Q and A with FHDI (Fraud and Document Examination magazine 2024

FRAUD & DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

MAGAZINE

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

POST OFFICE SCANDAL & ARE WE STILL FEELING THE HIT OF COVID FRAUD? A NEW ERA OF FRAUD AND DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

OTHER EXPERTS INCLUDE: Special Edition sponsored by

Kathryn Thorndycraft-Pope

David Bunker, Barry Minnery, Dymtro and more

INTERVIEW INSIDE

AUTHOR K.T POPE

Q AND A INTERVIEW QUESTIONS Q1.How did you become an expert witness and or any of your team?

A. Joined Grampian Police Scotland Identification Bureau in 1990 to train as a Forensic Handwriting and Document Examiner - After almost 9 years and being authorised to go to Court as an Expert Witness in Document and Handwriting Analysis I then opened in late 1998 my Firm of FHDI ( Forensic Handwriting & Document Investigation) Catriona Macdonald initially trained with my company then attended UCLAN ( University of Central Lancashire ) and obtained an Masters Degree in Forensic Analysis of Documents and Handwriting.

QUESTION AND ANSWER INTERVIEWER Q2.What has been your most challenging expert witness case

K T POPE A. A very recent case which involved a Nigerian Billionaires Will and having to ascertain whether or not his signature was genuine as he lay on his death bed in a British Clinic.

INTERVIEWER Q3.I know that you deal with a range of cases, but can you specify a common case that you tend to deal with on a regular basis?

K T POPE A. Wills are most common Q4.What is your average turnaround time for a report?

Q4.What is your average turnaround time for a report?

A. Two weeks

FHDI

KATHRYN THORNDYCRAFTPOPE

QUESTION AND ANSWER

INTERVIEWER Q5.How often would you say your critical analysis the game changer in a claim?

K T POPE A. In every case I give an absolutely 'unbiased' opinion - to help discover the truth ! Quite often I do have to inform a Solicitor that their client is p usually this is well accepted as the Solicitor needs the truth.

INTERVIEWER Q6.What do you feel is key to being an effective expert witness?

A. Being very thorough in all aspects of the case - making sure if they are available getting original questioned and sample documents . Obtaining as many everyday and formal signatures/ writings as possible to enable me to note the 'natural variation' of the accused.

FHDI Q & A INTERVIEW

INTERVIEWER Q7.HAS ANYTHING CHANGED IN THE YEARS OF YOU ACTING AS EXPERT WITNESS FOR CLIENTS ?

I.E NEW TECHNOLOGY AND WHAT TECHNIQUES DO YOU USE ?

K T POPE A. THESE DAYS MORE SCANNED / ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES ARE ASKED TO BE EXAMINED AS 'ORIGINALS' NOT AVAILABLE OR HAVE BEEN DESTROYED

INTERVIEWER Q8.WHAT ARE YOUR QUALIFICATIONS WITH IN YOUR INDUSTRY SECTOR AND QUALIFICATIONS THAT SUPPORT YOUR EXPERT WITNESS WORK?

K T POPE A. I WAS INITIALLY QUALIFIED WHEN WORKING FOR GRAMPIAN POLICE WHEN I WAS AUTHORISED ( AFTER 3 YEARS TRAINING AND ATTENDING 'MOCK TRIALS' ) BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SCOTLAND TO ATTEND COURT AS AN EXPERT WITNESS TO KEEP UP TO DATE I ATTEND CONFERENCES AROUND THE WORLD INCLUDING THOSE OF NADE WITH WHOM I AM A DIPLÓMATE AND ATTAINED MY CDE (CERTIFIED DOCUMENT EXAMINER) IN 2019 I HOSTED THEIR 40TH ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE IN SCOTLAND ATTENDED BY DOCUMENT EXAMINERS FROM: CANADA , USA, JAMAICA, SAUDI ARABIA, GREECE, UK . I AM AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF THE FORENSIC SCIENCE SOCIETY. A MEMBER OF EWI( EXPERT WITNESS INSTITUTE) NEWA( NATIONAL EXPERT WITNESS ASSOCIATION) BEING A DIPLÓMATE OF NADE INVOLVED PROVING THE CASEWORK AND COURT ATTENDANCES OVER A 5 YEAR PERIOD - ALL SUPPORTED BY TESTIMONIALS FROM SOLICITORS I HAVE WORKED FOR.

KATHRYN THORNDYCRAFTPOPE

INTERVIEWER Q9.WHAT MAKES YOU OR YOUR COMPANY THE GO TO EXPERT WITNESS IN YOUR SPECIFIC FIELD? K T POPE A. DUE TO BRING AN EXPERT IN THIS FIELD FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS - AND A LOT OF SUCCESS HELPING SOLICITORS / LAWYERS WITH MY FSR'S ( FORENSIC SCIENCE REPORTS) AND GIVING EXPERT EVIDENCE AT COURT - I DO GET A LOT OF REPEAT BUSINESS + I FIND LAWYERS AND BARRISTERS PASS ON MY NAME TO OTHER FIRMS .

INTERVIEWER Q10.IS THERE ANY ASPECT OF EXPERT WITNESS THAT YOU FEEL WOULD SURPRISE SOMEONE WHO WAS CONSIDERING ADDING THIS TO THEIR CV? K T POPE A. THE MAIN DUTY OF AN EXPERT WITNESS IS TO BE UNBIASED AND TO HELP THE COURT ARRIVE AT A JUST AND CORRECT OUTCOME

THANKS FOR READING!

Kathryn Thorndycraft-Pope WWW.FORENSICHANDWRITING.CO.UK

01569 764508 07710 655838 fhdi@icloud.com