Major Crime Service
Key Forensic provides a one-stop service to support the investigation of Major Crime. We have Major Incident Teams (MITs) at all of our locations, operating an on-call, 24-7 scene attendance service and providing forensic expertise and advice throughout the course of a major investigation. Our teams are hand-picked to provide the very best support and are all highly-experienced senior forensic practitioners, accustomed to dealing with multiple evidence types and the many priorities and complexities associated with high-profile enquiries. In addition to providing forensic analytical services and scene attendance, our Major Incident Teams also offer advice on: Securing and preserving the scene Screening, recovery and submission of exhibits Avoidance of contamination Packaging and labelling of exhibits Transportation of exhibits. The teams can also assist with developing forensic strategies and can undertake cold case reviews. They are well versed in preparing statements and reports, and attendance at court as expert witnesses.
Forensic Services Supporting the Investigation of Major Crime. KFS provides the following forensic services: Scene Attendance DNA Specialist DNA Body Fluids Blood Services Pattern Analysis Firearms Digital Forensics Gunshot Residue Noxious Substances Fibres Examination Glass, Paint and Physical Fits Enhancement Footwear Drugs other Particulates and Recovery of Latent Marks Hairs Damage Toxicology We have used your scene call out service for a complex murder investigation. We have found the service we have received from Key Forensics excellent from the point of collection through to production of statements. The staff are obviously very motivated and will always pull out all the stops to meet critical deadlines and keep the Investigating Officers informed at every stage of the examinations.
Right People. Delivering Results. Experienced scientists delivering forensic effectiveness, unquestionable integrity, focused customer service and value for money. Our People We have some of the most experienced, well-respected forensic experts in the country making up our MITs, all of whom have undertaken large numbers of major investigations and are accustomed to the complex nature and urgent requirements of major enquiries. Featured below are a selection of brief resumes of some of our team: Philip H.V. Alexander BSc PhD CChem MRSC Philip is an expert in the examination of firearms and related items and has been employed as a forensic scientist since 1986 including a period at the National Ballistics Intelligence Service. During this time he has examined over 5,000 cases ranging from the classification of all types of firearms (including irritant agent weapons), to murders. He regularly attends major crime scenes and provides expert opinion on his findings to the courts. Margaret Boyce BSc (Hons) MSc Margaret ( Maggie ) is one of our most senior operational scientists and has extensive experience of analysing and interpreting BPA evidence at crime scenes and in the laboratory. She has lectured and trained widely on this subject and has provided expert opinion to the courts on many major crime cases. Maggie has been a forensic scientist since 1984 during which time she has examined many hundreds of items for the presence of blood, semen, saliva, fibres, hairs and other contact traces. She has attended numerous crime scenes and provided expert opinion on many cases involving the detection of blood and the interpretation of bloodstain patterns. She has given testimony in cases of murder, sexual assault and other crimes involving body fluid transfer and the interpretation of DNA profiling results.
Des Vanhinsbergh BSc (Hons), PhD Des is an expert in Human Contact Traces (DNA and body fluids), including blood pattern analysis and the interpretation of mixed DNA profiles. With over ten years experience, he has reported and reviewed many hundreds of major crime cases and attended numerous crime scenes. Des was the operational lead behind the setting up and accreditation of the KFS Norwich casework and DNA profiling facilities. He is responsible for the management and development of staff, service delivery and research carried out within this facility, as well as continuing to report cases himself. Jim Haworth C.Chem, C.Sci, MRSC, MFSSoc Jim has a graduateship of the Royal Society of Chemistry, is a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry and is a chartered chemist and scientist. Following three years conducting research and chemical analysis with the Ministry of Defence, Jim started work as a forensic scientist in 1990 at the Home Office Forensic Science Laboratory, Birmingham. During which time he mainly worked in the areas of marks, particulates and physical fits. Jim is now Head of Chemistry for KFS, with over twenty years experience in forensic chemistry, covering disciplines including particulate chemistry, fire scene investigation, accelerant analysis, footwear, alcohol analysis/calculations, drugs and non-routine chemical analysis. Jim has worked on numerous complex and high profile cases and holds an Assistant Commissioner s commendation for dedication and professionalism. Helen Haworth BSc (Hons) CBiol MSB Helen is also one of our most senior, experienced scene-going scientists and has worked on numerous major investigations, analysing and interpreting BPA, DNA, and other trace evidence types. One of Helen s notable cases was the G20 riots in London, in which she provided expert scientific input in conjunction with her colleagues at the laboratory. Helen is Head of Biology at our Coventry headquarters. She has been a forensic scientist since 1989 during which time she has specialised in fibre examinations. She has examined thousands of items for the presence of blood, semen, saliva, fibres, hairs and other contact traces. She has attended numerous crime scenes and provided expert opinion on many cases involving the detection of blood and the interpretation of bloodstain patterns. She has given testimony in a large number of high profile cases for both prosecution and defence, in the UK and in international courts.
Stephen Harrington BSc (Hons) CBiol MSB Stephen ( Steve ) has recently completed his 100th scene attendance, advising on the preservation and recovery of trace evidence from scenes and interpreting evidence/ events to assist with the enquiry. Steve has worked on a significant number of major incidents and earned many commendations as a result of his important contributions. Steve is experienced in the examination of biological material such as blood, semen, saliva and hair and the interpretation of blood patterns at crime scenes and on items at the laboratory. Areas of expertise involve the examination, analysis and interpretation of cases involving the transfer of textile fibres, including cases of fibre plastic fusions, and the examination and interpretation of damage features on clothing. Jessica Adby BSc (Hons) Jessica has over ten years experience as a forensic scientist. During this time, Jessica has reported and reviewed in excess of two thousand cases in the field of human contact traces, including complex mixtures and blood pattern analysis. She has been attending scenes as an expert in body fluids and blood pattern analysis since 2007, dealing with many complex and high profile cases. She has provided expert opinion in court in many of these and other cases, including Category A murders and serious sexual assaults. Steve Harrington Steve is routinely called to the scene of an incident to perform specific investigations, the most common request is for Blood Pattern Analysis. Steve acts in an advisory capacity to ensure that the best possible use is made of forensic evidence. Case Examples 1. Suspicious Death at Michael Barrymore s House - Death of Stuart Lubbock One of our scientists conducted the examination of Mr Barrymore s house in relation to the enquiry into the suspicious death of Stuart Lubbock. These examinations were conducted in the presence of a solicitor at all times. Further work was carried out within the laboratory to aid in the alleged sexual aspect of the case.
2. Operation Maltby On 10th March 2011, Jia Ashton was seen leaving the Thornton s chocolate factory. It is believed she was killed shortly afterwards. Her body was found three days later in Sleetmoor Wood near to the factory. Key Forensic scientists from Coventry and Norwich attended case conferences with the police investigative team to discuss and advise on a strategy which would maximise the forensic evidence. A partial profile was derived from a mixed profile from Jia s abdomen swabs. The same profile also was derived from a mixed profile on her trousers and from a swab taken from the zip of her purse found in her handbag 30 feet up a tree. It was apparent at this stage that the team had an unknown male profile thought to be that of the offender. This profile was loaded and searched against the NDNAD, however no matches occurred. The investigative team had also identified a good fingerprint on Jia s mobile phone but unfortunately no matches were obtained from their databases. Following discussion with the police team, a mass screening then took place and elimination/volunteer DNA samples together with fingerprints were taken from males in the local area. KFS processed nearly 200 mouth swabs. On 5th May police obtained a match between a male volunteer sample (David Simmonds) and the fingerprint on the mobile phone. KFS then urgently processed his reference sample and a match was obtained to the unknown male profile found on Jia s body, clothing and personal property. Simmonds stated he had nothing to do with her death and knew nothing of the incident. KFS then examined property seized from David Simmonds home address and a pair of his trainers were found to have blood on them. Tellingly, the DNA profile from the blood matched that of Jia Ashton. When faced with this evidence, David Simmonds pleaded guilty to the offence. He was convicted of murder at Nottingham Crown Court and received a life sentence. 3. Soham Enquiry Two of our scientists worked with the investigation team on the Soham enquiry. This work included the fire investigation at the deposition site and the examination of Ian Huntley s house. This investigation was particularly difficult given the high media interest and the need to ensure that no information was leaked to the public. The examination of the house was for blood, fibres, hairs, damage of the bath. The examinations carried out by both scientists culminated in them giving evidence at court one of the Old Bailey.
Urgent Submissions Key Forensic operational sites are able to receive requests for urgent casework, both in and out of office hours. In addition, the Major Incident Teams at each site provide a 24-7 scene attendance service. Turnaround Times Our MIT staff will adhere to the contracted turnaround times applicable to the case. For customers who do not currently have a contractual arrangement in place, we are willing to accept work on a case by case basis and would encourage customers to provide the opportunity for us to demonstrate our Major Crime Service. Communication Advice, consultation and milestone updates are provided by our MIT staff throughout the duration of the case. In addition our staff are available to attend force meetings as required. Contact Us For more information on our Major Crime Service, please contact our Sales & Marketing team on: Tel: 02476 323399 Email: sales@keyforensic.co.uk or alternatively, for current customers please contact your Account Manager. 4064 keyforensic.co.uk Accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 (Please see www.ukas.com for scope of accreditation)