Example forensic science dissertation topic 3:

An evaluation of the viability of a shared European ballistics database in consideration of UK policing and criminal justice opt-outs.

This dissertation will appeal to the student who has a political as well as scientific interest in the progress of forensic science in Europe. The UK will opt out of all of the criminal justice 130 measures due to start in the European Union in 2014, including the European arrest warrant and Europol. This will affect plans for a shared European ballistics electronic database. Claims have been made that the opt-out will mean the UK will be open to a flood of weapons from organised crime in Europe. This dissertation will involve interactions with the Police Foundation, Members of Parliament, and forensic scientists.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• De Ceuster, J., Hermsen, R., Mastaglio, M. and Nennstiel, R. (2012). ‘A discussion on the usefulness of a shared European ballistic image database’. Science & Justice, vol. 52(4), pp. 237-242.
• Yates, S.J., Akhgar, B., Bates, C., Jopek, L. and Wilson, R. (2011). ‘A platform for discovering and sharing confidential ballistic crime data’. International Journal of Knowledge and Web Intelligence, vol. 2(2), pp. 202-218.
• Yates, S.J., Bates, C., Akhgar, B., Jopek, L., Wilson, R., Mitchell, S.J. and Killick, S. (2011). ‘The Odyssey Project – Understanding and implementing user needs in the context of ballistic crime data exchange’. In, Akhgar, B. and Yates, S.J., Intelligence Management – Advanced Information and Knowledge Processing. London: Springer, pp. 11-34.