Message from Claude Roux – President Dear ANZFSS Members, I was lucky enough to attend the meeting of the European Academy of Forensic Science (EAFS) on 6-11 September in Prague. As usual with such conferences, it was a great opportunity to share, learn and socialise. However, EAFS this year provided an additional chance to benchmark our Society and forensic science in a truly global context. The most obvious observation is that Australasian forensic science is extremely well regarded internationally. In some cases, it is even seen as providing a global leadership for the discipline. For example, the antipodean contingent was the second largest group with some 75 delegates. In addition, four out of seven plenary speakers were from Australia and New Zealand. There is no doubt that the collective quality of our research and the sustained efforts of stakeholder groups like NIFS, SMANZFL and our Society continue to be an important part of this achievement. For our Society, another pleasing observation is that, although Europe is able to tap into a critical mass of forensic practitioners and forensic science leaders, on balance our symposia remain truly top class. And I have no doubt that the Auckland Symposium will be no different. BUT, and there is always a big BUT, EAFS 2015 also identified that Australasia seems to not be at the forefront in a couple of crucial areas. The first relates to the development of the forensic science profession and

this flows on to the professionalization of the ANZFSS. It is clear that through developments of the UK Chartered Society of Forensic Science and through ENFSI and EU initiatives, Europe is definitely further advanced with respect to professionalization compared to ourselves. One example is the Monopoly 2010-M2 project led by Dr. Didier Meuwly, Netherlands Forensic Institute, entitled ‘Basic General Forensic Knowledge Examination’. As part of this project, knowledge that is common to and necessary for all or several forensic disciplines has been identified through three initial questions: What is forensic science? Who is a forensic scientist? What is the work of forensic scientists? One of the outcomes is a 400-page collection of annotated papers and book chapters that should constitute the ultimate reference work for all forensic practitioners. The situation was ultimately summed up by Sheila Willis’ (Ireland) keynote presentation entitled “Forensic science - a profession?” Sheila eloquently described and advocated for a number of developments that are very similar to those we have been discussing for a number of years in Australasia. However, I am pleased to report that a ‘Professionalization’ paper has now been endorsed by the ANZFSS Council and will be distributed to the wider membership very shortly. The second area where Europe shows leadership is in the improvement and standardisation of evaluative reporting. This has been undertaken through the

ANZFSS News

Volume 5, Issue 2 December 2015

EU Monopoly (MP2010) Project entitled "Strengthening the Evaluation of Forensic Results across Europe". The project is aimed at promotion of best practice in the evaluation and interpretation of forensic results. The main outcome is the ENFSI Guideline for Evaluative Reporting (which can be accessed here). It will be interesting to see how this document will be received and used in our part of the world, especially when compared with the Australian standard on interpretation (AS 5388.3). In summary, while we enjoy a high profile and perhaps still lead the way, we should not be complacent. The world around us is moving fast and a strong ANZFSS is more than ever necessary! The Society AGM went very well on the 27th November and the NSW Branch is to be congratulated on an excellent night. The main points to

note are the unanimous approval of the proposed rule changes and the ratification/election of Bryan Found and Alastair Ross as Life Members. We congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition. I can’t leave you without thanking Sarah Scott, Matt Gittos and the Auckland 2016 Organising Committee for their enthusiastic and dedicated work. The plenary program is now confirmed and the call for abstracts opened. Please visit http://www.anzfss2016.org/ on a regular basis to stay in touch with the latest news. It leaves me now to wish to all a very Merry Christmas and a safe break. Yours Forensically, Prof. Claude Roux ANZFSS President

Position(s) vacant You have probably noticed that this is only the second edition of the newsletter for 2015, when in actual fact there should have been four editions. In light of this, we have had to sack the editor and are looking to fill this position with some new blood. Expressions of interest are called from persons interested in: a) Taking on the role of editor for the ANZFSS newsletter. Tenure is negotiable,

remuneration in the form of satisfaction; or b) Taking on the role of assistant editor for one or more editions. In this case the

sacked editor may be reinstated to take on a coordination role. Please address your questions and expression of interest (ASAP) to anna.davey@forensicfoundations.com.au. Thank you Anna Davey (Self-sacked editor)

AWARD WINNERS

Congratulations to:Congratulations to:Congratulations to:Congratulations to: National Institute of Forensic Science’s Henry Delaforce award

Congratulations to Sgt Gerard Dutton who won the 2015 Henry Delaforce award for his paper describing a complex case he undertook for the New Zealand police. You can read more about the case at: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/tasmanian-ballistics-expert-wins-award/story-fnjj6013-1227401201671

and http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-16/tasmanian-police-officer-awarded-for-ballistics-work/6549132

You may also remember that Gerard won the ANZFSS 2013 Allan Hodda Award which he wrote up in the Dec 2014 edition of the ANZFSS Newsletter

Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society Life Members The ANZFSS awards Life Membership to General Members who have made an outstanding contribution to a Branch or the Society. Bryan and Ali’s election to Life membership was ratified at the Society AGM on 27th November

Dr Bryan Found is currently the Chief Forensic Scientist with the Victoria Police Forensic Services Department. He is a former President of the Victorian Branch of the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society, and was Chair of the 2008 ‘19th International Symposium on the Forensic Sciences’ in Melbourne. He is also the current Chair of the Victorian Chapter of the Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences. Bryan holds memberships with a number of International Forensic Science Societies and serves on a number of International Advisory and

Editorial Boards. He is a section editor for Elsevier’s Encyclopaedia of Forensic Sciences, and a chapter author in the Wiley Encyclopaedia of Forensic Science. Bryan has authored around 50 peer reviewed research publications in his discipline. Bryan provides sessional teaching in forensic science and interpretive evidence at a number of Universities and holds the position of Adjunct Professor at University of New South Wales. Bryan’s research interests include the characterisation of the probative value of expert opinions on pattern evidence, contextual information and cognitive bias, and the objective assessment of forensic practitioner skill characteristics and he has been invited on many occasions to present his work at conferences and conduct workshops throughout Australasia, Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas. Bryan has made significant contributions to a range of forensic science disciplines.

Mr Alastair Ross commenced his forensic science career in 1976 at Forensic Science, South Australia and with the exception of a short stint as the executive assistant to the CEO of a South Australian government department between 1990 – 1992, he remained working in the forensic science field until his retirement in July 2015. Alastair was the inaugural Director of the National Institute of Forensic Science (NIFS) between 1992 - 2003. Alastair was appointed Director of the Victoria Police Forensic Science Centre in 2003 and served until 2008 when he re-joined NIFS as Director.

Alastair acted as the Public Officer of the Society from late 1992 – 2003. In 2004 he was awarded the Adelaide Medal by the International Association of Forensic Sciences, and in 2005 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), for services to forensic science. Alastair has made an outstanding contribution to the Society directly and to the objectives of the Society more generally through the enhancement of the quality of forensic science.

STOP THE PRESSES We are delighted to announce that Dr Linzi Wilson-Wilde is the new Director of the National Institute of Forensic Science.

A short bio of Linzi can be found at http://www.anzpaa.org.au/about/our-team

ANZFSS Symposium Updates

With less than a year to go, the 2016 ANZFSS Symposium is shaping up to be the best yet. The plenary program is confirmed with national and international speakers at the forefront of the program. Their details can be viewed on the website www.anzfss2016.org. The shape of the scientific program is currently being finalised and venues for the networking functions have been confirmed and will be publicised shortly. Sponsors and the trade are quickly coming on board with trade booths selling fast. Workshop submissions closed in October. This allows for the coordination of workshops to prevent competing and overlapping workshops being offered. Submission of abstracts for oral and poster presentations opened in September. This date was decided upon as being one year out from the Symposium; this will also allow time for international delegates to begin purchasing their airfares. The closing date for abstract is Tuesday 2 February 2016, so if you haven’t started on your abstract now is the time. Note that ANZFSS Travel Award applications are now being accepted. These awards are offered every two years to support the attendance of practitioners and students at the Symposium (applicants must be current ANZFSS members). Most branches also offer similar awards that supplement the central awards. Please click on http://www.conference.co.nz/anzfss16/travel_awards to find out more. Registrations will open in early February.

If you haven't already done so, register your interest on the Symposium website www.anzfss2016.org to be kept up-to-date with the latest news. This certainly is the Symposium you don't want to miss.

ANZFSS Presentations on the web The ANZFSS website now includes the facility for Branches to upload recordings of their meetings for Branch members who were unable to attend and for members from other ANZFSS Branches. The South Australian Branch is the trail blazer in this regard. Check out the videos the Branch have already uploaded – a snapshot of the videos on offer is shown below:

Please note these videos are only available to financial members of ANZFSS.

Branch Reports Calling: New Zealand

With the 2016 Symposium fast approaching and with calls for workshops closed and abstracts now open we thank you for those we have received and are looking forward to receiving many more. However, if you are anything like me they will be done on the closing day with minutes to spare. With this issue of the newsletter, I wanted to reflect the NZFSS as a Branch of branches and so I asked the Wellington Branch Chairperson, Delwynne Walsh, to write a few lines on the Wellington Branch and their activities of late. Many of you will know that the Wellington Branch was the former Executive of the NZFSS and hosted the ANZFSS Symposium back in 2004. They have been a highly successful branch in consistently delivering a range of topical and interesting presentations to the membership for many years now. In fact as NZFSS President I do get more than a few emails from members asking if we could have that presentation that Wellington are getting. Delwynne writes: Dear Matt, The Wellington branch of ANZFSS is thriving. This year we have had four meetings, and early planning for our annual Christmas quiz night ensured a successful night. In March, Dr. Russil Durrant, a senior lecturer in criminal and forensic psychology at Victoria University, spoke to us about evolution and how it relates to criminality. Dr Durrant described how human species and individual life histories can help explain patterns of criminal offending. During May we enjoyed a presentation by forensic odontologist Judith A. Hinchliffe (a former ANZFSS Wellington branch member) titled Bombings to Bushfires: A forensic dental perspective. Judith has 20 years of independent forensic casework experience, and has been involved in 11 mass fatality deployments internationally thus far during her career. She talked about her deployments to Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, in the aftermath of bombings in 2005 that would claim the lives of more than 60 locals and tourists, and the 2009 bushfires that swept across the state of Victoria, Australia, claiming the lives of 173 people. The differing facilities, team experience and disaster preparation she encountered impacted on her work and that of all those involved in the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) process. In July we had a presentation on the New Zealand DNA databank by Inspector John Walker. John is the manager of NZ Police National Forensic Services. This presentation provided a snapshot of the 20 year history of the New Zealand DNA databank from ESR's perspective as the provider of the service and the NZ Police as the end-user of the databank. It included an introduction of new technologies and highlighted the development and changes in DNA legislation; past, current, and planned. The limited use of familial searching and successes that have arisen was

also discussed, as were the development of a police staff elimination DNA database, and the possible future directions of international DNA data sharing. In September, we hosted Police Inquest Officer Carmen Stewart. Carmen spoke about the role an inquest officer performs, in particular the involvement of forensic evidence used to identify deceased persons in coronial investigations. Delwynne Walsh. Wellington branch Chairperson The current members of the Wellington Branch Committee are a diverse and interesting group. Ranging from Police Document Examiners to Entomologists, Fingerprint Experts to Palynologists and ESR Scientists to a National Police Training Officer. The diversity and depth of the Society is well reflected in the Wellington Branch Committee. Headed by Delwynne Walsh (committee chair) and assisted by Julian Atkins (immediate past chair) the diverse and capable committee of Dallas Bishop, Dallas Mildenhall, Glenys Knight, Samantha Coward, Brent Stinson, Janina Neale and Lynnette Horne are always working hard to deliver interesting and thought provoking presentations to the Wellington based membership. But they are not alone. This group in turn are supported and assisted by other members of the New Zealand Police Document Examination Section team, especially Trish James, Jessica Owen, Gordon Sharfe and David Boot. This team are an exemplar of a branch working well together. Sharing the workload, assisting and supporting each other so that goals are achieved and resulting successful meetings can be enjoyed by all. Matt Gittos NZFSS President

Calling: Queensland

The Queensland branch membership has continued to grow this year, with over 100 financial members.

The first meeting for 2015 was held on 26 February, with Sergeant Darren Smith from the Queensland Police Service, Scientific Section, presenting the background, complexities and findings of the investigation into the fire that destroyed the Victory Hotel in Brisbane in 2008.

At the meeting held on 23 April, Senior Sergeant Simon Lamerton, Officer-in-charge of the Queensland Police Service Forensic Crash Unit provided a very interesting view of the function and work of the Forensic Crash Unit and the variety of incidents investigated by his team of specialists. He also covered some case studies of real crashes, illustrating how maths and physics

are utilised to determine the cause of the incident. Simon has been with the Queensland Police Service for thirty three years, with a total of 18 years as full-time crash investigator – 1991-1997 & 2003 – present. In that time, he has investigated in excess of 250 fatal and serious road, industrial, rail and aircraft incidents. On 11 May we took advantage of a visit to Brisbane by Dr Joe Sullivan. Dr Sullivan is a Forensic Psychologist specialising in providing Behaviour Analysis and Offender Profiling advice to law enforcement investigations into sexual crimes against children. He is a lecturer and senior research fellow in Criminology and Forensic Psychology. Over the last 26 years he has amassed over 10,000 hours of therapeutic contact with sex offenders and has completed several hundred sex offender risk assessments. Dr Sullivan is involved in several longitudinal research projects exploring perpetrator behaviour. Based upon the results of this research he has developed the S-BAT, a series of behaviour analysis tools which are used in suspect profiling and interview strategy development. He teaches these techniques through the Mentor Professional Development Academy. He has acted as a consultant to the US Attorney General, the Vatican, Judicial Reviews, Social Service Departments, Probation Services, Churches and Education departments and has been called as an expert witness to give evidence to criminal, civil and family courts.

South Australia calling us!!

Three courses which may be of interest:

Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Statistics and the Evaluation of Forensic Evidence From March 2016 to September 2017 (around 470 hours training, 20 ECTS). To further develop practitioners’ skills in managing forensic interpretation issues from case reception to court (latest statistical methods, efficient communication of results, practical inferential problems solving, Standard Operating Procedures development, etc). For more information <http://www.formation-continue-unil-epfl.ch/statistics-evaluation-forensic-evidence-cas>. Essentials of Interpretation - NEW short course From March 2016 to September 2016 (around 150 hours training, 5 ECTS). To enable practitioners to address challenging casework, explain their reasoning in court and feel at ease with expert debate and published literature on interpretation (notably the ENFSI guidelines). For more information <http://www.formation-continue-unil-epfl.ch/essentials-forensic-interpretation> Essentials of DNA Interpretation - short course From February 2016 to September 2016 (around 150 hours training, 5 ECTS). To enable practitioners to address challenging DNA casework, explain their reasoning in court and feel at ease with expert debate and published literature on DNA interpretation. For more information <http://www.formation-continue-unil-epfl.ch/forensicdna>