Bulletproof evidence?

Bulletproof evidence? is a presentation on the forensic investigation of firearms offences, running at The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on Friday 30 October. It's a deep dive into how firearms are analysed in a criminal context, and it doesn't just stick to one part of the process.

The talk covers the three main stages of ballistics. Internal ballistics is what happens inside the gun — the firing pin hitting the primer, the powder igniting, and the bullet being pushed down the barrel. External ballistics takes over once the bullet leaves the muzzle, dealing with its flight through the air. Then there's terminal ballistics, which is what happens when the bullet finally hits its target. When you put them together, you get the full story of a shot, from the moment the trigger is pulled to where the bullet ends up.

It's the kind of thing that usually stays behind closed doors in a lab, so seeing it laid out like this is a rare look at the actual science used in firearms investigations. If you've ever wondered how a forensic team works backwards from a crime scene to a specific weapon, this is exactly where that happens.

The session runs from 2:00pm to 3:30pm at the IET, 2 Savoy Place, London WC2R 0BL. It's free, though you do need to book your place in advance.