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

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)

20 member countries 39 Institutes Fire and Explosion Investigation working group

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

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

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

Steering committee Accelerants Explosions Training and education Quality assurance

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    

EUROPEAN NETWORK OFFORENSIC SCIENCE INSTITUTES FIRE AND EXPLOSION INVESTIGATION WORKING ROUP TRAININGANDEDUCATIONSUBCOMMITTEE P P P R R R A A A C C C T T T I I I C C C A A A L L L G G G U U U I I I D D D E E E F F F O O O R R R F F F I I I R R R E E E F F F I I I R R R S S S T T T R R R E E E S S S P P P O O O N N N D D D E E E R R R S S S Police forces –Firebrigades

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

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

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)

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.

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

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

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

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

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