Albert Kirby OPM. (Detective Superintendent - retired)
Albert Kirby joined the Liverpool City Police Force in 1964 and was appointed to the CID in 1967. Throughout his service he remained in the CID gaining all his promotions up to the rank of Detective Superintendent. He retired, after 34 years service, in 1998.

Throughout his service, he has been engaged in many aspects of serous crime investigation work both within the National Crime Squad and Merseyside Police, where he commanded the Force Serious Crime Squad. This work related to the professional criminal operating from the northwest of England and committing crime throughout England and other parts of the world. He has led many successful murder investigations of almost every description, including one concerning the international drug activities of the Hells Angels and their contract killing. In addition, he has lead extensive investigations into child abuse and many other aspects of serious crime.

During his service, he was instrumental in the implementation of standardized procedures for dealing with major crime within the United Kingdom, following the review of the Yorkshire Ripper investigation, relating to the murder of thirteen prostitutes throughout the north of England.

He has been commended by Judges at the Crown Court and his Chief Constables on many occasions for the investigation of serious crimes and was awarded the Queens Police Medal for distinguished service in 1994.

In February 1993, he was appointed the Senior Investigation Officer following the abduction of baby James Bulger from a shopping precinct in Bootle, Merseside. This culminated in James's murder and the arrest and conviction of two 10-year-old boys. These boys are the youngest offenders to be convicted of murder in English legal history. 

His academy presentation will cover the investigation of this murder and will highlight the many issues emanating from it that are still the subject of comment both within the United Kingdom, Europe and US. He has spoken of James' murder and the Police investigation at homicide seminars in Canada and Sweden.

Following his retirement from the Police Service, he has worked within the financial world advising them on the handling of "crisis" incidents, kidnap and extortion. He lectures on may aspects of serious crime investigation work at universities, detective training schools, and the Emergency Planning College. He regularly advises the media on crim related issues and is a regular broadcaster on BBC radio.

Alan Leschied, Ph.D.
Dr. Leschied is currently an associate professor at the University of Western Ontario and is also the senior research and clinical consultant at the Center for Research on Children and Families in the Justice System of the London Family Court Clinic. He is an expert on child development issues as it relates to interviewing youths in a criminal justice venue as well as youths who have been victims of crime.