Other Services
Other Services
Alongside Vehicle Systems Forensics we provide forensic collision investigation, CCTV analysis, evidence gathering and criminal defence support — one team, covering the full span of a serious investigation.
Vehicles store data. We recover it for serious investigations.
Harper Shaw Investigation Consultants support law enforcement agencies, criminal defence solicitors, insurance companies, personal injury law firms and fleet managers across four specialist service areas.
Picking up the pieces — professionally
Forensic Collision Investigation & Reconstruction
We specialise in serious and fatal road collisions.
There is no greater duty placed on an investigator than that of investigating another person's death and it is owed to the family & friends of the deceased to answer every conceivable scenario.
With a background in fatal and serious road collision investigation we know only too well the nature of these types of investigation. Only the truth will suffice.
In order to help our clients reach the truth we assist by offering the following services:
- Vehicle Examinations
- Vehicle Data Recovery
- Scene visits including scale plans and professional photographs
- Hot scene visits (rapid deployments) to capture evidence before it is lost
- Advanced scene examination using cutting-edge technology including Scene Pro and 3D laser scanning
- CCTV Speed Analysis
- Examination of digital devices such as smartphones and satellite navigation
- Tachograph information examination
- Telematics Data Analysis
- Crash Data Analysis (Airbag Data / Event Data Recorder)
- Review of Material / Advice for Further Disclosure
- Fully court compliant forensic collision investigation and reconstruction reports
Our clients include Law Enforcement Agencies, Criminal Defence Solicitors, Insurance Companies, Personal Injury Law Firms and Vehicle Fleet Managers.
Two specialist areas
CCTV Analysis
We provide standalone services for CCTV analysis in two areas — vehicle identification from CCTV and vehicle speed calculations from CCTV.
Vehicle Identification from CCTV
We work with Acume Forensics in this area of work. The reason for this is that Acume are a nationally recognised company and experts in the processing and handling of CCTV material. By allowing Acume to handle this type of enquiry it also allows us to limit any bias and puts a barrier between us and the client to help maintain strict procedures in this field, especially when making blind identifications.
Together we have a robust evidential product from both ends of the spectrum, taking into account our specialism in vehicles and theirs in CCTV. To make an enquiry in regards to Vehicle ID from CCTV please contact Acume direct quoting Harper Shaw.
Vehicle Speed Calculations from CCTV
The task of accurately deriving speeds of vehicles from CCTV is a complex one and requires a variety of different pieces of equipment. One of which is a frame interval timer (lightboard) which allows for an accurate frame rate to be established from the source CCTV system.
As part of our extensive equipment portfolio we do possess one of two recognised industry standard lightboards (Input Ace) which can be used to accurately determine the frame rate of the CCTV system. Used in conjunction with 3D laser scanning technology an accurate scene plan is also produced to be able to determine accurate measurements of distances travelled by subject vehicles.
We have extensive experience in this field and have produced expert reports over many years.
Please note we do not provide this service to the Criminal Justice System.
There are many variables when dealing with CCTV so please make contact with either Acume or ourselves to discuss your requirements.
Serious & complex investigations
Evidence Gathering
The Golden Hour is a term for the period immediately following the commission of an offence when material is abundant and readily available to investigators. Positive action in the period immediately following the report of an incident minimises the attrition of material and maximises the chance of securing the material that will be admissible in court.
The earlier you instruct an investigator the better the outcome of the investigation, as investigative material such as CCTV and digital data can be secured before it is lost.
We can provide the full package when it comes to the investigation of a serious or complex investigation. Our services include:
- Formulation of witness and suspect interviewing strategies securing early accounts.
- Conducting witness and suspect interviews
- CCTV recovery and analysis to prevent this being lost or overwritten
- House to House information seeks to secure information before it is forgotten
- Digital Forensic strategies to help secure and preserve data
- Telecom strategies and appraisals of recovered cell-site data
Please contact us to discuss your bespoke needs.
Criminal Justice System
Criminal Defence Services
We work with solicitors and barristers up and down the country who require our services to assist them in reviewing the Crown's material and to give them a steer, often on modern vehicle technologies and procedures associated with evidence captured from these types of vehicles.
We have assisted both criminal defence barristers and indeed the court and judge themselves in some cases to explain this type of evidence.
Our services in this arena are the same as for any other client and can be found across our website along with some case examples.
Discuss your case
Every investigation is different. Call or email to talk through your requirements with an experienced investigator.