Nick joined Hawkins in June 2012 after a 27 year career with the London Fire Brigade. During the last 16 years of his fire service career he was a full-time Fire Investigation Officer.

In 2009 Nick was awarded a PhD with the University of Strathclyde for his research into the interaction of fire and electrical circuits and the metallic damage to electrical conductors located within fire scenes titled “Developing a reliable systematic analysis for arc fault mapping”.

He has undertaken a number of electrical examinations within the UK. This has included multi-agency teams investigating several firefighter fatality incidents and the investigation into the cause of the Cutty Sark fire in Greenwich.

Nick has investigated a number of electric shock & electrocution incidents and electrical product failures.

He has investigated shipping fire and explosions on behalf of P&I Clubs and cargo interests. He has also investigated a number of fires involving yachts and superyachts overseas.

Nick has provided firefighting advice for shipping incidents on a number of occasions.

He has given evidence as an expert witness at arbitrations, Coroners’, Crown and Civil courts.

He has delivered electrical training to Fire Brigades, Police Forces and Forensic Laboratories and presented at training conferences both within the UK and oversees.

Nick specialises in the investigation fires and explosions in domestic, commercial and industrial premises, yachts, superyachts and shipping losses, providing firefighting advice associated with shipping incidents and the investigation of electrical failures.

Due to Nick’s extensive experience in fire investigation, he was asked to chair the writing group for the now published judicial primer “Fire Investigation – A Primer for Courts.”

Nick is a Principal Associate based in our Reigate office.

Qualifications

PhD Centre for Forensic Science (Dept of Pure & Applied Chemistry) – University of Strathclyde
ChFP Chartered Forensic Practitioner (Fire) – Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences
FSSocDIP Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences, formally known as the Forensic Science Society (postgraduate) Diploma in Fire Investigation
MCSFS Professional Member of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences
IAAI-CFI Certified Fire Investigator – International Association of Arson Investigators
FFireInv Fellow of the UK Association of Fire Investigators
GIFireE Graduate member of the Institution of Fire Engineers
TMIET Technical Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology
City & Guilds 2391-10 Inspection, testing and certification of electrical installations (2012)
City & Guilds 2360 Electrical Installation parts 1, 2 (1989-1991) & part C (1996)