Dr Richard Hooker. BSc PhD MCSFS

Forensic Scientist since 1970

Forensic Scientist specialising in drugs related casework, including analyses and comparisons of seized drug materials and assessments of illicit drug production facilities. Equipped with the ability to analyse, interpret and provide impartial scientific evidence using technical skills. Capable of developing new and innovative approaches to secure results and improve performance and efficiency.

Dr Richard Hooker

Drugs of abuse

Analysis of drugs of abuse/adulterants/bulking agents

Measurements of drug purities

Traces of drugs on exhibits including banknotes

Physical and chemical comparisons of drug materials and associated packaging materials

Assessments of cannabis cultivation scenes and estimations of yields from crops of plants grown

Investigations of the illicit production of amphetamine, methylamphetamine and other synthetic drugs.
Provided written evidence to the Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), regarding cannabis potency and distribution in the UK, prior to the most recent reclassification of cannabis.

Major participant in Home Office Cannabis Potency Survey (2008).

Provided training and consultancy support to a number of major UK police forces, which enabled their in-house laboratories to gain UKAS accreditation for forensic drugs analysis.

Key member of an EU funded project to provide guidelines to all European forensic science laboratories for the sampling of drugs for qualitative analysis.

Co-author of three scientific papers on sampling for the quantitative analysis of drugs (Published 2013/2014).

Devised and delivered training courses in the use of drugs test kits for remand and charging by the police (Guilty plea and EDIT processes). Formerly chief trainer on the use of drug test kits by UK police officers (Home Office authorised).

Original author of many of the drugs related training courses currently offered to police forces and government bodies both in the UK and internationally.

Author of a number of key training documents and scene aids for major forensic providers and the police.

Provided bespoke training course on amphetamine and methylamphetamine production for all UK police forces

Originator and previous Editor in Chief of a uniquely informative drugs intelligence bulletin (‘Class A’) provided quarterly by Forensic Alliance/LGC Forensics to all major UK police forces.
Multi-million pound cannabis importation.

The case involved the characterisation and valuation of multiple seizures of different types of cannabis and cannabis resin. Based on her reports the POCA asset liability was substantially reduced from c.£14m to c.£1.5m.

Alleged opium importation, based on drug traces detected on banknotes.

Based on her report the charges were reduced to possession of controlled drugs.

Cannabis cultivation charges.

Defendant was found not guilty based on her cannabis growing cycle’s report, which showed that the defendant could not have been present at the cultivation address during the period in which the plants were grown.

Alleged supply of steroids based on the seizure of multiple steroid preparations from defendants home address.

Commercial supply charges were dropped, based on her report.

Alleged importation, possession and supply of cannabis

Defendant was found not guilty on all counts, based on her report which highlighted the fact that the cannabis was not THC rich ‘skunk’ cannabis but was in fact CBD rich cannabis which may mistakenly have been believed to be legal.

Dr Richard Hooker

Expertise

Notable work

Notable cases

Experience

Committee Memberships