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Newsround
Some of our latest news..........
Photography services
We are very pleased to launch this new service, providing specialist forensic photography services to the criminal and civil justice system. Please visit our Photography services page for more details. Click here to view press release. March 2013
Latest newsletter
Please click here for a copy of our latest newsletter. September 2012
Cold Case Review
Following our success with cold case reviews, we have just been instructed on a large case dating back to 1976. July 2012
Forensic Science Society
Karen Wade has now been appointed as a lead assessor for the Forensic Science Society's program of competency testing for footwear examiners. June 2012
Presentation at annual conference
Andy recently presented at the Association of British Investigators annual conference. His talk entiteld "For love or money - the application of forensic techniques in fraud invesitgations" was given to around 60 representatives from the investigator community. April 2012
Article published
Andy Wade's article on using forensic science effectively has recently been published in the Insurance FRAUD Investigation magazine (Dec 2011 edition) For a transcript of this article, please click here. Jan 2012
Presentation to pathologists
Andy has been asked to present a paper at the British Association in Forensic Medicine conference to be held in November 2011 in Belfast. His paper will concentrate on the fire in Omagh in 2007, which killed seven people including five children. Andy was engaged by the police back in 2007 to investigate the cause of this fire and gave evidence at the inquest into the deaths. November 2011
Competancy standards
Karen Wade has been asked by the Forensic Science Society (FSS) to develop and be a technical assessor for competancy standards on behalf of the FSS. October 2011
Chartered Scientist
Karen Wade has recently been awarded her Chartered Scientist (CSci) on behalf of the Science Council. This is in recognition of her continuing contribution to science and her commitment to her own continuous professional development. She is now entitled to use the postnominal letters CSci. October 2011
Prestigious award
Andy Wade has been elected as a Fellow of the Forensic Science Society in recognition of his continued contribution to forensic science. Sept 2011
New series of training seminars for legal professionals launched
Led by a world renowned forensic scientist, these seminars will provide the knowledge to acheive the maximum benefit for your client in fire-related cases. The seminars are accredited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to provide 3 hours CPD and are being held at several venues throughout the north of England during the Autumn 2011. These seminars are always very popular, so book early to avoid disappointment. Visit our CPD courses page for more information. July 2011
Malcolm Webster case presented at IAAI conference
In collaboration with the Senior Investigating Officer, Andrew Wade will be presenting his findings in this high profile case to the International Association of Arson Investigators at their conference in July. Andrew carried out some very significant work on this case, which was tried in May this year resulting in a guilty verdict for Malcolm Webster. July 2011
Chartered Chemist status
We are very pleased to announce that Karen Wade has been awarded her Chartered Chemist qualification from the Royal Society of Chemistry, recognition of her continued contribution to chemistry. She is now entitled to use the postnominals CChem after her name. June 2011
Commitment to Quality
We are very pleased to announce that we have been re-assessed as compliant with quality standard ISO 9001:2008 for the second year running. We are also working towards UKAS accreditation to ISO 17025. February 2011
IAAI Conference
Andy was pleased to be invited to give a talk at the International Association of Arson Investigators conference in London. Over 150 delegates attended with speakers from the UK, USA, Canada, France, Bugaria and Finland. Andy's talk entitled "What Could Possibly go Wrong" highlighted some of the pitfalls in forensic fire investigation. January 2011
Andy being presented by IAAI President Peter Mansi
CPD accreditation
We are very pleased to announce that we have been accredited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to provide CPD training for solicitors, barristers and other legal professionals involved in criminal or civil litigation. The courses will be delivered by a team of experienced forensic scientists and will provide an introduction to forensic science and what the legal professional should expect from their forensic expert. They will cover some of the limitations and myths associated with various areas of forensic investigations. The courses will be illustrated with some of First Forensic Ltd’s recent high profile investigations. November 2010
First for Fingerprints
Our fingerprint expert, Phil Gilhooley, has been working with the National Media Museum of Bradford in an unusual examination of historically important artifacts. Phil has been working to authenticate fingermarks on some photographic plates attributed to the 19th century inventor and pioneer of photography, Joseph Niépce. Niépce is credited with producing the first ever photograph in 1825. This work has resulted in worldwide recognition of the importance of these items. The National Media Museum is showcasing these findings, please follow the link for more information. October 2010
First Forensic Ltd introduces CPD training
First Forensic Ltd have launched a series of Forensic Science awareness courses aimed at solicitors, barristers and other legal professionals involved in criminal or civil litigation. The courses will be delivered by a team of experienced forensic scientists and will provide an introduction to forensic science and what the legal professional should expect from their forensic expert. They will cover some of the limitations and myths associated with various areas of forensic investigations. The courses will be illustrated with some of First Forensic Ltd’s recent high profile investigations.
The first of these courses will concentrate on fire, arson and explosion investigation and takes place in November 2010. Further courses will focus on different specialist areas of forensic science.
First Forensic Ltd director, Andrew Wade said “We pride ourselves on the quality of the work we provide and our priority is to improve the quality of forensic science. We are delighted to be launching these courses, which we hope will benefit the legal profession, and in turn the whole judicial process. The courses are designed to improve the understanding of forensic science, thereby raising the standard of forensic evidence presented at court. We will draw on our extensive experience to provide our audience with an insight into the strengths and weaknesses of forensic science and best practice.” Press Release 23/08/10.
Training
We have been approached by a foreign goverment to provide a series of training courses for their forensic scientists. These courses will include various analytical specialities and fire investigation. The courses will include classroom sessions, practical demonstrations and exersizes. Our fire investigation course will be of particular interest within the UK to fire bridgades, other forensic service providers and scenes of crime personnel. If you have any queries regarding these or any of our other courses, please contact us. to discuss. July 2010
Sponsorship
We are pleased to announce that we will be sponsoring the Criminal Law conference organised by the Solicitors Group on 14th October 2010 at the NEC Conference Centre, Birmingham. June 2010
Quality
Being able to demonstrate our quality is important to us. That’s why we are taking part in another International footwear mark proficiency trial organised by CTS (Collaborative Testing Services Inc.) USA. The results of these trials will be released later this year. June 2010
Presentations
We are pleased to announce that Andy has been invited by the North Eastern Circuit of the Bar Council to give a presentation on Forensic Fire Investigation at their November meeting. June 2010
University Links
We have further strengthened our links with the academic world by Karen’s appointment to Staffordshire University as an occasional lecturer on the graduate (BSc) and post graduate (MSc) courses on Forensic and Crime Science. First Forensic Ltd hope to develop these links further through the supervision of student research and other projects. Staffordshire University has achieved accreditation by the Forensic Science Society for its provision of forensic science courses. May 2010
ISO9001:2008
Our commitment to quality was recognised in 2010 when we were assessed and certified by the British Assessment Bureau as satisfying the requirements of ISO9001:2008 for the Provision of Forensic Science Consultancy services. First Forensic Limited is one of a very limited number of forensic science providers which have achieved this quality standard. February 2010
Omagh Fire Inquest
Andy spent several days attending the inquest and giving expert evidence to the Coroner on the fire in Omagh in 2007 which took seven lives. Andy had originally investigated the scene of the fire at the request of the Senior Investigating Officer and was able to determine the cause of the fire and the circumstances around its development.The verdict, finalised in December, ruled that Arthur McElhill killed himself, his partner and their five children when he started the fire. October 2009