Clothing fibres can transfer in air, forensic scientists find

CLOTHING fibres can transfer from one person to another without contact, a study has revealed, which could pose problems for future police investigations, experts say.

Textile fibres can be pivotal in linking a suspect to a crime, a method which was instrumental in some of the UK’S most high-profile cases, such as the murders of Stephen Lawrence and Joanna Yeates.

Until now, it was assumed fibre transfer only occured when two surfaces touched, but researchers at Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne have revealed that they can, in fact, transfer through the air.

Dr Kelly Sheridan, who led the research, which has been published in the journal Forensic Science International, called the findings “remarkable”.

Nicola Finnerty, a partner in the criminal litigation team at Londonbased law firm, Kingsley Napley, said the findings could affect the decision to prosecute a suspect if fibre evidence is key to the case.

But she added: “In cases where association could only be provable by direct contact of fibre evidence, these new findings expand the possibilities of establishing close association without proof of physical connection.”

During the experiment three participants took it in turns to stand two metres apart inside a lift and had their clothing photographed using ultraviolet light after exiting.

Contactless transfer of fibres occurred in 67 per cent of the primary experiments and in one case up to 66 fibres were transferred.

Fibre transfer happened in 100 per cent of the tests using cotton and polyester garments.