The death of Nora Sheehan: a 42-year cold case now solved with the help of Dr Jonathan Whitaker of PFS. The FSS was at the forefront of DNA research when it was closed in 2012. Nevertheless, the benefits of that technology are still being seen in legacy cases such as this case. In 1981, the naked body of 54-year-old Nora …
Congratulations to our Dr Sue Pope
Congratulations to our Dr Sue Pope who has been awarded an OBE in the 2023 King’s Birthday Honours for services to forensic science and the criminal justice system. She is a world renowned specialist in DNA analysis, interpretation and evaluation and in Case Assessment and Interpretation who has worked in the field for over 35 years. Sue graduated from Leeds …
Angela’s departure from PFS
On the 27th August 2021 Angela will resign from PFS Ltd., as she will be taking up a new role with the United Kingdom Accreditation Service. PFS will no longer be in a position to carry out GSR based case work. Angela would like to take this opportunity to thank all of her clients, colleagues and friends for their support …
New Director Appointments
We are delighted to announce the appointment of three new Director’s to PFS. Roger Robson, Iain Peck and Tony Stockton, as valued Associates, were invited by unanimous agreement and at the wish of each Associate to join the current Board of Director’s and we are pleased to announce they have been formally appointed with the relevant documents filed at Companies House. …
40 Hour Basic BPA Training 13-17th Sept 2021 – Book Now!
40 Hour Basic BPA Course Residential Course. Location: Reading UK Date: 13-17th September 2021 This week-long residential training course focuses on the basic application of BPA and is suitable for Law Enforcement Personnel, Crime Scene Investigators, Laboratory Practitioners and other individuals aligned with BPA (in the laboratory or at crime scenes). This course meets the educational standards as defined by …
40 hour Advanced BPA Course – Bookings now being taken
40 Hour Advanced BPA Course Residential Course Location: Reading, UK Date: 10-14 May 2021 This week-long residential training course focuses on the advanced application of BPA at crime scenes and in the laboratory. It is suitable for Law Enforcement Personnel, Crime Scene Investigators, Laboratory Practitioners and other individuals aligned with BPA (in the laboratory or at crime scenes) who have …
40 hour Basic BPA Course – Bookings now being taken
40 Hour Basic BPA Course Residential Course. Location: Reading UK Date: 17-21 May 2021 This week-long residential training course focuses on the basic application of BPA and is suitable for Law Enforcement Personnel, Crime Scene Investigators, Laboratory Practitioners and other individuals aligned with BPA (in the laboratory or at crime scenes). This course meets the educational standards as defined by …
The Pembrokeshire Murders: “Every Contact Leaves a Trace” by Roger Robson
So why is forensic textile evidence out of fashion…? The recent ITV drama prompted me to revisit yet again the conundrum as to why the majority of police forces in England/Wales rarely consider the value of textile fibres during their investigations. Many no longer consider fibre recovery as part of their forensic strategy – potential evidence can be left behind …
FSR Annual Report 2019-2020
The final report from Dr Gill Tully CBE as her tenure as Forensic Science Regulator soon comes to an end has been published. Please find a link to access here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/forensic-science-regulator-annual-report-2020
New publication addressing complex scientific issues for court
Sue Pope, PFS, and Alex Biedermann, University of Lausanne, are topic editors for this e-book collection of papers focusing on so-called evaluative uses of evidence, in particular DNA evidence. Since DNA analysis became part of forensic science in the mid-1980s, its impact on investigation of crime and at court has been immense. In a few years the technique became the …