We go through our lives constantly picking up and depositing tiny samples of material – dust, skin, fibres – all sorts of stuff. For the most part it all goes completely unnoticed. However, when a serious crime takes place all these examples of trace evidence become invaluable for criminalists

No matter how careful a criminal is in covering their tracks, trace evidence is impossible to banish completely. Sometimes a couple of fibres of clothing may be the only solid piece of evidence the police have to go on. 

Hair shed by the victim could have found its way under the seat of a car, or carpet fibres may have adhered to the sole of a victim’s shoe. Something so seemingly insignificant can prove to be a criminal’s undoing.