IVC Evidensia welfare team to speak at London Vet Show on veterinary forensic science and the expanding role of vets in crime detection

October 21, 2024

This year’s London Vet Show (LVS) will feature two lectures by Dave Martin and Richard Sinclair, who head up IVC Evidensia's animal welfare team.  Dave is group head of animal welfare at IVC Evidensia and a clinical director at Brownlow Vets Welfare in Shropshire, whilst Richard is IVC Evidensia’s UK head of animal welfare and a clinical director at Lamond Vets in West Lothian.
 
Both act as experienced independent expert witnesses undertaking regular instructions in both criminal and civil fields involving animal welfare, animal husbandry and disease including human injuries sustained from animal interactions.
 
These sessions will provide delegates with deeper insights into veterinary forensic science and the expanding role of vets in crime detection and complex case resolution. Here, David Martin explains more about the lectures and what to expect:
 
Bringing the frontline of veterinary forensics to LVS
 
As vets with a specific interest in animal welfare, and as independent expert witnesses at criminal and civil trials, both Richard and I have had the opportunity to witness firsthand how our profession is evolving in the world of crime detection. What used to be a job focused purely on animal care and animal welfare in the context of criminal investigations has expanded into something much broader. We now find ourselves at the intersection of science, law, and investigation. This is something I’m particularly excited about, and it’s the foundation for the two lectures I’ll be delivering with Richard at this year’s London Vet Show (LVS).
 
These lectures aren’t about turning vets into forensic scientists, nor are they step-by-step guides to solving crimes. What we want to show you is where the veterinary profession is heading – how basic veterinary science that we all know and love is being integrated into groundbreaking forensic techniques. These innovations could allow us, as vets, to play a much larger role in crime investigation over the next five years. This is what gets me excited: we’re at the early stages of journey where veterinary science could unlock investigative possibilities that were never imaginable when I first started out in this field over 26 years ago.
 
Lecture one: The real Silent Witness – giving animals a voice in crime detection

The first lecture is called The real Silent Witness, and it’s all about showcasing the state of the art in forensic science as it stands today. What can science now do that it couldn’t five or ten years ago? A lot of what we’ll be covering is still in the research phase - it’s not even fully developed yet. But that’s exactly the point. The science is evolving, and we want to demonstrate how veterinary science is now informing the development of forensic techniques that can revolutionise crime investigation.
 
Understanding the science behind what we’re doing and where it’s going is crucial for us as a profession going forwards. Welfare cases are not just about treating an injured animal anymore; it’s about thinking how that animal’s condition, or the evidence on its body, might play into a larger criminal case.
 
Lecture two: Reports from the cutting edge – tails from the forensic case book

Our second session, Reports from the cutting edge: tails from the forensic casebook, will take a deep dive into some specific cases Richard and I have worked on over the years. These are real-life examples where veterinary expertise helped secure convictions and bring criminals to justice. Our goal here is to show you just how vital the role of a vet can be in a serious criminal investigation.
 
We’ll be looking at cases that involved sexual abuse, violent crimes, and illegal breeding operations. These aren’t your run-of-the-mill veterinary cases - they’re complex, high-stakes investigations where the evidence gathered by vets was central to the outcome. In many instances, the collaboration between vets, law enforcement, and forensic experts was what enabled convictions to be won.
  
Looking forward to LVS

We’re genuinely excited about where our profession is headed and how we can play a much bigger role in crime detection. I hope you’ll join myself and Richard at London Vet Show to explore these ideas further and see just how impactful veterinary science can be - not only in caring for animals but in solving crimes and ultimately, protecting society.

The real silent witness: Giving animals a voice in crime detection
14 Nov 2024, 13:50 - 14:50, IVC Evidensia Theatre
 
Reports from the cutting edge: Tails from the forensic casebook
14 Nov 2024, 15:10 - 16:10, IVC Evidensia Theatre
 
There are various other talks, workshops and lectures happening at the IVC Evidensia lecture theatre covering themes such as sustainability and leadership in practice. Visit the Conference Programme for further information and download the official London Vet Show app to organise your visit to the show.