Soil sampling demonstration showcases forensic opportunities in rural crime

Police Scotland is working with partners to showcase how soil samples can be used as potential forensic opportunities to help tackle rural crime across the country.

The forensic methods can assist with preventing and investigating crimes, including thefts of high-value materials, taking place on protected landscapes such as renewable energy sites, privately-owned land, historically important sites and biodiversity hotspots.

Officers are working in partnership with Scottish Power Renewables, the Centre for Forensic Soil Science, the James Hutton Institute (the Hutton), and the Forensic Research Institute at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU).

Renewable energy sites are typically remote and can be targeted by criminal groups for theft of high-value assets, vandalism, and trespassing. In such cases, environmental forensic techniques including soil analysis can provide an additional powerful forensic method to link persons of interest with scenes of criminal activity.

Soil and vegetation from such locations can transfer onto people and vehicles accessing the sites illegally. These samples can be analysed and compared to provide evidence for criminal cases.

This process is already used in some cases, however it is now being expanded to some rural communities to assist in combatting illegal trespassing, damage to rural sites, heritage crime and theft from renewable energy sites.

Scientists at the Hutton and LJMU are investigating new analytical methods to investigate these offences and ensure that robust scientific practices are in place to support legal prosecutions.

Soil samples from initially some renewable energy sites in Scotland will be collected and stored at the Hutton, providing a reference database to support any future investigations involving illegal access and criminal activity at renewable energy sites.

Sergeant Lauren Semple from the Rural, Acquisitive and Business Preventions Team, Police Scotland, said: “Tackling rural crime is a priority for Police Scotland which is strengthened by effective partnership working.

“This project highlights the importance of forensic analysis methods, not only for detecting offences, but for crime prevention also.

“Crimes at these sites can cause a significant financial loss and are also disruptive and disturbing to local communities and individuals’ livelihoods.

“We are committed to working together to protect our communities by deterring, disrupting and detecting criminal activity. I am confident this continued partnership will make a real impact with various preventative and enforcement activities.

“I want to reassure anyone who may be affected to please report incidents to us via 101. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Professor Lorna Dawson, Head of Centre for Forensic Soil Science at the James Hutton Institute, said: “We are excited to be collaborating on this important initiative with our experience and expertise across the forensic and analytical sciences at the James Hutton Institute to help improve safety and security of the land and people of Scotland."