Tasmania Police

Ballistic Examination

Ballistics

One of the key tools for ballistics examination is a comparative microscope. This allows the minute marks present on fired ammunition components, to be simultaneously examined under the same magnification. After test firing a firearm suspected of being used in a crime the ballistics expert can determine if the fired cartridge cases or bullets located at the crime scene were discharged from the firearm.

Other duties include:

Technical examination of firearm related crime scenes;
Examination of gunshot wounds upon deceased persons during autopsy;
Laboratory examinations of firearms, ammunition components and related items;
Providing advice to all Government agencies on aspects of firearms and firearms legislation;
Attendance in courts of all jurisdictions to provide expert testimony in relation to examinations carried out during the technical investigation of crime;
Lecturing police in firearms and ballistics; and
Servicing and repair of all departmental firearms.

Service Tasmania | Tasmania Online

This page - http://www.police.tas.gov.au/on-the-beat/forensics/ballistics - was last published on 4th October 2006 by the Department of Police and Emergency Management. Questions concerning its content can be sent by email to tasmania.police@police.tas.gov.au or by mail to GPO Box 308, Hobart, TAS, Australia 7001.

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