Forensic experts are inviting the public to test their trainer knowledge and contribute to a groundbreaking research project that could transform policing.
The award-winning initiative, When All is Tread and Done, is a collaboration between the University of Staffordshire and West Yorkshire Police, exploring how trainers can help identify suspects in criminal investigations. Professor Claire Gwinnett, project lead, explained that while CCTV, body-worn cameras, and mobile footage are increasingly used in investigations, suspects often cover their faces. Shoes, however, can be a distinguishing feature in images and CCTV footage, which is the focus of the research.
The project has already received national recognition, winning awards for project leadership from the Police Chief Scientific Advisor and “Innovation in Policing” at the West Yorkshire Annual Policing Awards. It is also the only initiative to receive three consecutive rounds of funding from the Police STAR Fund.
The team has developed a fast and affordable method to capture images of trainers under white and infrared light, simulating CCTV conditions, allowing forensic experts to study shoe upper characteristics. So far, 1,000 trainers from members of the public have been collected and scanned. Now, the public is invited to take part in an online trainer identification quiz, which asks users to identify makes and models of trainers. Those who wish can also participate in experiments identifying trainers in mock CCTV footage, helping researchers understand how people recognise brands and characteristics.
Professor Gwinnett said the quiz is short and fun, and anyone can participate, regardless of their interest in trainers, while helping advance research that could make a real difference in operational policing. Research Assistant Dr Megan Needham added that after three years of funded research, the team has taken the idea of using footwear uppers as evidence from early-stage concept to operational reality, with the next step being wider awareness and adoption so its full evidential value can be realised.
The University of Staffordshire connects talent with opportunity, with 62% of its students being the first in their family to attend university. Its campuses in Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, and London offer career-focused courses, digital innovation, and real-world learning. The University ranked equal first in the UK in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025 for contribution to access to quality education and is recognised for research excellence, with 68% of its research rated world-leading or internationally excellent and 87% of its research impact judged very considerable or outstanding.
