Who We Are
"We firmly believe and uphold the overriding principle; that criminal cases be dealt with justly"
Ian Broughton
Founder and Director
With over 35 years of experience, Ian has cultivated extensive expertise in illicit drugs and firearms offending, developed through his time served in some of London's toughest neighbourhoods and on infamous units such as the Trident Area Crime Command and the Serious & Organised Crime Directorate at New Scotland Yard.
Trained and recognised by the NCA as 'Expert', Ian is a seasoned expert witness who provides clear and concise reports and compelling live witness testimony. He has assisted in criminal trials across England and Wales.
Ian led the Met's expert evidence response to 'Operation Venetic', the investigation into the encrypted communications platform 'Encrochat', showcasing his high-level understanding of Organised Criminal Groups' methodologies, tactics, language, structure and hierarchies. His coordination, management and supervision of expert witnesses during this period of unprecedented demand ensured the safe and correct use of expert evidence.
In 2021, Ian pioneered the UK's first Expert Evidence course in Urban Street Gangs and Slang, training expert witnesses to interpret street slang in cases of serious violence and murder.
He has been awarded numerous official commendations for his work in his specialist fields from trial Judges, Senior Police Officers and the National Crime Agency.
Ian is a former associate lecturer at Buckinghamshire New University and is officially recognised as an Expert in illicit drugs and psychoactive substances by the UNDP.
He has mentored numerous expert witnesses, ensuring compliance with CrimPD, CPR, CPIA, CPS guidance and advises on national drug-related committees.
Driven by a belief in the transformative power of expert evidence, training, and report writing, Ian founded Expert Witness Services in 2021, delivering impactful programs to Law Enforcement, Government Agencies, and professionals across the UK and providing highly credible expert evidence in criminal trials.
Chris Greene
Chris is a nationally respected drug expert witness, having been the first Metropolitan Police Service officer trained to perform the role, which he has now been excelling at for over 20 years.
Chris was the vice-chair of the National Drug Expert Witness & Valuation Association for many years and has provided expert witness testimony across the South East court circuit and beyond, including in a number of high-profile cases.
He gained vast experience serving as a Detective in the Metropolitan Police for over 30 years, working against drug-traffickers at all levels of the National Intelligence Model including ‘County Lines’ drug gangs and both international and domestic OCGs, using a wide variety of tactics.
Chris has been highly commended by Senior Police Officers and trial Judges for his outstanding work in the field of drug trafficking.
He brings a wealth of experience to his role within Expert Witness Services, and plays a pivotal part in delivering our training courses which are exceedingly highly rated.
John Leach
John has worked within the field of law enforcement for over 33 years, investigating a range of criminality including Serious and Organised Crime within London’s Metropolitan Police Service.
He was a founder member of the Met’s original Dedicated Drug Expert Witness Unit within the Specialist Crime Department where, up until his retirement in 2020, he assessed and completed expert reports in hundreds of drug trafficking investigations at all levels in the supply chain.
John re-joined the Met as a full-time dedicated Drug Expert Witness in 2021 within the Violent Crime Task Force and was involved in the training and quality assurance of new and existing drugs experts, at the same time as continuing to complete hundreds of expert reports relating to a wide range of drug trafficking investigations.
During his exemplary service, he wrote more drug expert reports than any other serving Met employee and, over the past 10 years, has provided opinion evidence in every permanent Crown Court in London.
Paul Todd
Paul is a highly experienced Drug Expert Witness having started his Law Enforcement career in the Greater Manchester Police force in 1980.
He worked in both uniform and detective roles before moving to the National Crime Squad (NCS), the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and then the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Paul has been providing expert evidence since the 1990s and completed his last 11 years of service in Law Enforcement as a full-time member of the National Crime Agency’s Expert Evidence Team.
Paul has travelled extensively gaining vast experience and knowledge of the illicit drug trade both at home in the U.K. and abroad. He has a keen interest and focuses on drug manufacture, illicit drug labs, text, email and document interpretation.
We are delighted to welcome Paul to Expert Witness Services since his retirement from the National Crime Agency and look forward to showcasing his expertise.
Dec James
Dec is a former Metropolitan Police Detective with over a decade of experience investigating and understanding Urban Street Gang (USG) culture and related crimes. Specialising in County Lines drug trafficking, serious violence, and exploitation, Dec has developed expertise in transcribing, translating and interpreting slang communications used in music, social media, and messaging.
While serving in the Met, Dec became a recognised authority on the influence of music lyrics and social media in escalating gang conflicts and exploitation. As coordinator of the Project Insight USG Expert Witness Cadre, they oversaw the allocation and quality assurance of expert witness reports, ensuring accuracy and legal compliance.
Now an independent expert witness, Dec provides impartial, detailed reports for court cases involving urban street slang. They also deliver training for professionals, offering insights into modern gang dynamics and strategies for prevention and intervention. Combining practical experience and investigative skills, Dec helps others understand and address the complexities of gang culture.
