Bungled bite mark evidence collection: a proposed protocol for the prevention thereof

In recent years, several bite mark cases referred to our department could not be adequately analysed due to poor evidence collection. This has highlighted the fact that police officers, forensic pathologists and dental practitioners do not have access to the information required to collect, record, duplicate, store and transport the relevant evidence correctly. This article highlights several case studies in which evidence collection was bungled. A protocol is proposed that should eliminate this problem.