TV viewers were given a graphic insight into the world of police forensics in Luton as officers from Beds and Herts Scientific Services took centre stage in a one-off BBC documentary on Tuesday night.
Raw Cut TV shadowed scenes of crime officers for a year between 2010 and 2011 to produce the programme, which showed how officers use the latest forensic science techniques to bring the area’s most dangerous criminals to justice.
The show focussed on two cases in Luton, a shotgun incident which saw shots fired at a house in Wilsden Avenue last March and a brutal assault in which Timothy Sheridan was attacked with an iron and broom handle and caustic soda was poured over his head at a bedsit in Crawley Green Road in October 2010.
The show explored how evidence was gathered to ensure that Waseem and Zahir Baig, both of Radnor Road, Luton, were convicted of the Wilsden Avenue shooting and Barry Medlock, Jackie Kerr and Jennifer Collins were all jailed for their part in the Crawley Green Road attack.
Principal SOCO Mark Watson, who is featured in the documentary, said: “Initially I found it quite difficult to concentrate on what I was doing as well as working with the cameraman.
“Over time though I found that the opportunity to explain how we interpret scenes and gather evidence gave me greater confidence.
“I hope that the final programme conveys the passion I have after many years for investigating crime scenes for the police.”