A new machine developed by engineers in the UK can now reveal latent fingerprints left on thermal paper. Consolite Forensics worked with forensic science lecturer and specialist Dr John Bond to create the Hot Print System (HPS).
The device can show latent fingers on thermal paper in just a matter of minutes. Fingerprints can be up to two years old and still be detectable by the HPS. The HPS has already been patented, commercialised and sold to users in Australia, China, the US and the Middle East, according to The Engineer.

It is user friendly and operates without chemicals or pre-processing procedures. The significance of the invention being able to reveal prints on thermal paper lies in the fact that receipts are commonly printed on thermal paper. Receipts are often handled and left by criminals in vehicles and other crime scenes.
The device is the size of a small scanner and weighs just 4kg. It heats the sample and then uses optical sensors to ‘lift’ the fingerprint. The HPS represents a breakthrough for law-enforcement bodies, as lab tests for fingerprints tend to be expensive. Additionally, lab tests involve the use of chemicals, which in some cases can lead to blackened or damaged samples.