CSI Portsmouth 2014 where crime fiction met crime fact
Over 100 people pack The Princess Royal Gallery at the
National Museum of the Royal Navy in the
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard on Saturday 8 November 2014 to hear two panel debates on crime fiction versus crime fact at the fifth annual CSI Portsmouth. (Crime Scene Investigation).
CSI Portsmouth 2014, which is part of Portsmouth BookFest, was conceived by and is organised
by internationally acclaimed crime author
Pauline Rowson in conjunction with Portsmouth City Council Library Service. It
brings together top selling crime authors, police and forensic experts
for a one day entertaining and informative debate on crime fiction and
crime fact.
The morning panel at CSI Portsmouth 2014
On the morning panel Pauline Rowson joined forces with crime writer
M.C. Beaton and with crime experts Dr Katherine Brown, a Forensic Entomologist at the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, University of Portsmouth and Terrence Napier, Footwear Mark Examiner, with Hampshire Police.
Pauline Rowson's crime novels are set in the Solent area and feature the flawed and rugged
DI Andy Horton. And in a new crime series, former Royal Marine Commando, turned undercover investigator, At Marvik.
They have been
hailed in the UK and the USA as the 'Best of British Crime Fiction,' and
have been translated into several languages including Chinese.
M.C Beaton is the author of the Hamish Macbeth novels and the Agatha Raisin series. She is the most borrowed British adult fiction author
in libraries with over a million borrowings in the last year. She
answered questions about the inspiration behind her crime novels, her
characters and how she researches them.
Dr Katherine Brown, a Forensic Entomologist and Senior Lecturer in Forensic Science at the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies at the University of Portsmouth, talked the audience through the various stages of the development of
flies and maggots in the decomposition of a human body, while Terrence Napier, Footwear Mark Examiner for
Hampshire Police Scientific Services, explained how prints are taken at a
crime scene and how they are analysed in the lab.
This was followed by questions from the audience, a book signing and the chance for individuals to chat to the panel guests.
The afternoon panel at CSI Portsmouth 2014
The afternoon audience at CSI Portsmouth 2014
were entertained with tales of drug busting, intelligence gathering and
covert source recruitment.
The
afternoon panel, grilled by Pauline Rowson, comprised of crime authors Jessie Keane
and Hilary Bonner with crime experts, Sergeant Roger Wood and DI Mandy
Horsburgh of Operation Fortress, Hampshire Police.
Jessie Keane talked
about her gangland crime novels featuring Annie Carter, head of a
London gang family and how her background has influenced her writing. While
Hilary Bonner, a former Fleet Street journalist and show business editor of three
national newspapers and assistant editor of one, spoke about her keen
interest in creating psychological thrillers drawn from real life
events.
Sergeant
Roger Wood spoke about aspects of intelligence gathering and monitoring
suspects in regards to counter terrorism and the recruitment of covert
sources of intelligence and cyber crime. While DI
Mandy Horsburgh, who works within Operation Fortress, one of the
biggest, most significant stand-alone projects ever to be launched by
the Constabulary, with its own 31-strong dedicated investigation and
enforcement team, spoke about how they tackle the most serious violent
drug-related crimes alongside organized criminal groups who pose the
most risk to communities.
The
panel debate was again followed by questions from the audience, a book
signing and the chance for individuals to chat to the panel guests.
Pauline Rowson says, "It was a thoroughly enjoyable day set against the fantastic backdrop of
the sea in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. As well as local Portsmouth people attending there were those
from Devon,London, Surrey and Dorset.
"I’d like to thank all the panel guests
and participants who gave of their time and expertise so generously. It
was highly informative and intriguing."
Also
at CSI Portsmouth were the Hampshire Police Fingerprint bureau, a mock
up crime scene provided by students on the Forensic Science Course at
South Downs College and a forensic entomology display by the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, University of Portsmouth. The
Hayling Island Bookshop were on hand to sell the authors books.
CSI Portsmouth, was sponsored by
Bello, publisher Pan Macmillan’s digital imprint, which brings lost classic back to life.
CSI Portsmouth was first launched in 2010 and is the
brainchild of Internationally acclaimed crime writer
Pauline Rowson, CSI Portsmouth is part of
Portsmouth BookFest a festival of popular literature organised by Portsmouth City Council.