The Naked Scientists
Toggle navigation
Login
Register
Podcasts
The Naked Scientists
eLife
Naked Genetics
Naked Astronomy
In short
Naked Neuroscience
Ask! The Naked Scientists
Question of the Week
Archive
Video
SUBSCRIBE to our Podcasts
Articles
Science News
Features
Interviews
Answers to Science Questions
Get Naked
Donate
Do an Experiment
Science Forum
Ask a Question
About
Meet the team
Our Sponsors
Site Map
Contact us
User menu
Login
Register
Search
Home
Help
Search
Tags
Member Map
Recent Topics
Login
Register
Naked Science Forum
General Discussion & Feedback
Just Chat!
What scientific confidence can we place on a cadaver dog's findings?
« previous
next »
Print
Pages: [
1
]
Go Down
What scientific confidence can we place on a cadaver dog's findings?
3 Replies
3688 Views
0 Tags
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
enquirer
(OP)
First timers
1
Activity:
0%
What scientific confidence can we place on a cadaver dog's findings?
«
on:
04/05/2012 17:19:43 »
I am asking this question because different police forces seem to have different opinions on their reliability.
For example, the finding of a death scent by cadaver dogs was used as evidence to convict someone in a murder case in Edinburgh this year, despite no body being found.
However, the Metropolitan police have recently discounted the death scent detected by another cadaver dog in the apartment belonging to the McCanns at the time their daughter went missing.
So, scientifically, what confidence can be placed on their ability to detect cadaver odour?
Logged
CliffordK
Naked Science Forum King!
6596
Activity:
0%
Thanked: 61 times
Site Moderator
Re: What scientific confidence can we place on a cadaver dog's findings?
«
Reply #1 on:
05/05/2012 12:02:42 »
I would think the biggest utility of cadaver dogs would be locating cadavers.
Most trained dogs will have a specific response to a stimulus. I.E. it is more than just interest that would lead them to give a drug response, weapons response, cadaver response, etc.
The response might be good enough to justify a search warrant, however, there is always risk of false positives.
It would be hard to convict based on a dog's actions without the drugs, weapons, cadaver, etc, as it then really is little more than a subjective and potentially biased interpretation of the handler.
Use the dogs to find
THE
cadaver, not where
A
cadaver presumably once was located.
Logged
JimBob
Global Moderator
Naked Science Forum King!
6543
Activity:
0%
Thanked: 9 times
Moderator
Re: What scientific confidence can we place on a cadaver dog's findings?
«
Reply #2 on:
06/05/2012 03:26:16 »
I didn't know dead dogs were used by police forces Live dogs are rater damned good at doing the job trained for, MUCH better than humans.
Logged
The mind is like a parachute. It works best when open. -- A. Einstein
Gordian Knot
Sr. Member
165
Activity:
0%
Re: What scientific confidence can we place on a cadaver dog's findings?
«
Reply #3 on:
07/05/2012 01:13:24 »
I do not know the case you are referring to. I find it hard to believe that the guilt or innocence of someone would be based solely on a dog's scent ability. As a small portion of a much larger proof of guilt, sure. But on the death scent along?
Logged
Life is not meant to be easy, but it IS supposed to be fun!
Print
Pages: [
1
]
Go Up
« previous
next »
Tags:
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...