Role of the Crime Scene ExaminerRoleAs Pepper (2010) notes, the role of the crime scene investigator is poorly described in the media. He explains that the general image conveyed by the media is of detectives carrying out crime scene investigations in large groups, with little protective clothing. In reality, CSIs, or crime scene examiners, often work alone and know the great importance of protective clothing. A number of roles required by a CSI have been identified and include: photographing or videoing the scene, victims and property, searching and recovering physical evidence, fingerprints and palm prints, packaging and storing evidence to prevent the contamination as well as a number of others. Pepper (2010) explains that within each of the 43 In the police forces of England and Wales, there is a scientific support manager who heads each scientific support department. He goes on to describe how they are in charge of the personnel, finances and organization of police photography, crime scene and fingerprint services, and may sometimes also be responsible for other specialist services. Locard exchangeThe principle of Locard exchange is crucial in understanding crime scene examination. Dr. Edmond Locard was a pioneer in forensic medicine and formulated the basic principle "every contact leaves a trace" (Rankin, 2005), meaning that the perpetrator of a crime will leave both traces of himself at a crime scene and will make the traces disappear. crime scene (Jackson and Jackson, 2011, p.15). All forensic science begins at the scene of the crime because of this knowledge, as it is important to find any trace of a perpetrator at the scene. An example of the importance of Locard's principle is murder...... middle of paper......2005). Edmond Locard. Retrieved from Forensic Science Central: http://forensicsciencecentral.co.uk/edmondlocard.shtml Siddique, H. (December 20, 2007). Hoey cleared of Omagh bombing charges. Retrieved from The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/dec/20/northernireland.terrorismSutton, R. and Trueman, K. (2009). Crime scene management: scene-specific methods. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Use of experts in legal aid cases. (November 28, 2013). Retrieved from the Department of Justice: http://www.justice.gov.uk/legal-aid/funding/using-expertsWhat is the DNA database? (nd). Retrieved February 24, 2014 from the Science Museum: http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/whoami/findoutmore/yourgenes/whydoscientistsstudygenes/whatisdnaprofiling/whatisthednadatabase.aspxWhite, PC (2010). From Crime Scene to Court: Essentials of Forensic Science (3rd ed.). Cambridge: RSC Editions.