Cyber, Digital & Technology Archives - Hawkins Forensic Investigation

Hawkins Dublin: CPD Burning Questions & Drinks Reception

Kirsten Beckwith — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 10:47:47 +0000

Hawkins are delighted to invite you and your colleagues to our Drinks Reception at the Merrion Hotel in Dublin.

Guests are invited to join us in The Wellesley Room from 4:30 pm for a 5.00 pm start. We commence with a CPD presentation before gathering in the Fitzgerald Room for drinks and canapés.

Join Forensic Investigators from Hawkins who will be presenting an immersive timeline of a multi-disciplinary fire investigation, from origin to recovery. The panel will present their findings to assist in determining potential liability exposures and the apportionment of responsibility across the various incidents.

There will also be an opportunity for our guests to examine real-life exhibits from our casework, and view photogrammetric models of exhibits and scenes.  Guests can also sign up to receive an exemplar report and model after the event.  

We look forward to seeing you. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Wednesday 20th May 2026.

Venue:
The Merrion Hotel,
Upper Merrion Street,
Dublin 2, Ireland.
D02 KF79

Meet The Presenters

Our Burning Questions CPD presentation features Hawkins investigators alongside two established industry professionals – Ian Stafford from Davies Group and Martin Browne from H-F, who join the discussion to share their experience and insight from a client perspective.

> Jason Buchwitz, will share his expertise in fire investigation, covering the process from initial instruction through to scene examination and root‑cause analysis.

> Killian Walsh, who specialises in fire engineering investigation, will discuss potential defects that contribute to fire spread and compartmentation failure.

> Paul McCaughran, as a forensic architect, will explain how he assists legal teams in determining where responsibility for building defects lies and whether there are prospects for recovery.

> Major and Complex Loss Adjuster, Ian Stafford from the Davies Group will discuss the key areas for causation, establishing policy liability and recovery prospects.

> Solicitor Martin Browne will consider the expert evidence and what further steps are required in order to pursue any subrogated rights of recovery against any culpable third parties.

Jason Buchwitz, Fire Investigation Expert

Killian Walsh, Fire Engineering Expert

Paul McCaughran, Forensic Architect

Martin Browne, Solicitor

Ian Stafford, Director of Major & Complex Loss

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Hawkins Experts Host Forensic Fun Day

Chloe Duggan — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 12:39:38 +0000

It was a pleasure to host an immersive forensic fun day at our London office, attended by graduates and professionals from leading insurance companies including Ecclesiastical, Hiscox, RSA, Chubb, Brit Insurance, AIG, Intact, and Crawfords. Guests explored the world of forensic investigation through a series of interactive activities that demonstrated how Hawkins experts approach incidents to determine root causes. These sessions provided valuable insight into the science and techniques behind our investigations, highlighting the depth of analysis and expertise that supports insurers in resolving complex claims.

A highlight of the day was a hands-on demonstration of our Hirox RX-100 digital microscope, led by Materials Engineer Caroline O’Keeffe. She used the microscope to examine wiring damage in detail, ultimately revealing evidence of rodent activity. Caroline explained how this high-resolution imaging technology plays a vital role in forensic investigations, enabling our experts to analyse minute surface features, tool marks, and trace evidence that are invisible to the naked eye. The demonstration highlighted the precision and depth of analysis our advanced tools provide, giving guests a real insight into the science behind our investigations.

Gareth Dobinson, Principal Associate and Regional Manager of our London office, delivered a practical demonstration on escapes of water, an area that often presents complex challenges in forensic investigation. Gareth explained how installation practices leave subtle traces behind, clues that help investigators determine whether systems were installed correctly and identify potential failure points. He highlighted how joint markings and other physical evidence can reveal critical insights into workmanship and the root causes of leaks. The session gave guests a first hand look at the methods and expertise used to analyse water-related incidents and prevent future failures.

Fire Investigation expert Helen Rosser led a popular fire investigation exercise. Guests were presented with a realistic reconstruction of a fire-damaged socket setup and tasked with determining the cause of a simulated electrical fire. By examining witness marks representing smoke and charring, and testing plug fuses, participants worked to identify which of five household appliances was responsible. The session offered an insight into how fire investigators analyse physical evidence to reconstruct events and pinpoint the origin of a fire.

Road Traffic Collision Expert Ross Clarke presented insights from our RTC team, while Digital Forensics and Photogrammetry expert Inigo Beckett presented our 3D modelling capabilities for scene reconstruction using virtual reality. They took guests through the role of CCTV analysis in RTC investigations, including methods for recovering and preserving recordings, and techniques to verify authenticity using hash numbers and metadata.

Delegates had the opportunity to create plumbing joints, assess wiring systems, and experience 3D imagery of fire scenes on our VR headset, gaining a fully immersive view of forensic techniques at Hawkins. One guest commented:

“I had such an amazing experience. The staff were so friendly and the activities they planned were very informative and unique. I really enjoyed it. The activities ranged from working with VR headsets to see burnt buildings, being shown microscopes and their uses, a plumbing pipe exercise and investigating a cause of fire with plug sockets.”

Please get in touch if you would like to attend a forensic fun day or if you have an incident for us to investigate.

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Hawkins Spring Drinks Reception 2026

Chloe Duggan — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 09:13:59 +0000

Hawkins are delighted to invite you and your colleagues to our Spring Drinks Reception at the Whitworth Gallery in Manchester.

Guests are invited to join us in the Grand Hall from 4:30 pm for a 5.00 pm start. We commence with a CPD presentation before gathering in the Gallery for drinks and canapés.

Hawkins experts will guide attendees through the forensic investigation into the collapse of a racking system in a commercial warehouse and subsequent structural damage, followed by the the clean-up operation of potentially hazardous substances. We will also investigate a personal injury incident allegedly arising from a slip on a wet surface during the clean-up process. The panel will present their findings to assist in determining potential liability exposures and the apportionment of responsibility across the various incidents.

There will also be an opportunity to examine real-life exhibits from Hawkins casework and experience a virtual walk-through of a fire scene using a VR headset.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Wednesday 25th March, 2026

Venue:
The Whitworth Gallery
The University of Manchester
Manchester
M15 6ER

Meet Our Presenters

The CPD panel presentation From Collapse to Clean-up features Hawkins Experts:

> Mechanical Engineer George Jackson, who investigates the events that led to the collapse

> Chemical Expert Claire Mann, who leads the clean-up operation

> Personal Injury Expert Ian Tatner, who investigates the slip incident.

The Hawkins team are joined by Quantum Expert Nigel Jackson, from ALA and Loss Adjuster Mike Clementson, who demonstrate how the team work collaboratively to bring a major and complex loss to a conclusion. demonstrates how a real investigation takes place.

George Jackson, Mechanical Engineer

Claire Mann, Chemical Expert

Ian Tatner, Personal Injury Expert

Nigel Jackson, Quantum Expert

Mike Clementson, Loss Adjuster, Claims Care Consultants Ltd

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Hawkins Hong Kong Drinks Reception 2025

Kirsten Beckwith — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 12:20:56 +0000

We are delighted to invite clients and colleagues to Lounge Hakuba on Thursday, November 20th from 6:00pm. Join the Hawkins forensic experts for an evening of networking, drinks and canapes.

Please register here or using the button below. We look forward to seeing you. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

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Revealing the Truth

Kirsten Beckwith — Wed, 28 May 2025 16:26:43 +0000

A global insurance company instructed Hawkins on a matter requiring digital forensics services. The insured had made a significant claim for the theft of luxury jewellery from their home. Luckily, the claimant was able to provide still images from their home security system digital video recorder (DVR) of the reported burglary, as well as mobile phone digital photographs of the stolen jewellery.

However, the insurer had sufficient reasons to suspect that the insured was falsifying not only the home burglary, but also the theft of the jewellery, and the subsequent insurance claim. These reasons included some of the common warning signs in fraudulent insurance claims, such as the insurance policy being setup only a few days prior to the reported theft, limited and mixed information provided in the insured’s claim statements, as well as minimal damage to the property. Due to these concerns, the insurer instructed Hawkins to forensically examine the insured’s devices to determine the metadata of the DVR still images and mobile phone digital photographs, produce a timeline of events and prepare a detailed expert witness report.

Digital Forensic Investigation

The insured only provided their Swann DVR and Apple iPhone for forensic examination by Hawkins after they were served a court order instructing them to do so. Our investigator was able to acquire a copy of both the live and deleted data stored on each device, having bypassed the password for the DVR in the process as the insured had ‘forgotten’ it; an all-too-common excuse in fraudulent cases.

Upon analysing the extracted data, including the metadata of the DVR still images, Exchangeable Image File Format (EXIF) data of the mobile phone digital photographs, and system logs, we identified that the dates and times of the devices had been manually changed to display false dates and times. Metadata is data that provides information about aspects of other data, such as the created, last modified, and last accessed dates and times. EXIF data is a standard that defines specific information relating to images captured by a digital camera, such as created date and time, device make and model, and GPS location. Therefore, Hawkins could evidence that the still images and digital photographs had in fact been taken after the date and time of the reported burglary. Furthermore, after viewing the video footage recovered from the DVR, and not just relying on the still images provided, it was clear that the so-called burglary had in fact been staged. This was evident in the way that the individual entered the property by calmly obtaining a door key from under the door mat, as well as the witness statement information not correlating with the events that took place.

Case Outcome

The digital forensic investigation, and subsequent expert witness report from Hawkins, was completed within 24 hours of receipt of the devices. This was made possible by a combination of the knowledge and experience of the Hawkins’ Investigator and the digital forensic software Hawkins has invested in, which can rapidly process and extract the relevant data. After the insurer had reviewed the expert witness report, they proceeded to reject the policyholder’s insurance claim, cancelled the insurance policy, and brought criminal proceedings against them.

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Unlocking Efficiency: The Benefits of Using Drones for Inspections

Chloe Duggan — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 09:56:24 +0000

The Drone and Model Aircraft Code published in 2019 by the UK Civil Aviation Authority laid one of the first legal frameworks and guidance for people operating UAVs (Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles) in a commercial setting. This reduced the complicated rules and procedures, making it easier to fly small and light UAVs in many places.

UAVs, commonly referred to as drones, have revolutionised various industries, including the way that forensic investigations can be conducted for losses such as fires and road traffic collisions. These changes bring several benefits including safety and cost efficiencies. We share below some of the key benefits of using UAVs in our investigations.

Cost Effectiveness

Advances in technology, increased competition among manufacturers, and economies of scale have all contributed to lowering the costs of UAVs which in turn has made aerial surveys more affordable. The UAVs require very little maintenance, and their compact size means that the operational costs are minimal.

As Hawkins has several investigators that are qualified drone pilots, holding A2 Certificates of Competency (A2 CofC), as stipulated by our insurer, a dedicated drone operator is no longer required to attend separately, saving on costs.

Health and Safety

Aerial surveys conducted with UAVs are much safer for workers. This is especially important on sites where pedestrian access is severely obstructed or where there are serious health and safety risks. Examples of such scenarios for our experts include exploring asbestos scenes or inspecting buildings with structural instability.

The relative safety of UAVs is also reflected in the data published by the Government. Statistics from the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that in the 2022/23 financial year, 51% of all construction fatalities were a result of falls from height. In 2023/24, 36% of all workplace fatalities across all sectors were due to falls from height.

Retention of Evidence

UAV aerial surveys enable our experts to perform supplementary analysis even after the raw evidence has been destroyed due to external circumstances. For example, if a Forensic Architect needs to assess the adequacy of a fire-damaged building requiring demolition in terms of building design and its compliance with building regulations, Hawkins can forensically preserve this evidence in the form of a three-dimensional photogrammetric model during the pre-demolition period. This is achieved by taking sequential photographs using a fixed gimbal camera attached to the UAV. These photogrammetric models can be securely shared with our clients and cross-referenced with letters or court reports, easing communication between experts and clients.

Accessibility

UAVs can access areas that are hazardous or otherwise challenging to reach. Some areas have restricted access due to terrain, temperature or the presence of chemicals. Inspecting tall structures, bridges, or offshore platforms would otherwise require specialised equipment or scaffolding.

UAVs can fly close to these structures, capturing high-quality images without putting personnel at risk or requiring additional infrastructure.

An added benefit of photogrammetric surveys with UAVs over traditional LiDAR scanning methods is that we do not need to worry about obstructions or restricted ground-level line-of-sight. This means that we can present finer detail at the top of the building where a LiDAR scanner may otherwise struggle due to obstructions or sparse point density.

As technology continues to evolve, so does our approach to investigations. Our experts continuously monitor emerging technologies in the UAV industry and proactively innovate to enhance our service offerings.

About the Author

Inigo is an Associate in our Reigate office and uses his skills to expand and strengthen Hawkins’ offerings in Digital Forensic Services.

He developed and implemented a dedicated 3D Photogrammetric Modelling and Forensic Photogrammetry Service whereby he performs 3D modelling of retained forensic exhibits such as pipes, buildings, fire damaged electrical appliances and vehicles.

Inigo is also an A2 Certificate of Competence (A2CofC) certified UAV pilot and regularly assists clients with aerial surveys on cases relating to fires, structural failures, and personal injuries.

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Hawkins Spring Drinks Reception 2025

Chloe Duggan — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 16:46:38 +0000

CPD: Major and Complex Loss

Hawkins are delighted to invite you and your colleagues to our Spring Drinks Reception at the Whitworth Gallery in Manchester.

Guests are invited to join us in the Grand Hall from 4:30 pm for a 5.00 pm start. We commence with a CPD presentation before gathering in the Gallery for drinks and canapés.

This year’s presentation will take a deep-dive into the intricacies of a multifaceted investigation. It encompasses a personal injury claim following a structural collapse, leading to further unforeseen consequences, and highlights the twists and turns that major and complex loss investigations can often take.

There will also be an opportunity to examine real-life exhibits from Hawkins casework and experience a virtual walk-through of a fire scene using a VR headset.

We look forward to seeing you. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

The post Hawkins Spring Drinks Reception 2025 appeared first on Hawkins Forensic Investigation.

Annual Events Highlights

Chloe Duggan — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 11:38:30 +0000

As another year closes, we would like to take a moment to thank those who attended our annual receptions across the globe and who contributed to their success.

Our first event of the year was our Spring reception at the Whitworth Gallery in Manchester. The evening saw presentations from Fire Expert, Dr Iain Woodward, Materials Expert, Stephen Brough, Mechanical Engineer, Chris Botham, and Digital Forensics Expert, Callum Hogan. Our investigators drew on their expertise to discuss topics including Fire Simulation & Modelling, plumbing investigations, and Camshafts in Modern Car Engines, sharing best practices and common failures, concluding with an introduction to our Digital Forensic Services. Guests then had the opportunity to examine real-life exhibits from Hawkins’ casework and to step into a virtual reality scene inspection using a VR headset, demonstrating how Hawkins uses drones and photogrammetry in our investigations.

Following our expansion into the Island of Ireland, we hosted our inaugural Belfast reception at the prestigious Merchant Hotel. John Holland, Chartered Engineer and Regional Manager of our Dublin and Belfast offices welcomed guests before handing over to colleagues to deliver a CILA-accredited CPD presentation. This took a deep dive into a fictional Major and Complex Loss incident, highlighting the unexpected twists and turns that such investigations can take. The presentation team included Hawkins investigators Jon Watkins, Dr Christabel Evans, Gavin Dunn and Callum Hogan, as well as guest speakers Craig Faulkner of Crawford & Company and Catherine Carton of Carson McDowell. Following the presentation guests were once again able to examine case exhibits, experience a VR scene and connect with our investigators over refreshments.

Our London reception saw us return to the Science Gallery, where Marketing Director and Chartered Civil Engineer, Andrew Reeves, opened the evening with an overview of the recent changes in the business, including our diversification into new geographies and disciplines and our investment to reduce our environmental footprint. Our CPD presentation again followed a major & complex loss incident that encompassed a personal injury claim following a structural collapse on a construction site, which led to further unforeseen consequences. Guests were invited for drinks and canapes in the studio and balcony overlooking the Shard, where our investigators were available to answer questions.

The year concluded with our international office events. Regional Directors, Dr Sophie Parsons, Dr Chris Wareham and Dr David Rose hosted events in Hong Kong, Dubai and Singapore. The Hong Kong reception was held at Frites in Quarry Bay with Dubai and Singapore seeing a return to Hunter and Barrel, and the Singapore Cricket Club providing the opportunity for new and existing clients to connect with our team in each region.

We hope everyone has enjoyed our events throughout 2024. With plans underway for new events and venues in 2025, you can request to be included in our mailing list to receive invites for relevant events. Current events including both in-person and online can also be found on our website.

We look forward to seeing you again in 2025.

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Hawkins Welcomes Guests to its Annual London Drinks Reception

Chloe Duggan — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 10:35:38 +0000

It was a pleasure to return to the Science Gallery in London to welcome guests for our annual London drinks reception earlier this month.

Marketing Director and Chartered Civil Engineer, Andrew Reeves opened the evening with an overview of the recent changes in the business including:

Our recent expansion into Ireland, and foothold in Canada;
Diversification into new disciplines, with the arrival of building services engineers David Edwards and Sydney Chan and undersea cables expert Dr Hugh Martindale;
Investment to reduce our environmental footprint with solar panels and electric car chargers in many of our offices.

The evening began with a CPD presentation in the auditorium, which took a deep dive into a Major and complex Loss incident, highlighting the unexpected twists and turns that such investigations can take. It encompassed a personal injury following a structural collapse on a construction site, leading to further unforeseen consequences. Presenters included Hawkins experts, Bernard Travers, Dr Eleanor Jay, Richard Baker and Callum Hogan, alongside guest speakers Chris Boggis of Woodgate & Clark, and Barrister & Mediator, Catherine Peck of 12 King’s Bench Walk.

Guests were then invited upstairs to the studio and balcony with views of the Shard for drinks and canapes, giving the opportunity to meet our investigators, and examine exhibits from real Hawkins’ cases. The exhibits included a VR headset which offered a virtual tour of a fire scene, illustrating how Hawkins uses drones and photogrammetry in our investigations.

We would like to thank all of our guests who attended the event. Details of all of our upcoming events can be found on the website.

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Hawkins Hosts Inaugural Belfast Reception

Chloe Duggan — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 13:34:47 +0000

It was a pleasure to host our inaugural Belfast reception on the 5th September, at the prestigious Merchant Hotel.

Chartered Engineer and Regional Manager of our Dublin and Belfast Offices, John Holland, welcomed guests and shared details of the recent expansion, to strengthen our presence and service offering in the region. He then handed over to colleagues to deliver a CILA-accredited CPD presentation.

The presentation took a deep dive into a fictional Major & Complex Loss incident which encompassed a personal injury claim following a structural collapse on a construction site, which led to further unforeseen consequences, highlighting the twists and turns that such investigations can take. Presenters included Hawkins experts, and guest speakers Craig Faulkner of Crawford & Company and Catherine Carton, of Carson McDowell.

Craig opened the presentation to set the scene on our fictitious incident of the failure of a mast climbing working platform (MCWP) which resulted in a substantial claim for personal injury. He highlighted a further potential claim related to a road traffic collision (RTC), which was allegedly caused by cladding materials being strewn across the road, as a result of the original mast climber failure.

Personal Injury expert, Jon Watkins explained his approach to the initial investigation. This included an early site visit while the scene was intact, assessing the relevant regulations, interviews with site management, and a review of Health & Safety procedures and inspection logs.

Being an A2 Certificate of Competence (A2CofC) certified drone pilot, Jon is able to use his drone to capture ariel views of difficult-to-reach places. Jon explained that the drone images he could capture showed that the support system had not failed, the masts had not buckled and despite the collapse, the working platform had not failed. He concluded that it may have been an internal failure and upon providing an initial report, outlined the need for further work from a materials expert to find the root cause of the failure.

Jon introduced, Dr Christabel Evans, who was tasked with identifying if the failure was a result of a materials defect, and whether the incident could have been prevented. Giving the audience an overview of how mast climbers work, Christabel explained that the mast climber relies on a rack and pinion system to move the platform up and down. Her investigation included a review of:

The maximum rated capacity of the platform; which is dependent on even loading across the platform.
The potential for overloading. If the load had been concentrated on one side, it is possible that the structure didn't buckle, but one or both pinions had become overloaded.
Other possibilities including design issues, poor material selection, or lack of maintenance.

Christabel revealed that two fractured pinions were found on the building site beside the mast climber. The lower pinion was covered in hardened cement which indicated that it had been lying on the ground for some time, failing before the incident occurred. Following the fracture of the lower pinion, the left-hand side of the mast climber failed and tilted steeply downwards towards the ground. This put undue pressure on the upper pinion, as it had to carry all the load. Examination of the upper pinion indicated that it had subsequently cracked and eventually failed from fatigue.

Christabel noted that in cases like this, it is common for the health and safety executive (HSE) to undertake their own investigation. On these occasions, Christabel will attend the site with the HSE engineer. It is not unusual for the HSE to retain crucial components of a case, meaning that an investigator may not have access to these for weeks or even months after an incident. This highlights the importance of instructing a Hawkins forensic investigator who can attend site quickly and complete an examination before items are removed.

Solicitor, Catherine Carton explained how the findings from the Hawkins investigation enabled her to establish where liability sat between each party, including the manufacturer of the mast climber, the cladding subcontractor, and the main contractor. Catherine then led the discussion on to the secondary incident, being the RTC, alleged to have been caused by the fallen debris.

Gavin Dunn introduced his role as an RTC investigator starting with a site visit to assess the scene and collect relevant evidence while it is still intact. He surveyed key positions and distances, assessed lines of sight, and completed a video drive-through and 3D laser scan to capture the scene in detail. With this information, Gavin was able model the orientation of the car at impact and approximate its path.

A typical RTC investigation may include a vehicle inspection to assess the damage, extraction of airbag data and dashcam footage, and their review, together with police and witness evidence. In this case, having found that the car had gradually drifted off the road and that the driver did not steer or brake to avoid the debris, he requested that Digital Forensics expert, Callum Hogan, investigate whether there were any other plausible reasons as to why the car had veered off course.

Callum acquired a ‘digital forensic image’ of the driver’s mobile phone, which is a forensically sound copy of all the data stored in the phone, including deleted data. He extracted all user-generated data in the minutes before, during and after the collision, to determine whether the mobile was in use. The data confirmed that a call was in progress at the point of impact and was initiated by the driver using the handset rather than the in-vehicle communication system.

A review of messages uncovered two text messages sent by the driver minutes before the RTC occurred, with the second sent three seconds before the point of impact. Both messages were manually typed on the mobile telephone.

Callum also accessed a map application to see if an active route was planned and what the destination was, to establish a timeline of events. He concluded with clear evidence that the driver is most likely to have been distracted while driving, through use of their phone.

Catherine and Craig closed the presentation with their summaries on the advice that they would provide to the insurers and where liability was apportioned.

Guests were then invited to join the drinks reception, which provided an opportunity to meet our investigators, examine exhibits from real Hawkins’ cases and take a tour of a real case using a virtual reality headset, demonstrating how Hawkins uses drones and photogrammetry in our investigations.

We would like to thank all our guests who attended the reception and hope it offered an insightful perspective into our expertise and how we conduct investigations.

You can view all our upcoming events on our website.

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