Fire Investigation UK and Europe - recent developments

1. Fire Investigation UK and Europe - recent developments Dr. Niamh Nic Daéid Centre for Forensic Science, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow

2. The fire problem in Europe Cost of fires in Europe is estimated as €280 billion and an average of 7,500 lives lost each year. Estimated that 10-25% are deliberately set fires Detection rate < 10% of deliberate fires (approx)

3. Fire and Explosion Investigation working group 20 member countries 39 Institutes

4. Membership • Forensic scientists (lab and scene investigators) • Very few fire brigade representatives • Some other relevant organisations (e.g. Fire research station. MScan) • Some private sector • Two university based forensic science units • International links - TWGFEX, SMANZFL

5. Goals…. • Promote harmonisation and co-operation across Europe • Generation of best practice guidelines - scene & lab • Education and Training - scene & lab • Research - scene & lab • Quality Assurance, proficiency testing and accreditation

6. Main difficulties... • Geography • 14 different languages • Various different legal and criminal justice systems

7. Steering committee Quality assurance Accelerants Explosions Training and education

8. a a a a What’s happening and outputs • Research • Packaging • Live burn project - Cardington 2001 • Accelerant data bases • Quality assurance • Guidelines for laboratory testing • proficiency testing • Training and education • basic guidelines for first responders • Explosions • guidelines for scene investigation

9. E U RO P EAN NE T WORK OF F OR E NS I C SC I EN C E I NS T I T UT E S F IRE AND EX P L OS I O N INV ES TI G A T I O N W O R K IN G G R O UP TRA IN I NG AN D E D UCA T I ON S U BC O M MI TTEE P R A C T I C A L G U I D E F O R P R A C T I C A L G U I D E F O R P R A C T I C A L G U I D E F O R F I R E F I R S T R E S P O N D E R S F I R E F I R S T R E S P O N D E R S D E R S F I R E F I R S T R E S P O N Po l ic e f orc e s – F ir e b r iga d e s

10. The fire problem in the UK…. Cost of fires in UK is estimated as £2.1 billion Per week, average of 3,600 fires, 60 injuries and 2 deaths. Estimates of deliberately set fires varies from place to place, some as high as 60-70% Detection rate about 10% of deliberate fires

11. Tackling the problems • Fire investigation is carried out by • Forensic Scientist trained in FI • Fire brigade trained in FI • Scenes of crime officers trained in FI • Independent fire investigators • There is a developing multi-agency approach to the problem. Development of a register of fire examiners

12. Registration of practitioners • Recognition of quality of practice among fire scene examiners • Registration as a ‘registered forensic practitioner’ with CRFP (Council for Registration of Forensic Practitioners)

13. The criteria • Assessment is preformed by trained assessors on the basis of 9 criteria • Candidates are assessed based on evidence in submitted case files. • Must have case work experience.

14. Understanding the task, selecting the proper resources, getting priorities right • Identifying and recording potential evidence, recovering this where appropriate, demonstrating a systematic approach • Summarising and collating the findings • Interpreting the scene, formulating and testing hypotheses, reaching initial conclusions

15. Reconsidering interpretations in the light of new findings, results and information, reaching a final conclusion • Making sure everything which might provide evidence is preserved, handled, secured and labelled to comply with the needs of the investigation and the organisation’s quality assurance requirements • Preparing full, clear and accurate documentation

16. Reporting methods, findings and results, orally and in writing, clearly and accurately to colleagues, others in the investigation and the court • Keeping up to date with developments in the field and taking active steps to maintain competence

17. What else… • Forensic Science Society diploma in fire investigation. • Written examination • Oral examination based around three submitted case files.

18. Summary • European fire and explosion investigation working group in operation since 1998. • Current areas of activity are in • research(packaging,accelerant analysis, live burn tests), • training and education(first responder guides), • quality issues(best practice guides)

19. Summary • UK development of CRFP registration for fire examiners • FSSoc diploma in fire Investigation Accepted professional standards based upon training and experience as opposed to more traditional academic routes.