Brian Rankin

Society Position: Honorary Chair of Professional Standards 
Qualifications/Postnominals: BSc., MSc., CChem., FRSC, FCSFS
Current Employment: Semi Retired Forensic Practioner

Professional Background

After completing the MSc in Forensic Science at Strathclyde University, Brian began his career as an operational forensic chemist as part of the Home Office Forensic Science Service (FSS) Wetherby Laboratory in 1978.  For approximately half of his FSS career, he was an operational forensic scientist investigating crimes against property such as burglary, criminal damage and robbery and suspicious fires.  He has also been an authorised analyst for the purposes of the Road Traffic Act. 

During the latter years of his FSS career he had a variety of roles, including the management of teams of forensic scientists, involvement in high profile projects linking the Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). He has also been involved in the training of police officers of all ranks, scenes of crime officers and the legal profession. He is a strong advocate of an integrated investigative process to support the investigation of crime from scene to court. 

In June 2007 Brian left the FSS and joined Teesside University (formerly University of Teesside) as Head of Centre for Forensic Investigation. Brian retired from Teesside University in 2014. Through his University role he has had a number of University External Examining roles and is still active as an external examiner. 

During his Presidency of the Society Brian was a member of the Home Office Forensic Science Advisory Council (FSAC) supporting the Forensic Science Regulator. He currently sits on the FSR Quality Standards Specialist Group. He also sits on the British Standards Institute Committee for ISO quality standards within forensic science. 

His key interests are around the integrated investigative process, pursuing Chartered status for forensic practitioners and supporting government policy to increased employee skills in the workplace and through the Higher Education system. Working with the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) he Chaired the first group to deliver a benchmark statement for Forensic science in 2012. The benchmark statement is due for review in 2021 and Brian will again Chair the group.

CSFS Background

Brian joined the Society while he was a student at Strathclyde University in 1978 and has been a member ever since.  His first role was to look after the visual aids at conferences – in those days there were slides and OHP’s as opposed to PowerPoints! There may be one way to view a PowerPoint slide but there were eight ways to put a 33mm slide in a slide holder! During his membership he has held a number of roles including President, Vice President, Honorary Secretary and Council member.  He is an assessor for the Educational Accreditation Committee and his current role is Chair of Quality Standards. He has made significant contributions to all roles and continually sees the future of the Society as ‘full of potential’.  As a Past President Brian is particularly keen to continue supporting the CSFS as the professional body for all forensic practitioners and using his current roles to support the forensic profession through collaboration with its professional body. 

Through his work with the Society Brian worked with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in developing the Cyber Security Profession in the UK by Chairing the Workstream delivering Chartered status and professional registration.

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