possible to deduce some of the characteristics of the owner’s manner of walking .

Sex: the sex of an individual leaving track marks can be found out by measuring the step length and other characteristics. Step length of an adult woman s between 18 - 22” and that of an adult male 25-28”. The ball of the foot in woman is comparatively narrower than that of a man.

The height of the person: the length of the foot print is not always suggestive of the person’s height , but generally a longer foot print say 10-12” and step length exceeding 30” may suggest it to be of a tall person near about 5-10’ to 6’. A short person will not only have a smaller foot say 6-8” in length but would also register a shorter step length thus step length of about 20-24” with a foot whose length is 6-8” suggest a person who is not more than 5-2’ or 5-4’ in height.

If the foot prints are on easily removable article these should be taken into custody after noting the details like case no, the name of the PS the signature of IO and signature of the witnesses.

If the prints are inside the room and they can’t be removed immediately or recorded then the room should be locked. If this is not possible the places containing the footprints should be covered with suitable objects.

If the prints are in open places where persons ignorant of the occurrence generally come and go it may be necessary to post a guard, besides covering the prints.

All possible precautions should be taken to save the prints from being washed by rain or attacked by earthworm and other insects.
A footwear print is caused when the ' sole of the footwear is Coated with dust, soil or liquids like blood, oil Footwear impressions can also be seen on loose soil, mud, clay The print not only gives the dimensions and designs of the sole but also the wear and tear patterns, presence of nails or missing nails stitches, patches and their size and, shape, all of which offer individual characteristics of the sole.
Presence of extraneous material on the shoe sole like dust, mud, oil, blood Is useful in tracing a person to particular location viz., crime scene. If a footwear is recovered from the scene of crime t is possible to identify the footwear from its various characteristics including the status of the wearer material used for manufacture, craftsmanship, wear and tear pattern and repairs

The Size, and condition of the footwear can also reveal the height, health of the person his financial status his habit of sanitation and cleanliness deformities in the legs These clues help in identifying the persons present at the crime scene Photographs of a shoe sole and a cast of its sunken impression are shown depicting common characteristic features.

CRIME FOOT PRINT ARROW MARK TOWARDS NORTH DIRECTION
•1 name of p.s.
•2. Cr. No. And section of law:
•3. Right foot or left foot impression
•4. The medium on which impression was found
•5. The exact spot where impression was found
•6. Date and hour of recording the impression
•7. By whom recorded
•8. Signatures of witnesses
•9. Signature of investigating officer

Test foot print
•1. Name of p.s.
•2. Cr.. No. And section of law
•3. Right foot or left foot impression of s/0. Rlo.
•4. Medium on which impression was taken
•5. The exact spot where the impression was taken
•6. The impression was taken (date) between hours.
•7. By whom taken
•8. Signatures of witnesses
•9. Signature of investigating officer

Other track marks – Tyre marks skid marks , drag line marks , hoop marks ,Hoof marks ,Paw marks


TYRE MARKS / TYRE TRACKS:

•The examination of tyre tracks entails similar considerations to shoe prints.
•Tyres manufactured by different companies have their own characteristic patterns called tyre tread marks. Nevertheless, a new tyre is less likely to be identified than an old one, for road use not only wears a tread but adds distinctive nicks cuts damages repairs and presence of foreign substances embedded in the tyre like glass pieces metallic pieces small stones etc. when the tyre comes in contact with the road surface the impressions of tread pattern are transferred to the road surface and reveal the type of tyre and some times the vehicle used in the commission of crime.

Tyre marks are easily seen on tar roads. If it is a metal road the possibility of seeing the tyre mark maybe remote. when a automobile makes a turn all the four tyre marks can be separately distinguished.

Use of these patterns in crime scene investigation and reconstruction is often neglected.
•These marks can yield information about the no of type of vehicles involved , the possible speed of the travel, direction of travel, whether or not brakes were applied, whether any turns were made.

A suspect tyre should not be compared directly with a cast because a tyre flattens considerably when it bears the weight of an automobile thus making the track appear wider than the tyre. Instead test marks should be made with the suspect vehicle and casts should be made of them. These casts can then be compared with the casts made of the evidence.

When no vehicle is recovered it may be desirable to identify the make of a tyre from its tracks. In situations where tyre tread impressions are left at a crime scene the lab can examine the design of the impression and possibly determine the style / or manufacturer of the tyre. The presence of tyre marks would therefore establish the presence of a vehicle and the suspect at the scene of crime.

Skid marks are produced when brakes are applied to a speeding vehicle . the brakes applied to stop the revolution of the wheels but due to the speed and momentum of the vehicle the vehicle is dragged on the road surface to a certain distance. The vehicle continues to skid on the road till the friction overcomes the momentum.

The speed of the involved vehicle is calculated from the length of the skid marks which is useful in establishing rash and negligent driving of the driver.

The absence of skid marks [ at the accident site] may prove either the motive of the driver, or condition of the driver or condition of he vehicle.

Skid marks leave a very good deposition of tyre residues on the road surface. As the tyre rubber is made of a variety of material the analysis of the tyre residues from the skid marks maybe useful in individualization and the comparison with the tyres of the suspected vehicle.

Similarly determination of the distance between two tyre marks to establish the type of vehicle [ front and rear wheels ] is of immense assistance in locating the crime vehicle.

Animal tracks:
•They are infrequent evidence in criminal investigation and call for specialised knowledge. The more common animal tracks are those of cattle and horses which cam be distinctive both in size and character.
Paw marks:
•Animals with clawed feet like dogs ,cats, tigers , if specimen marks are available , it is possible to identify the type of animal from the paw marks present . additional creases and cracks present in the marks help in the identification of the animal.



Chapter 17: Practical on footprints and their recording.
Casting of Footprints (Practical)
Object
To prepare a cast of a sunken foot impression.

Articles Required
1, One wooden or metallic adjustable frame;
2. One flit gun containing shellac and spirit solution;
3. Talcum powder;
4. One alluminium can;
5. One mug;
6. Plaster of paris;
7. One spoon;
8. A few small strips of green twigs or a thin wire gauge;
9. A .copying pencil;

Procedure
1. Note any peculiarities of the foot impression.
2. Remove carefully from the impression all foreign matters like small pebbles, grass, feather, twig etc. without affecting the details or the outlines.
3. Place the wooden or metal frame over the impression to prevent the plaster emulsion form escaping.
4. Spray a coat of shellac and spirit solution over the surface with the help of the flit gun.
5. Shake a thin coat of talcum uniformly over the impression.
6. Take a bout half a litre of water in the alluminium can and add to it approximately the same volume of plaster of paris.
7. Stir the mixture thoroughly to prepare a smooth cream without lumps.
8. Pour the mixture gently into the impression with the help of the spoon.
9. Place the wire gauge or the strips of green wood in a criss­ cross pattern on the plaster.
10. Prepare another mixture in the same way this time slightly thicker than the former and pour over the first layer.
11. Allow the cast to settle for at least 15 minutes. It may then be felt if it is warm , which is a sure sign that the plaster has hardened and the cast is ready for being lifted.
12. Record the following details on the cast with a copying pencil :
(a) Name of the Police Station and case reference.
(b) Nature of impression.
(c) Distances from some fixed objects,
(d) Direction of the impression,
(e) Signature of the witnesses with date,
(f) Signature of the recording officer.
13. Remove the surrounding earth and the fender. Now, lift the cast by sliding a knife under it to lever it slowly upward or by spread­ing out the extended fingers of both hands under the cast.
14. Wash the cast in running water (under a tap) or by gently pouring water on it from a mug.

Presentation
(1) If the foreign matters arc firmly attached or trampled into the impression so that their removal may affect the details or tae outlines of the foot impression, they should be allowed to remain as such. No effort should be made to remove them.
(2) The wooden or metal fender should not be pressed down too hard as it may affect the outer contour of the impression.
(3) While spraying shel1ac, the sprayer should not be held at a distance less than 18 inches from the impression.
(4) The mixture should not be stirred vigorously as otherwise air bubbles may be formed and stirred into the mass making the cast weak. The air bubbles, if any, should be removed before the emulsion is poured.
(5) The reinforcing materials should not extend past the print. They should be placed carefully and without pressure to prevent them from touching the bottom of the print and destroying the details.
(6) While lifting, the underside of the cast should not be touched as details may be destroyed.
(7) The cast should be washed very carefully, No brushing or rubbing should be employed.

Conclusion~
The impression is prepared by spraying shellac and dusting talc­um with a view to rendering a sensitive surface hard enough to bear the weight of the plaster. Plaster of Paris when mixed with water undergoes a chemical reaction and hardens quickly. Unlike the tracing of a foot-print which shows only the outlines, a plaster cast presents a foot impression in its entirety and is like the image of a living foot. The reinforcement materials. such as the wire gauge or the twigs are added in order to strengthen the cast. A cast thus prepared is sufficiently hard to last for years.