Crime Lab

A jewel robbery, a hit-and-run, and the Case of the Skeleton in the Sand Dunes illustrate the work of forensic scientists and the police they assist. How do they discover the characteristics of an individual bullet as it enters a body? How are blood stains identified or microscopic flakes of paint? How do voiceprints and lie-detectors work? The crime labs of Britain and America have different priorities and different techniques. Each can learn from the other. They also have different success rates. Britain's is currently better. But how long can we hold out against a rapidly rising tide of drugs and violence? What can we learn from American experience?

Other episodes for this season

Epidemic
Episode 1 - Epidemic
Worlds in Collision
Episode 2 - Worlds in Collision
The Military Necessity
Episode 3 - The Military Necessity
The Curtain of Silence
Episode 4 - The Curtain of Silence
Crime Lab
Episode 5 - Crime Lab
When the Breeding Has to Stop
Episode 6 - When the Breeding Has to...
Science Is Dead, Long Live Science
Episode 7 - Science Is Dead, Long Liv...
...And Where Will the Children Play?
Episode 8 - ...And Where Will the Chi...
Acupuncture: A Chinese Puzzle
Episode 9 - Acupuncture: A Chinese Pu...
What Time Is Your Body?
Episode 10 - What Time Is Your Body?
Survival of the Weakest
Episode 11 - Survival of the Weakest
Red Sea Coral and the Crown of Thorns
Episode 12 - Red Sea Coral and the Cro...
Lumbered... with Back-Ache!
Episode 13 - Lumbered... with Back-Ach...
Airport
Episode 14 - Airport
Do You Remember the Memory Man?
Episode 15 - Do You Remember the Memor...
What a Waste!
Episode 16 - What a Waste!
The Laws of the Land
Episode 17 - The Laws of the Land
Do We Really Need the Railways?
Episode 18 - Do We Really Need the Rai...
The Telly of Tomorrow?
Episode 19 - The Telly of Tomorrow?
How Does It Hurt?
Episode 20 - How Does It Hurt?
A Scientist Looks at Religion
Episode 21 - A Scientist Looks at Reli...
In Search of Konrad Lorenz
Episode 22 - In Search of Konrad Loren...
Stretch Up Tall
Episode 23 - Stretch Up Tall
Gilding the Lily
Episode 24 - Gilding the Lily
The Black Holes of Gravity
Episode 25 - The Black Holes of Gravit...
What's so Big About Us?
Episode 26 - What's so Big About Us?
The Steadfast Tin Soldier
Episode 27 - The Steadfast Tin Soldier
Carry on Smoking
Episode 28 - Carry on Smoking
Air Crash Detective
Episode 29 - Air Crash Detective
An Element of Mystery
Episode 30 - An Element of Mystery
Digging Up the Future
Episode 31 - Digging Up the Future
Kula, a Reason for Giving
Episode 32 - Kula, a Reason for Giving