Letter from the President Welcome to this year’s single edition of the Newsletter which aims to keep members informed of the Association’s activities and the current issues facing forensic odontology. It is with great sadness that I have to record the death of two of BAFO’s founding members. Firstly, Freddie Martin who died on 8th November 2019 and Derek Clark who died on 8th July 2020. Freddie and Derek were Past Presidents of BAFO and long serving Committee members; their obituaries appear on the website and in this Newsletter. Last year’s annual conference was held in Sheffield and was well attended; delegates’ feedback was very positive which reflected the varied and informative programme of presentations. The conference continues to be enhanced by the contributions of Scheila Manica’s and Helen Liversidge’s students on the Friday afternoon session. I wish to thank all members and speakers who contributed to such a successful professional meeting. Everyone who attended the conference benefited from the conscientiousness of Geoff Craig and Roland Kouble who organised the event. I am pleased to report that Max Malekniazi and Sally Andrews have joined the Committee. Max and Sally join Toni Lemm, Scheila Manica, Louise McPeake, Vijay Reesu and Alison Lowe who form an increasing group of younger committee members who bring fresh views and suggestions to our collective discussions. The hope is that BAFO will progressively benefit from a range of members’ contributions in the years to come. In keeping with positive thoughts for the future, I am delighted to inform you that the degree of Doctor of Philosophy was conferred by the University of Dundee on Vijay Reesu for his thesis entitled “Investigation of Photographic and Digital Methods for Odontological Comparison to aid with Human Identification”. In recognition of the significance of Scheila Manica’s department, this year’s annual conference was due to be held in Dundee on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st November 2020. Regrettably, due to Covid-19, the Committee has decided to postpone this year’s conference until November 2021; the exact date is yet to be confirmed. The aim of the conference in Dundee will be to provide delegates with a range of presentations delivered by some senior, national and international members of the forensic community. In order to avoid a blank year and in keeping with other professional organisations, we intend to arrange a webinar on Friday 20th November 2020, prior to the virtual Annual General Meeting of the Association. Complete details of the webinar and AGM will be distributed to members in due course. Unfortunately, the proposed spring conference in Guernsey on Saturday 23rd May 2020 was cancelled due to insufficient support. I wish to thank Paul Frank for his time and effort in attempting to add to BAFO’s event calendar. Alison Lowe, as the DCP Representative, communicates with DCPs who express interest in becoming involved in identification casework. The nature of these exchanges provides information and encouragement to prospective new DCP members. Alison is currently conducting a survey of DCP members’ opinions on aspects of their career development in forensic odontology. The Association’s administration of the mentoring programme for the recognition of odontologists engaged in identification cases continues to be delivered by Nathan Brown. As a matter of importance, BAFO routinely monitors the challenges facing bite mark analysis in criminal cases and represents our expertise with the NCA through established contacts. Phil Marsden and Max Malekniazi are developing the website and related electronic platforms with a range of improvements that will become evident to members in the near future. Specifically, Max is responsible for the creation of the digital version of the Newsletter. Odontologists with a relevant post-graduate qualification and who have made a contribution to forensic odontology by either practice, research or training can apply to join the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All the relevant information is available on the Faculty’s website www.fflm.ac.uk I welcome the increasing membership numbers and the active involvement of as many members as possible. BAFO is aware of the challenges facing forensic odontology and aims to safeguard the Association for the future. Since this is my final letter as President, I wish to thank all Committee members who have served in the past four years for their time, opinions and contributions that have enabled BAFO to function effectively. I hope that the current younger members will assume increasing responsibility for the continuing development of our Association. I have every confidence in Roland Kouble, as President, of acting in the best interests of BAFO from November 2020. It has been a privilege to serve as President and I wish all members good fortune at this time of the unprecedented challenges facing humanity. Douglas R Sheasby President British Association for Forensic Odontology Editorial Comment This edition of the newsletter comes to you at a time where many of you will have been either self-isolating, due to come out of isolation or still working in practice or urgent care centers. For many of us life has changed rather dramatically in the last few weeks and the future may be uncertain with financial and job security at risk for many with an uncertain future ahead. The law courts initially still went about their business but this has also changed with some evidence being given virtually online and many case postponed. Whilst certain forensic opinions are still being sought such as child protection cases and the occasional identification case we do need to be aware of the risks and follow the advice on our website, the advice from the Chief Coroner and other professional groups such as the Association of Anatomical Pathology Technology (http://www.aaptuk.org/) and Royal College of Pathologists. Members conducting identification cases should satisfy themselves that the personal cross- infection protection measures at the mortuary are adequate and they follow their local mortuary guidelines on cross-infection. I personally decided not to undertake impressions for bite mark cases during the period of time when we were advised not to have contact with patients after numerous requests on the basis that routine face to face dental procedures have ceased on the advice of the CDO for England and the indemnity providers. As has been stated ad nauseam these are indeed unprecedented times and it will be certainly interesting to note how work will change. Indeed I have noticed that we have had an increase in examining child protection injuries as a result of the lockdown! I have personally discussed the issue of impression taking for suspects in custody with one of the dental indemnity organizations (Dental Protection) and their advice is that taking impressions could “potentially be and aerosol generating procedure if the individual were to gag or cough” and as such we should be wearing the appropriate PPE (mask, visor and gown) and also warn the Police that the room used may need to be fallowed for 60 minutes post procedure. Whilst this may sound over cautious it is the advice from one of our indemnifiers and I would suggest that members seek advice from their own indemnity provider to clarify their own position. This edition of the newsletter also marks the final edition produced by me as the editor and since I will be taking on the position of president from November 2020 it is time to hand the reigns over to a new pair of hands. After 9 years of editing the newsletter I would like to thank all those who have contributed articles over the years and look forward to seeing more in the future. I am delighted to welcome Dr Mahtab (Max) Malekniazi as the new editor. Roland F Kouble Newsletter Editor / President Elect Introducing our New Newsletter Editor for 2021 Dr Maxi Malekniazi BDS DGDPUK PGDipNSFA MSc (Hons)For.Od I gained my dental degree from the University of Birmingham in 1993. I completed a two year mixed vocational training programme which allowed me to gain experience in both general practice as well as hospital settings. During this time, I completed an oral surgery rotation and gained my DGDP from the RCS in 1995. In 1998 my husband and I opened our first mixed NHS/PVT dental practice in the South of Birmingham. At the turn of the millennium I moved to Los Angeles for just under two years. During this time, I completed my board exams whilst undertaking a smile design course and teaching hygienists. On my return I was selected as a vocational trainer, which I did for approximately 5 years, in the West Midlands scheme. During these years, we opened another couple of large practices, one completely private and the other also mixed NHs and private. To complete and compliment my cosmetic dentistry work I obtained my diploma in nonsurgical facial aesthetics. Always having had an interest in forensic dentistry, and forensics in general, I studied forensic dentistry at Glamorgan. I completed my MSc in Forensic dentistry with distinction, in 2010, but with a very busy lifestyle and practices to run, I felt it better to commit to forensic dentistry when the time was right and that I could dedicate the time needed. I moved to London 2 years ago and I was extremely lucky to be mentored by our very own, Dr Phil Marsden who needs no introduction.. In November 2019 I joined the BAFO committee, and as editor elect, I am working on an electronic version of the newsletter. Dr Marsden, who manages the BAFO website and I, will aim to present the new version in Spring. I have just completed the first part of my diploma in Forensic Medical Sciences, and hope to complete the course sometime this year.