FOR OVER 30 YEARS, expert evidence on fires, explosions, carbon monoxide poisoning and thermal wounding has been supplied to solicitors and their clients by the Forensic Science Service’s (FSS) London Fire Investigation Unit (FIU).
The team is called upon to investigate over 300 fires a year UK-wide, ranging from simple domestic fires to major arson, and its expertise has been used to investigate some of the most serious and high-profile fires, including those at King’s Cross station, the Momart art warehouse and, most recently, the Cutty Sark.
The FIU’s investigators have first-hand experience of examining fire scenes, undertaking fire tests and determining how real fires would burn in any given situation. The wide range of expert witness services available to solicitors in criminal defence, prosecution and civil cases include:
The examination and interpretation of fire scenes.
Laboratory analysis of evidence recovered from either the fire scene or a defendant.
Professional preparation and presentation of the findings, including expert witness presentation at court.
Specialist scientific advice and support is also available to solicitors acting in defence and civil cases.
That is possible due to the independent approach taken by the FIU team to every case, and the stringent quality assurance procedures that the team follows. They will review the investigation procedures followed by other parties and all the case papers, then assess the findings and evidence presented; these services have been especially valuable where doubt has been raised over the initial investigation.
Forensic fire investigation is much more than just reporting on the origin and cause of a fire. It is about recovering relevant evidence both at the scene and in the laboratory; reviewing information and evidence from witnesses; developing, testing and eliminating hypotheses; and only then providing expert opinion in court that may rule out or link an individual to the crime. All of the FIU’s scene-going fire investigation scientists are registered with the Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners (CRFP) in the science speciality of Fire Scene Examination and Interpretation. Within the CRFP registration system there are two levels of accreditation for fire investigators, only one of which – in the science speciality – accredits practitioners to interpret evidence at fire scenes.
Fires can be investigated for many purposes. The Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 has given fire brigades the power to investigate fires, but it is important for those involved in the criminal justice system to be aware that such investigations are not necessarily intended to yield forensic evidence.
The degree of skill and experience deployed at a fire scene has far-reaching implications for the criminal justice system; if the cause of a fire is wrongly identified then there could be a miscarriage of justice or court time could be wasted.