Northumbria Police gets new 3D scanners for investigating road collisions

Forensic officers receive laser scanners allowing them to create a virtual 3D image of the area and cars involved at a scene of a collision.

The £160,000 equipment will allow officers examining the scene to preserve evidence long after a road re-opens.

PC Alan Brown from the Forensic Collision Investigation Unit, said: “If there’s a collision on the A1, for example, and there’s hundreds of motorists either side who need to use that road – we can create a replica scene and secure all evidence, even once the road has re-opened.

“This is something we couldn’t previously do without technology.”

The scanners will help police provide detailed and undisputed evidence about fatal collisions to the courts.

Mr Brown said: “It’s vital for the families and loved-ones of victims that thorough investigations take place and offenders will be brought before the courts.”

He added that the new technology would help improve their investigations “massively.”