Detection and Forensic Evidential Value of Tattoos Identified Using Alternative Light Sources

Tattoos have been used for over 5,000 years as a means of
differentiating one person from another. However, different types of
tattoos have increased in popularity over the last decade and are
continuing to gain attention. A tattoo can be either temporary or
permanent and can be on any area of a person's anatomy. Previously,
tattoos have been ignored as a valuable biometric feature in human
identification as they are not specific to one individual compared to
favoured evidence such as DNA. Additionally, developments in
technology are resulting in new ways to cover-up and remove traces of
tattoos, causing intelligence gaps in the identification procedure. There
has been limited research conducted on the use of tattoos in human
identification processes.
This study investigated the influence of burning and decomposition
upon temporary and permanent tattoos as a means of visualisation in
a forensic identification context.