Improving the sustainability of forensic consumables

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I am a Crime Scene investigator currently employed in the south east of England. At a time when major industry appears to be making efforts to reduce reliance on single use plastics, the field of forensics continues to rely heavily on plastic packaging. Forensic consumables are manufactured and purchased based on their operational function to store or collect evidence, with little thought or attention given to their resource efficiency and overall sustainability. Swabs, plastic self-seal evidence bags, tubes, boxes and even paper bags often have plastic windows made of polythene which render the products non-recyclable.

My aim is to ascertain whether there is a genuine concern among my peers who utilise forensic packaging regarding single use plastic waste. Ultimately, I hope to work in tandem with national police forces and consumables companies to find ways to improve sustainability without affecting the integrity of the packaging, while ensuring ease of use for practitioners and cost effectiveness for the Police Services.

1.1. I consent to participating in this survey Required

Yes

2.2. Current job role

Crime Scene Investigator

Forensic Nurse Practitioner/Forensic Paramedic

Sexual Offence Liaison Officer/Sexual Offence Investigation Team

Police Officer

Other

a.2.a. If you selected Other, please specify:

3.3. Police force region you are employed by (regions purposefully broad to maintain anonymity)?

a.3.a. If you selected Other, please specify:

4.4. Gender:

Identify as male

Identify as female

Non-binary

Prefer not to say

Other

5.5. Your age Bracket:

18-25 years old

26-30 years old

31-35 years old

36-40 years old

41-45 years old

46-50 years old

51-55 years old

56-60 years old

61+

6.6. Length of service in current role:

0-2 years

3-5 years

6-10 years

11-15 years

16-20 years

21-25 years

26+ years

7.7. Does your current role require the use of forensic consumables, for example, early evidence kits, PPE, packaging, evidence bags, swab modules, sampling modules (eg fingernail, DNA tox, hair collection kits)?

Almost always

Often

Sometimes

Seldom

Never

8.8. Do you believe your work processes generate an unnecessary amount of waste?

Almost always

Often

Sometimes

Seldom

Never

9.9. Have you perceived an increase in the amount of work-related waste you generate during evidence recovery since starting in your role?

Yes

10.10. What do you believe makes up the bulk of your scene exam related waste?

Paper

Cardboard

Plastic

Metal

Glass

Other

a.10.a. If you selected Other, please specify:

11.11. Are you concerned about the amount of plastic waste you generate at crime scenes?

Extremely concerned

Very concerned

Moderately concerned

Slightly concerned

Not at all concerned

12.12. Do you feel the amount of single use plastic waste produced during crime scene examinations is justified? Optional

Always

Often

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

13.13. Do you make an attempt to recycle your work-related waste packaging?

Always

Often

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

14.14. Do you try to select packaging or amend procedure in an effort to generate less waste?

Always

Often

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

15.15. Do you always attempt to recycle your domestic waste packaging at home? Optional

Always

Often

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

16.16. What do you believe would make an impact in reducing work related plastic waste - tick all that apply?

Redesign packaging to remove plastic inserts (in boxes and bags)

Phase out some less used pre-packaged forensic modules

Ensure Standard Operating Procedures are written to prevent plastic waste (use single gloves at standard crime scenes, stop throwing unused items away, etc)

Introduce new technologies to reduce reliance on plastics, e.g., photography, tablets.

Introduce longer expiry dates on modules

Introduce reusable equipment that can be sterilised

Stop individually wrapping packaging items in layers of plastic - have them stored in plastic tubs

Other - please specify below

a.16.a. If you selected Other, please specify:

17.17. Other actions you believe would reduce the amount of single use plastic generated at scenes?

18.18. What SINGLE action do you believe would have the greatest impact on reducing single use plastic generation and waste in the field of Crime Scene Investigation/evidence collection?

Redesign packaging to remove plastic inserts (in boxes and bags)

Phase out some less used pre-packaged forensic modules

Ensure Standard Operating Procedures are written to prevent plastic waste (use single gloves at standard crime scenes, stop throwing unused items away, etc)

Change ways of working in the field to stop using plastic eg use of photography and wifi to submit fingerprints.

Introduce longer expiry dates on modules

Introduce reusable equipment that can be sterlised.

Other

a.18.a. If you selected Other, please specify:

19.19. Please add any further suggestions or comments:

20.20. Once the data from this survey has been analysed, I would like to conduct further interviews and/or focus groups. If this is something you would be interested in being involved with, please leave your email below. Alternatively, if you prefer, please feel free to contact me via rebecca.henderson@port.ac.uk to register your interest in the interview element of the research.