ISSUE 53 Expert Witness Journal - Journal - Page 30
Forensic Partnership Examines Benefits
for Students and West Midlands Police
The University of Wolverhampton and West Midlands Police have signed a strategic Forensic
Science partnership agreement, which will explore a wide range of opportunities and mutual
benefits to improve the study and professional practice of Forensic Science for both students
and West Midlands Police Forensic Services.
The University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering
offers Undergraduate degrees in Forensic Science,
Forensic Science with Policing and Forensic Science
with Foundation Year in its School of Life Sciences.
“This strategic alliance between West Midlands Police's
Forensic Services Department and the University's
Forensic Team marks a significant milestone in our
commitment to enhancing the quality of forensic science service provision to the Criminal Justice System.
"Through innovative research, knowledge exchange,
and a focus on preparing the future workforce, this
partnership exemplifies our dedication to meeting the
highest standards as recommended by the Forensic
Science Regulator (FSR) and the Forensic Capability
Network (FCN).
Forensic science is the application of scientific analysis
and investigation in the context of law and criminology. It can involve examining physical or digital forensic evidence for legal proceedings, which includes the
preservation, recovery, analysis and interpretation of
evidence, such as DNA, fingerprints, fibres, mobile
phones and ballistics.
“I also extend my heartfelt thanks to the hardworking
and committed individuals from both West Midlands
Police and the University of Wolverhampton who
have played an instrumental role in making this collaboration a reality. Their dedication has been crucial
in bringing us to this point, and I am confident that,
together, we are poised to contribute to the advancement of forensic science, ensuring resilience and excellence across the West Midlands area. This
achievement is a testament to the collective efforts of
our outstanding teams."
The partnership agreement has been formalised with
the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) and will offer opportunities for collaborative
student research projects and students placements, as
well professional practice training and guest lectures
to ensure teaching utilises current professional practice policies and procedures, whilst offering West Midlands Police the chance to partner in collaborative joint
research and knowledge exchange projects, as well as
benefiting from a University CSI competency assessment service for West Midlands Police staff.
Josh Pugh, in his third year of studying for a Forensic
Science degree at the University and on a research
project placement with West Midlands Police Fingerprint Development Lab, said: “I’m currently working
with Recover LFT, a new piece of fingerprint development equipment that needs to be validated, so I’m
helping test that process. This is hands down the best
team I’ve ever worked with, they are really approachable. You get experience first-hand experience
with a work placement like this. It’s beneficial to students and we are learning from each other”.
Professor Ebrahim Adia, Vice-Chancellor at the
University, said: “We are really pleased to have the second largest police force in the country partnering with
our Forensic Science team of staff and students on this
important collaborative opportunity with recognised
benefits of enhancing the quality of the forensic science service provision to the Criminal Justice System
(CJS) through innovative research, knowledge exchange and preparing future workforce resilience
across the West Midlands area.
“The University is celebrating offering Forensic
Science as a degree subject for 20 years this year and
what better way for us than to now formalise our fruitful working partnership with West Midlands Police.
Indeed, one of our Forensic Science graduates is now
Head of Forensic Scene Investigations with West Midlands Police Forensic Services, showing that our students’ employability path leads them to meaningful
careers in related industry.”
“The amount of knowledge the team have has blown
me away and it’s really enhancing my learning and
experience.”
West Midlands Police operations covers the three
major centres of Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton, and also includes Sandwell, Walsall, Solihull
and Dudley.
Anyone interested in studying Forensic Science
courses in the School of Life Sciences should check out
the website or book a place for one of our Open Days.
https://www.wlv.ac.uk/news-and-events/open-day/undergraduate-open-day/
Richard Bishop, Head of Forensic Investigations –
Traditional at West Midlands Police, said: “As Head of
Forensic Investigations - Traditional, I am thrilled to
announce the formalisation of our collaborative
partnership with the University of Wolverhampton
through the signing of this Memorandum of
Understanding.
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