MURDER at SWCHS! Thankfully not, but the Science department at Saffron Walden County High School did become a crime scene after school.

This was due to a terrific visit from Lee Robson, a crime scene investigator with Essex Police who took the weekly session of the year eight science club.

Mr Robson enthralled students with the details of his extraordinary job and how he uses science to solve a wide variety of serious crimes.

After listening to his talk about his work, students were given the opportunity to become investigators for themselves. Fingerprinting, lifting footprints, analysing photographs, and even getting their hands dirty (quite literally) with fluorescent DNA detecting gel were all on offer.

Mr Robson also showed the students his Scenes of Crime van and the multitude of detection kits and evidence containers that he carries in it.

Students went home with a set of their own fingerprints and some with slides showing their electronically lifted footprint. One student even pointed out some cross contamination on his footprint slide – a budding forensic scientist in the making!

A school spokesman said: “There was a real buzz during the event and students went home enthused about the topic.

“Several students left the two hour session saying they would be interested in pursuing a career related to crime scene investigation.

“This event certainly raised awareness of science and its applications and also introduced the students to non-traditional science careers in a memorable way.”

Anyone who uses science in their work and would be interested in running a session with the club should contact Dr Gwyer at SWCHS science department.