forensics / crime scene investigation
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forensics
The activity of searching for, collecting, and documenting physical traces (e.g., fingerprints, DNA) at a crime scene in order to solve a crime.
Die Spurensicherung am Tatort dauerte die ganze Nacht.
The forensics work at the crime scene lasted the whole night.
forensics team
The specialized police department or group of forensic technicians responsible for securing evidence at a crime scene.
Die Spurensicherung traf kurz nach der Polizei am Tatort ein.
The forensics team arrived at the crime scene shortly after the police.
The word is made up of 'die Spuren' (traces, plural of Spur, e.g., fingerprints) and 'die Sicherung' (securing, protecting). So it describes the securing of evidence traces.
Die Spurensicherung ist ein wichtiger Teil der Polizeiarbeit.
Forensics is an important part of police work.
The noun 'die Spurensicherung' is derived directly from the activity 'Spuren sichern' (to secure traces/evidence). So it is easy to imagine the action behind it.
Die Polizei muss am Tatort sorgfältig alle Spuren sichern.
The police must carefully secure all evidence at the crime scene.
You can tell whether the activity or the team is meant from the verb. If 'die Spurensicherung' performs an action (e.g., 'trifft ein' (arrives), 'untersucht' (examines)), the team is meant. If it is itself the object of an action (e.g., 'anordnen' (to order)), the activity is meant.
Die Spurensicherung untersucht den Raum auf Fingerabdrücke.
The forensics team examines the room for fingerprints.
When referring to the activity, the word is often combined with the location, e.g., 'die Spurensicherung am Tatort' (forensics at the crime scene). Common verbs are 'durchführen' (to carry out) or 'leiten' (to lead).
Ein erfahrener Beamter leitet die Spurensicherung.
An experienced officer leads the forensic evidence collection.
search for clues
Spurensuche and Spurensicherung are both part of investigating a crime scene and can both refer to working with traces or evidence. Spurensuche mainly emphasizes deliberately finding clues, while Spurensicherung also includes collecting and documenting them. Use “Spurensuche” for the search itself and “Spurensicherung” for the complete forensic process.
Die Spurensicherung sammelte und dokumentierte die Fingerabdrücke an der Tür.
The forensic investigators collected and documented the fingerprints on the door.
Die Spurensuche am Tatort konzentrierte sich auf mögliche Fingerabdrücke an der Tür.
The search for clues at the crime scene focused on possible fingerprints on the door.
