PSDB announces new Director
PSDB, the Police Scientific Development Branch of the Home Office, recently announced the appointment of Alan Pratt as Director following a wide external recruitment campaign. Alan, who was previously Deputy Director of PSDB and has been Acting Director since the retirement
of Brian Coleman in July, will take up his appointment with immediate effect.
Alan will work closely with Paul Wiles, the Home Office`s Chief Scientific Advisor, to provide the necessary capabilities for law enforcement agencies to effectively combat terrorism and organised crime. He will also manage the transition of PSDB into HOSDB (the Home Office Scientific Development Branch), driving forward the use of science and technology across all areas of Home Office activity.
Alan Pratt said: “I am delighted to be leading PSDB into the next phase of its development. Brian Coleman ensured that we effectively delivered high quality advice and capabilities to law enforcement. I will build on this to meet the fresh challenges of ensuring that the whole range of Home Office priorities are professionally supported by science and technology.”
An internationally-recognised expert in surveillance technology with a broad background in applied science, Alan has been the Home Office`s Hard-Science Co-ordinator and the Chief Scientist at PSDB since 2001. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics and serves on its Professional Standards Committee.
The Police Scientific Development Branch (PSDB) employs over 200 scientists and engineers from many disciplines at its sites at Sandridge, Hertfordshire and Langhurst, West Sussex. It is a core part of the Home Office, applying technology to the fight against crime providing technical, operational and policy support for the Home Office and UK Police forces, and also for the Prison and Security Services, the Department for Transport, HM Customs & Excise and other government departments.
A spokesperson for PSDB said: “Whether a party political conference, the FA Cup or the Grand National, PSDB`s technical support teams are out working on frontline jobs all year round. Our National Technical Support Unit (NTSU) provides hands-on technical support for security operations. In 2003 we supported over 40 major events and special operations. We also hold a central stock of the latest search and surveillance equipment that is provided to police forces on request. This avoids all forces having to keep complex and expensive equipment. Over £1m of equipment was deployed at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, comprising over 100 different technologies. Our specialist advice is vital: our engineers know how to operate the equipment, what it can
do and how to get the best out of it.”