Honorary Fellow - Professor Brian Caddy
Emeritus Professor Brian Caddy BSc, PhD, CChem, FCSFS was part of a small team responsible in 1966 for establishing the first Master’s Degree in Forensic Science in the UK at Strathclyde University in Glasgow.
His first interest was in drug analysis and toxicology but following an approach by Christopher Price, a senior Labour MP, he became involved with a review of the evidence that convicted the Birmingham 6 which led to giving evidence in an appeal which was only partially successful. This involvement gave Brian an opportunity to work with Mike Mansfield QC and his solicitor Gareth Pierce. He was also involved in the enquiry into the Maguire 7 review and later was asked by The Home Office to conduct a review of procedures employed in the Trace Explosives Laboratory at Fort Halstead following a contamination issue. Later Brian was asked, on behalf of the defence, to review the forensic evidence in the Oklahoma Bombing.
Throughout this period Brian continued to publish in areas of forensic toxicology, drugs of abuse, FDR’s, soil analysis and automated DNA systems but also developed an interest in the management of forensic science and was a founder member of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI). Later, on behalf of the Home Office, Brian undertook a review of the Daminola Taylor case led by a senior QC Alan Rawley and following this, a review of the Science of Low Template DNA. This latter arose as a consequence of criticism of the technique by a Senior Judge which led to the collapse of a trial.
Brian has lectured on Forensic Science in many parts of the world, in most European Counties, Asia, the Middle East, the Americas including South America. Brian served on the Society Council for many years and was responsible for establishing an education committee which morphed into the accreditation processes now in place. He also was for some years Editor of the Society’s Journal and changed its title to “Science and Justice”. Brian felt humbled and honoured that members of the Society felt him an appropriate person to be elected as President. Following his retirement Brian was asked, in 2007, to join the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission and completed his 8 year term in June of 2015. This gave him the opportunity to see other aspects of the legal process and was an enjoyable, if at times, thought provoking experience.
Brian was delighted when the Society became recognised as the main body representing forensic science in the UK with it new status as The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences.