Crime-Lite
Definition
A compact, battery-powered alternate light source system (Foster+Freeman) designed for scene use by scenes-of-crime officers; the Crime-lite 82S and ML2 are standard in UK police SOC kits.
- Manufacturer
- Foster and Freeman (UK)
- Core technology
- LED-based alternate light source with multiple wavelength channels
- Portable models
- Crime-lite 82S and ML2 (battery-powered for scene use)
- Primary use regions
- UK, European, and many global forensic laboratories
Common questions
What is Crime-lite and what does it do?+
Crime-lite is an LED-based alternate light source system made by Foster and Freeman. It uses multiple wavelengths of light to detect traces and evidence at crime scenes and in the laboratory, such as fingerprints, bodily fluids, and other forensic marks that are invisible under normal lighting.
Can Crime-lite be used at a crime scene or only in the lab?+
Crime-lite comes in portable, battery-powered models like the 82S and ML2 that are designed for use by scenes-of-crime officers at the scene itself. These compact versions are standard equipment in UK police SOC kits.
How many wavelengths does Crime-lite offer?+
Crime-lite offers eight or more selectable wavelength channels, allowing forensic specialists to choose the right light frequency for different types of evidence and surface materials.
Related terms
- Alternate Light Source (ALS)
- A device emitting light at selected wavelengths (typically 415 to 535 nm) used to detect biological fluids that fluoresce or absorb light...
- Rhodamine 6G
- A fluorescent dye applied as a post-treatment to cyanoacrylate-developed fingerprints; excited at 530 nm (green), it emits at 565-590 nm (yellow-orange), greatly...
- AFIS Workstation
- A dedicated computer system with encoding software and database connectivity used by fingerprint examiners to encode latent minutiae, submit searches against criminal...
- Bandpass Filter
- An optical filter transmitting a defined wavelength range (typically 20-40 nm FWHM) while blocking all others; the excitation filter in an ALS...
- Chain of Custody
- The documented chronological record of who collected, handled, transferred, and examined a piece of evidence. For digital evidence, chain of custody includes...
- Cyanoacrylate Fuming
- A fingerprint development technique in which ethyl cyanoacrylate vapour polymerises onto eccrine sweat residue on a latent print, producing a stable, white...
- DFO (1,8-Diazafluoren-9-One)
- A fluorescent ninhydrin analogue used for latent fingerprint development on porous surfaces; excite at 450-470 nm (with secondary absorption extending into the...
- Elimination Print
- A ten-print record taken from a person with legitimate access to a crime scene (officer, examiner, paramedic, property owner) held in a...
- Fluorescent Whitening Agent (FWA)
- An optical brightener added to synthetic fibres and paper during manufacture; fluoresces under UV-A excitation, making treated fibres and paper highly visible...
- Gel Lifter
- A tacky gelatin sheet used to transfer developed fingerprint impressions from textured or three-dimensional surfaces where conventional adhesive tape would not conform;...
- Glassine Envelope
- A smooth, semi-transparent envelope made from supercalendered wood pulp, used to protect developed latent print lifts, photographic records, and small paper exhibits...
- Long-Pass (Viewing) Filter
- An optical filter transmitting all wavelengths above a defined cut-on wavelength; worn as goggles by the examiner to block excitation light while...
Explained in these topics
- Forensic Light Sources and Alternate Light ExaminationFoster + Freeman (UK) LED-based ALS platform offering eight or more selectable wavelength channels; the primary ALS tool in UK, European, and many global foren...
- Lab Equipment and Chain of Custody for Fingerprint CaseworkA compact, battery-powered alternate light source system (Foster+Freeman) designed for scene use by scenes-of-crime officers; the Crime-lite 82S and ML2 are st...