Police invest in innovative laser scanners

Police have invested in a number of new high-tech laser scanners which will help to reconstruct serious injury and fatal collisions.

The Korec supplied Trimble X7s will enable officers from the Forensic Collision Investigations Unit to piece together crash scenes in the finest of detail.

This will ensure the most accurate information can be gathered and submitted for court cases or inquests.

The nine new scanners purchased by Surrey Police and Sussex Police will predominantly be used for roads policing purposes, but can also play a crucial role in the reconstruction of significant incidents or murder investigations, for example.

The forces are among the first in the country to secure the state-of-the-art kit, which will replace the old 3D laser scanners brought in about 10 years ago.

Detective Chief Inspector Pip Taylor, of Surrey Police and Sussex Police Operations, said: “Our investment of this cutting edge technology demonstrates our ongoing commitment to keeping people safe on our roads and taking action against those who compromise the safety of themselves and other road users.

“The new equipment will prove invaluable in helping to bring offenders to justice, and providing answers to questions from bereaved families who tragically lose their loved ones in collisions on our roads.”

The new scanners come with a range of benefits, as Inspector Dan Pitcher, head of the Forensic Collision Investigations Unit for Surrey Police and Sussex Police, explains.

“We only get one chance to capture the evidence required from a scene, and it’s vital that we get it right,” he said.

“These scanners offer a far more efficient and effective way of achieving that, and they give us a really detailed picture from a variety of angles of what happened, right down to the minutest detail such as the position of small debris on the road.

“Being able to accurately and reliably collect this data will help us to submit timely reports for the purposes of court cases or inquests, and the new kit will be more cost effective in the long run. It also reduces the strain on other motorists impacted by road closures.”

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said Sussex Police’s purchase of the new Korec Trimble X7 laser scanners would help investigators get the best possible overview of collision and crime scenes to ensure the force had the best chance to get justice for victims.

She said: “Sussex Police always strives to be at the cutting edge of digital technology so I am delighted to see this collaborative investment with Surrey Police further strengthening police capabilities in reconstructions to support inquests as well as prosecutions.”

Each FCIU vehicle across Surrey and Sussex will have a scanner on board so they can immediately be deployed to the scene of a collision.

The investment ensures Surrey Police and Sussex Police comply with the International Standard of Operation as set out by the Forensic Collision Investigation Network.