Wiltshire Police order Foster & Freeman's new, multiuser, network system for shoe print identification

Foster & Freeman have received their first order for SICAR Network, a new multiple-user, wide area network system for shoe print identification.

The system, to be installed at Wiltshire County Constabulary in the UK, will be the first of its kind to be used anywhere in the world and will consist of nine terminals placed at different locations in the county all linked to a central server at police headquarters.

Three terminals will be used at scenes-of-crime departments to process shoe prints recovered from crime scenes, either to identify the types of shoe worn or to match shoe prints directly to suspects on file. With the instant access to all centralised data the new system provides, it is anticipated that shoe print evidence will be used much more effectively, especially where crimes breach divisional boundaries within the county.

Another four terminals will be linked to A3 scanners and located in custody suites around the county. These will be used to scan and load suspects' shoe prints onto the system. Two further terminals at constabulary headquarters, will be used to cross check each new suspect's shoe prints against files of unsolved crimes. The system is completely flexible and can be enlarged or reconfigured, as required.

Wiltshire Constabulary is also subscribing to Solemate, Foster & Freeman's comprehensive shoe print reference database that currently provides data on over 3500 sport and work shoes from more than 220 manufacturers . The database provides photographic images of shoes, shoe sole prints, manufacturer and model data as well as sole pattern codes that allow scene-of-crime shoe prints to be identified using SICAR. Issued quarterly, the database is continually updated with new models as they appear on the market.

Although the current system is designed for use within the boundaries of the Wiltshire County Police authority, the system may be extended, with appropriate protocols, to neighbouring counties to combat cross border crime.

Back