Professor of forensic science, Associate Director of the Scottish Institute for Policing Research and a Past President of the Forensic Science Society.  He has extensive experience as an expert witness in criminal courts in the UK and has been involved in many high profile cases (e.g. Damilola Taylor, Rachel Nickell, Shirley McKie) as an expert witness, reviewer or adviser.  Jim also has significant experience in strategic and policy matters in relation to forensic science in the UK and internationally.  He has advised a range of agencies on forensic, scientific and investigative matters, including the police organisations in the UK and abroad, the Home Office, the Scottish Parliament and the UK Parliament. 

Jim is a council member of JUSTICE Scotland; Chair of the United Kingdom Accreditation Service Forensic Science Technical Advisory Committee,  a member of the Forensic Science Regulator’s Fingerprint Specialist Group and former Chair of the Digital Forensics Specialist Group. His teaching and research interests focus primarily on the role of science and technology in criminal justice.  He is the co-editor (with Robin Williams) of the Handbook of Forensic Science (Willan) and author of Forensic Science a Very Short introduction (OUP).