TOP crime fighters from across the UK are attending a conference in the region this week.

A new Centre for Forensic Investigation is being opened at the University of Teesside, Middlesbrough, coinciding with Wednesday's campus conference, which is attracting senior police and Home Office personnel, forensic science and crime scene experts.

The conference will explore the future of forensic and crime scene science, and how science and technology can be used to solve crime.

Guest speakers will include Tony Lake, the chief constable of Lincolnshire Constabulary, Tim Wilson, head of the Home Office forensic science and pathology unit, Dr Dave Werrett, chief executive of the forensic science service and Gary Pugh, director of forensic services for the Metropolitan Police.

Dr Julie Mennell, director of the Centre for Forensic Investigation at the university, said holding such an important conference confirmed Tees-side as one of the leading universities in the field of forensic and crime scene science.

She said: "Science and technology is playing an ever-increasing role in crime. Not only are the police turning to science and technology more often to help them solve crime, but the criminals, too, are now using science and technology to their advantage.

"Technological developments, such as miniaturised devices to analyse DNA at a scene (lab-on-a-chip) for a match within hours of the crime being committed, will radically change the ways in which forensic science will be used and delivered in the years to come."

She said the conference would consider what these changes might mean for the police, forensic science laboratories, and also for the teaching of the next generation of forensic scientists.