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In this gripping Subject Spotlight, join Mary Makinde and James Harris as they explore the world of BSc (Hons) Forensic Investigation (Criminal Investigation), starting with what they actually are, and the importance of using multiple approaches to solving crime. Mary and James each consider a case study of a high-profile crime to identify the key methods that allowed it to be solved, as well as the missed opportunities to solve it sooner. Finally, you’ll have a go at thinking like a Crime Scene Investigator, using evidence from a shocking murder case to identify the key next steps in the investigation.
Mary Makinde & James HarrisCanterbury Christ Church UniversityForensic science
All episodes
1. What is forensic and criminal investigation?
2. Bias and missed opportunities: Steven Port
3. Intelligence is essential: Hatton Garden
4. Activity: Investigating a crime scene
About the university
Canterbury Christ Church University
Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) has campuses in Canterbury and Medway offering great locations for studying. One of only a handful of universities to have a campus in a World Heritage Site and with coastline and countryside nearby, the main campus in Canterbury is less than an hour from London by high-speed train. CCCU has invested heavily in facilities with the new multi-million pound STEM building and the creative arts hub providing an innovative learning experience with industry level facilities. Courses at CCCU offer strong routes into careers and employment, from medicine and teaching, to engineering, sport science, computing and games design. In fact, CCCU is 1st in the UK for graduates.
Canterbury Christ Church University profile →Meet the academic
Mary Makinde & James Harris
Mary Makinde is a Principal Lecturer in Forensic Investigation at Canterbury Christ Church University. Mary has worked as a Forensic Scientist at two of the United Kingdom’s leading Forensic Science Providers, and she has over 16 years experience working in the field. As a Forensic Scientist, Mary’s specialist area lies within forensic biology, specialising in the recovery and analysis of biological material such as hairs, fibres, body fluids, blood pattern analysis and other trace evidence, including gunshot residue from exhibits recovered at crime scenes. Within her role as a Forensic Scientist, Mary has worked on a number of major crime cases, including counter terrorism, cold case reviews, international cases, serious sexual offences and high-profile cases. Mary continues to work closely with a number of forensic science providers, police forces and key members of the criminal justice system where she provides training and expert advice on forensic biology, quality standards in forensic science, DNA and blood pattern analysis. Mary’s practitioner background has been integral in the development of her approaches to curriculum design and research. Mary is a multiple award winning academic, winning multiple institutional University Teaching Excellence Awards, Golden Apple Awards and National Awards for her dedication to her students, inclusive practice and teaching excellence. James Harris is a Lecturer in Policing at Canterbury Christchurch University. He is a former Detective with the City of London Police, where for over 10 years he worked in a variety of investigative functions, major crime. James teaches a range of modules including Major Crime Investigation, and Criminal Investigation His area of expertise and passion focuses on investigative interviewing; as a former specialist Interview Advisor, James has extensive real-world experience conducting interviews and developing strategies for high-stakes investigations. He is particularly interested from a research perspective on interviewing skills of volume crime investigators and still provides support and training to law enforcement both in the UK and internationally. He is a member of the International Investigative Interviewing Research Group (iiirg) and an active speaker at conferences.
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