Television series such as CSI and Bones have popularized and glamorized forensic science, but even the most avid viewers of these shows might not be aware that the analysis of footprints on the ground or inside a shoe can be a valid way for podiatrists to provide detectives with indisputable identification. Hollywood may be slowly realizing the potential of this science, as recently a writer from Bones called me to discuss in what ways a forensic podiatrist could assist in criminal investigations.

A Footprint Can Be Like A Fingerprint

Every person’s footprint is unique to them. Based on a footprint, a trained and skilled podiatrist can link an individual to a crime scene and sometimes even provide information on how the suspect walks!

Before Forensic Podiatry There Was Footwear Forensics

The earliest recorded application of footwear forensics dates back to the late 18th century when a Scottish murderer’s bootprint was matched from the crime scene to one he left while attending the victim’s funeral. In 1989 in my paper Forensic Methods and the Podiatric Physician, published in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, I advocated the need for a forensic podiatry organization. In September of 2003 the American Society of Forensic Podiatry was established.

Foot Impressions Inside Shoes Tell Tales

I am proud to have contributed to the development and acceptance of this unique forensic science and have originated one method of helping to analyze foot impressions inside a shoe with a fiberoptic camera. My work was recently noted in The Untrodden Path of Forensic Podiatry.

First “Bones”, Now “Feet”!

The future of forensic podiatry will surely see the science continue to develop valuable tools to help law enforcement, and who knows, maybe someday a Hollywood producer will determine that the next hit forensic television series might be about a crime-solving podiatrist!

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Footprint file catches criminals

CRIMINALS are more likely to find themselves caught “red-footed” after police introduced a new way of sharing their national database of shoeprints.

Whenever a footprint is found at a crime scene, forensic experts take casts and photographs of them and record them in a database.

These can later be compared to suspects’ shoes to see if they match.

Detectives have for many years used different methods of identifying footprints, but now forces across the country have signed up to a new computerised reference library, creating a more unified approach.

Staff from Lancashire Police, which covers the north of Bolton, have been involved in creating the new database, called the National Footwear Reference Collection.

Lancashire Police’s scientific support manager Dr Kath Mashiter said: “The launch of the NFRC represents a huge milestone in the footwear world, as for the first time, all police forces in England and Wales will be using a common reference collection.

“This will enable them to talk to each other in the same language – for example, a Nike 126 will mean the same in Kent as it does in Northumberland.”

Source: The Bolton News

Dr. Nirenberg’s Comments:

As a forensic podiatrist, I could not be happier to hear about this footprint file. Like fingerprints, no two footprints are alike, and many people have been convicted or cleared of wrong-doing based on their feet.

For more information about forensic podiatry watch the following Fox News clip:Forensic Podiatry News Report

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Source: The Herald Aug 4, 2008

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.2416332.0.A_step_ahead_how_a_walk_could_catch_criminals.php

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Here is the link:

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=6423322&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.5.1

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The man on the footage had distinctive bow legs

A burglar walked into a two-year jail term after his distinctive swagger was matched by experts from CCTV footage.

John Gibson Rigg may have successfully hidden his face but he was caught on camera walking to the scene.

A podiatrist, who specialises in gait analysis, matched the man and the walk and together with DNA evidence he was charged with two burglaries.

The 35-year-old, from Rawcliffe Avenue, Bolton, pleaded guilty at Bolton Crown Court and was jailed for two years.

On 24 January 2007, Rigg broke into a house on Whittam Road, Whalley and stole property valued at £4,500 including a computer, ipods and TV, while the occupants slept upstairs.

He also burgled a house on Chorley New Road, Bolton in April 1998, stealing a safe and £7,500 in cash while the owners were on holiday.

‘Visual evidence’

Rigg was arrested after DNA evidence was found at the scene. But when detectives noticed a man with a distinctive walk on CCTV around the time of the crime they brought in expert podiatrist Ian Linane.

The man on the footage had noticeable bowed legs and an unusual way of moving his left arm.

He was filmed in custody and the specialist found matches.

Mr Linane said: “This type of approach can be valuable in a number of ways in that it is not always hindered by types of clothing worn or even disguises.

“It has been used to eliminate as well as implicate individuals.

“There have been several cases of suspects admitting their guilt based on the visual evidence presented to them and as such it can save considerably on court costs.”

Det Con Mark Cruise said: “I hope this sends out a strong message that even criminals who conceal their faces can still be identified due to this relatively new type of forensic analysis.”

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