The development of latent fingerprints on polymer banknotes

Polymer banknotes, especially older banknotes and banknotes with aged prints, present challenges for latent print development. A sequence of techniques has been optimized for the development of aged prints on the surface of banknotes. The procedure involves optical examination, cyanoacrylate fuming, vacuum metal deposition treatment, and luminescence staining. It is essential to treat banknotes with cyanoacrylate fuming as soon as they are received so that the print degradation, which occurs quickly on the banknote surface, is minimized. Vacuum metal deposition treatment should also be applied as soon as possible after cyanoacrylate fuming. Treatments other than those outlined in this procedure should be avoided, because they will be detrimental to vacuum metal deposition development