'Pointing out' the need for change - A proactive approach to knife crime
Date: 10/05/23
Time: 18:00
Venue: Bush House, 30 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BG
Prices
- Members: £20.00
- Non-members: £25.00
- Students: £5.00
Venue: Bush House, LT1, King's College London 30 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BG
Agenda:
18:00 — Registration — Arcade Cafe18:30 — Lecture presentation — Lecture Theatre 1
19:30 — Networking reception — Arcade Cafe
Speaker:
Leisa Nichols-Drew BSc MSc NTF CF ChFP PGCertHE DTLLS SFHEA
Associate Professor Forensic Biology
Chartered Forensic Practitioner
Forensic Scientist, Consultant, Trainer and PhD Researcher
Leisa Nichols-Drew is a Chartered Forensic Practitioner (ChFP), a 2019 National Teaching Fellow (NTF), a 2018 Churchill Fellow (CF), and an Associate Professor at De Montfort University in Leicester. Her career in forensic science casework commenced in 2000, at the former Forensic Science Service, and later Cellmark Forensic Services, where her expertise is in the forensic science laboratory evidential examination, recovery, and documentation of crime scene exhibits, from a range of offences. Additionally, as a Quality Advisor, Laboratory Auditor (ISO 17025), Technical Trainer, Subject Specialist, and Consultant. She is currently undertaking a part time PhD investigating novel fingermark development methods to aid crime scene and laboratory examinations of leather surfaces. In 2021, she was part of the reading group for the QAA Benchmark Standards in Forensic Science. She is an elected member of the Executive Council of the British Academy of Forensic Sciences and sits on the Membership and Ethics Committee of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences. Additionally, she is honoured to work alongside her inspirational peers Dr Rachel-Bolton King and Professor Ian Turner, as co-founders of the international network: #RemoteForensicCSI – a community initiated during the Covid-19 pandemic to assist Criminal Justice educators and trainers around the world with the rapid transition to online learning.
In 2018, Leisa was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to investigate international approaches for knife crime offences to aid the UK situation. She visited Australia and Canada to engage and exchanged knowledge with police officers, forensic scientists, pathologists, scene investigators and researchers. Her proactive and reactive research recommendations resulted in a journal publication which concluded that less-lethal novel knives with rounded tips, do not penetrate clothing fabrics in a stabbing motion, therefore preventing the occurrence of severance damage (sharp force trauma) reducing the potential occurrence of injuries when compared to conventional pointed kitchen knives. This research was recognised with a research collaboration award in 2021. Leisa's Churchill Fellowship has been communicated around the world and has contributed to a United Nations Policy Brief (in alignment with the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals).
Join BAFS
BAFS welcomes applications for Membership from professionals with qualifications in medicine, science, or the law who have contributed, or are likely to contribute, to the application and practice of the Forensic Sciences. Applicants from within these disciplines who are interested, but lack experience, may be offered Associate Membership.