Property Marking - Tagging - Micro Dots - Dyejet - Asset Tracking & Identification

DNA AWARE - UK Supplier of DNA Print Kit

High Sheriff’s award to recognise forensic science

 

28 March 2006

A new award to recognise the work of forensic scientists is being launched in Cambridgeshire this month.

The High Sheriff’s Award for Forensic Excellence is due to take place on March 30 at the Forensic Science Service (FSS) laboratory in Huntingdon.

Two teams have been selected to receive the award for the work they carried out on two individual cases over the last year.

The successful cases were the murder of Norah Trott in Southend-on-Sea, a cold case dating back to 1978 and the high profile shooting of a known criminal in Hoddesdon, which led to a number of convictions.

Team members will be presented with certificates by the High Sheriff and FSS General Manager David Reardon at the event.

The cases submitted were shortlisted by a scientific group from the FSS, consisting of Dr Steve Day, Ray Palmer, Dr Paul Yates and David Reardon. Each case was judged and scored objectively on three different areas: quality, communication and Criminal Justice System impact.

The two successful cases were then selected from a shortlist of five in February this year by a panel, consisting of High Sheriff Simon Leatham, His Honour Nicholas Coleman from Peterborough Crown Court, Chief Constable Julia Spence, Chief Crown Prosecutor Richard Crowley and the Queen’s Counsel, Karim Khalil.

Speaking about the judging process, the Queen’s Counsel, Karim Khalil said: “The compelling documentary and oral presentations of the final five cases demonstrated how the scientists involved had demonstrated skills of a very broad and high standard: complementing, informing and often leading the search for evidence in significant criminal enquiries.

“The winning two teams demonstrated outstanding qualities of tenacity, co-operation and co-ordination in cases presenting very different challenges.

“All those involved deserve the highest commendation.”

The idea for the new award came after the High Sheriff made a visit to the FSS laboratory in Huntingdon last year. He witnessed the hard work of the forensic scientists and realised that their contribution to the criminal justice system was not widely recognised. He suggested the award should be set up and should take place annually.

His Honour Judge Nicholas Coleman, resident judge at Peterborough Combined Court also believes the work of forensic scientists should be recognised.

He said: “I hope the innovation of this High Sheriff’s award will reinforce the widely held view that the Forensic Science Service laboratory and the highly skilled personnel employed

therein are capable of developing techniques, which are at the forefront of the investigation of crime and which should be recognised more often and on a wider scale.”

FSS scientist Judith Cunnison, who worked on the Nora Trott case said: “Nora Trott was a pillar of the community who was subjected to a horrific attack. It was years ago but people still remember. What's striking about this case is that new technology could be used to solve a case from all that time ago.

"It's nice that the hard work of the team is recognised. Successes like this send out an important message: unsolved cases never go away, they are never forgotten."