Elisabeth Briggs
Hannah Pocock
HANNAH POCOCK
Forensic Document Examiner and Handwriting Expert
BSc (Hons) MSc MCSFS
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Tel: 07368 571874
Qualifications
I completed my Bachelor of Science degree with Honours in Police and Criminal Investigation at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), which included a semester at the Police Academy of Czech Republic, in 2010, followed by my Master of Science degree in Document Analysis at UCLan in 2011.
I completed my extensive training to become a Forensic Document Examiner between 2011 and 2013 at Key Forensic Services Limited.
In 2013 I completed specialised Bond Solon training courses in 'Courtroom Skills: Witness Familiarisation' and 'Cross Examination'.
I completed a course in Printing Process Identification course at the Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, USA in 2013.
I obtained the HABC Level 3 Award in Education and Training (QCF) in 2015.
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I am a Member of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences.
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To ensure the continued highest standards of accuracy and reliability, I participate in annual proficiency tests supplied by Collaborative Testing Services (CTS), in alignment with forensic laboratories worldwide.
Experience
My experience within the field of Forensic Document Examination spans 15 years. I began my career at Key Forensic Services Limited before establishing myself as an independent consultant. I now Co-Direct QD Examiners Limited with fellow expert Elisabeth Briggs.
Throughout my career, I have worked with several of the most experienced Forensic Document Examiners in the UK and also gained knowledge from international expertise.
I started working at Key Forensic Services Ltd (KFS) in 2011 where I successfully completed their extensive Forensic Document Examiner training programme in 2013. I was employed by KFS between 2011 and 2018 as a Forensic Document Examiner and also assisted within the Quality Management Team, ensuring adherence to rigorous laboratory standards.
I then left KFS to become a self-employed Forensic Document Examiner providing higher education lecturing, peer reviewing of casework completed by fellow expert witness, Elisabeth Briggs of Questioned Document Examiner (QDE) as well as undertaking my own casework. Between 2018 and 2023 I was also employed by Cumbria Constabulary within their Crime Management Support Unit (CMSU) and then in their Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) and Professional Standards Department (PSD), gaining significant experience in sensitive and complex internal investigations. I now Co-Direct QD Examiners Limited with Elisabeth Briggs.
I have examined and peer reviewed hundreds of cases to establish document authorship and authenticity. Examinations have included disputed handwriting and signatures, ink analysis and indented impressions. Furthermore, I have undertaken examinations of printed documents and printing equipment, damaged documents, reconstruction of documents as well as examination of security documents.
I have examined Criminal, Civil and various other cases for a range of clients including, numerous police forces, governmental organisations, solicitors and private individuals. I frequently act as a Single Joint Expert (SJE) and have provided expert witness testimony, in person and remotely, in courts across the UK.
In addition, I have taught forensic science students at a number of universities, trained fellow Forensic Document Examiners and delivered bespoke training packages to organisations, international delegates and members of the public.
I have also appeared on two television programmes, Crime Files and Y Ditectif (2017), to highlight the pivotal questioned document examinations which led to the conviction of David Ellis for the murder of Alec Warburton.
I was a pre-publication advisor for the book 'Foundations of Forensic Document Analysis Theory and Practice' by Michael Allen, published in 2015.