Can maths help solve crime?
by Helen Margerison
Forensic science would benefit from the inclusion of mathematics into criminal investigations, according to new research revealed today at the BA Festival of science.
A number of eminent UK mathematicians suggested that mathematics is an underused tool in many criminal investigations such as road traffic accidents, fingerprint recognition exercises, the search for landmines and even finding serial killers.
Dr. David Spiegelhalter, a senior scientist at the Medical Research Council, believes that mathematics could have helped catch Harold Shipman, the UK’s most prolific serial killer, much earlier. By using statistical tests combined with retrospective analysis of the rate of patient deaths and the time of death, which correlate largely with Shipman’s afternoon home visits, Dr. Spiegelhalter has been able to assist in the criminal investigation. ‘By using mathematics we are now moving from retrospective statistical analysis to prospective analysis,’ explained Dr. Spiegelhalter. This would reduce the possibility of such tragedies occurring in the future.
But how else can the logic-driven and ordered world of mathematics be related to the messy world of crime detection? Professor Chris Budd, from the University of Bath, has recently demonstrated that mathematical techniques can be of significant help to forensic investigators. By modelling the series of events leading up to the crime, and effectively building a mathematical model of the event in question, Professor Budd can link the cause of the event to the effect seen. This is a process known as solving an inverse problem, and it provides important details about the crime. This kind of mathematics can be used to investigate road traffic accidents and speeding offences.
However it is not just modern day criminals that can be investigated using mathematical techniques. Ancient crimes can be uncovered by the mathematical Poirots of this world. Professor Budd has recently investigated the alleged murder of ancient Egyptian King, Tutankhamen, providing evidence that he was not struck on the head but in fact suffered a blow to the leg and died from natural causes as a result of this injury. ‘Maths has a profound application in all areas of our life. It is like the air we breathe, we sometimes just don’t know it is there,’ enthused Professor Budd.
Although he admits that mathematics will not solve every crime, this type of work highlights the importance of including mathematical techniques in forensic investigations.
Forensic science would benefit from the inclusion of mathematics into criminal investigations, according to new research revealed today at the BA Festival of science.
A number of eminent UK mathematicians suggested that mathematics is an underused tool in many criminal investigations such as road traffic accidents, fingerprint recognition exercises, the search for landmines and even finding serial killers.
Dr. David Spiegelhalter, a senior scientist at the Medical Research Council, believes that mathematics could have helped catch Harold Shipman, the UK’s most prolific serial killer, much earlier. By using statistical tests combined with retrospective analysis of the rate of patient deaths and the time of death, which correlate largely with Shipman’s afternoon home visits, Dr. Spiegelhalter has been able to assist in the criminal investigation. ‘By using mathematics we are now moving from retrospective statistical analysis to prospective analysis,’ explained Dr. Spiegelhalter. This would reduce the possibility of such tragedies occurring in the future.
But how else can the logic-driven and ordered world of mathematics be related to the messy world of crime detection? Professor Chris Budd, from the University of Bath, has recently demonstrated that mathematical techniques can be of significant help to forensic investigators. By modelling the series of events leading up to the crime, and effectively building a mathematical model of the event in question, Professor Budd can link the cause of the event to the effect seen. This is a process known as solving an inverse problem, and it provides important details about the crime. This kind of mathematics can be used to investigate road traffic accidents and speeding offences.
However it is not just modern day criminals that can be investigated using mathematical techniques. Ancient crimes can be uncovered by the mathematical Poirots of this world. Professor Budd has recently investigated the alleged murder of ancient Egyptian King, Tutankhamen, providing evidence that he was not struck on the head but in fact suffered a blow to the leg and died from natural causes as a result of this injury. ‘Maths has a profound application in all areas of our life. It is like the air we breathe, we sometimes just don’t know it is there,’ enthused Professor Budd.
Although he admits that mathematics will not solve every crime, this type of work highlights the importance of including mathematical techniques in forensic investigations.
search this section
