“…Published data, derived from experimental investigations and background surveys, represent an important part of the “knowledge base” that is available to the forensic scientist when framing propositions, assigning probabilities and interpreting evidence in context. Examples include conducting background studies for the presence of glass (see Coulson, Buckleton, Gummer, & Triggs, ; F. Jackson, Maynard, Cavanagh‐Steer, Dusting, & Roux, ) and fibers (see Jones & Coyle, ; Wiggins & Drummond, ), and studies addressing the transfer and persistence in relation to inorganic gunshot residue (GSR) (see French, Morgan, & Davy, ; Lindsay, McVicar, Gerard, Randall, & Pearson, ) and trace DNA (see Szkuta, Ballantyne, & van Oorschot, ; van Oorschot, Glavich, & Mitchell, ). However, in many instances, there is a lack of relevant data that can be relied upon to generate probability estimates, particularly in relation to activity level issues.…”