Competence

From 2000, Chris spent several years in the role of Station Officer and Station Commander, inspecting buildings under the Fire Precautions Act of 1971 and Workplace Fire Precautions Regulations 1997 which were in force at the time. He also responded to fire safety complaints, certificate exemptions and prohibitions amongst other work as a Station Commander from 2001 to 2016, and transferred back to fire safety full time in 2016.

Chris taught all aspects of fire safety whilst  at Oxfordshire FRS in the role of Fire Safety Training Manager, creating and implementing the Fire Safety Inspecting Officer Development Programme. He was recognised for his abilities and taught fire safety as PrincipleTutor in Fire Safety at the Fire Service College, Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire, from 2018 to 2024.

Chris obtained a BSc from the Open University in 2017 with; Strategic Leadership; Fire Safety; H&S, Law; Sports Science with additional PG study in Business Human Rights Law. He holds a Diploma in Management; Diploma in Fire Engineering Design; Diploma in Fire Safety; Post Graduate Certificate (2) in Investigative Practice; Post Graduate Award in Expert Witness Evidence; Post Graduate Certificate in Strategic Leadership; Level 6 Certificate in Fire Safety in Construction, and is studying for a Graduate Diploma in Law through the Open University.

Chris holds Engineering Council registration at EngTech level (registration number 693019) and is a reviewer of EngTech applications on behalf of the IFE.

Chris has written two articles recently for Fire and Fire Gazette Magazine.

FIRE Gazette April 2025a Fire Safety Academy P2

FIRE Gazette July 2024b pp30-33 P1

 

Whilst in his Fire Service post Chris worked on many enforcement actions, prohibition cases and successful fire safety prosecutions. Chris lead the team on most of these cases, resulting in fines and suspended sentences for fire safety failings, and a commendation from a trial Judge on the work undertaken by him to secure a conviction (along with another inspector from the neighbouring county who did the case preparation). This work secured the safety of many hundreds of people from fire.

Chris also lead on other legal work including a high profile appeal against a Portfolio Enforcement Notice across several county areas, the first one of its kind. Chris has therefore a great deal of experience in understanding and developing fire safety legal cases. Chris now works with clients to defend their businesses in fire authority investigations, licensing hearings and other work, and has worked with Fire Services to give advice and support on some difficult cases.

Chris also holds volunteer roles with qualifications awarding body Skills for Justice Awards, where he and others work on the development of the new suite of Fire Safety and Fire Risk Assessor Qualifications. He also volunteers with the Institution of Fire Engineers and The Fire Fighters Charity, having previously been a Trustee-Director of the FFC. Chris continues to contribute Nationally to fire safety development programmes and qualifications.

Chris was awarded Fellow (FIFireE) of the Institution of Fire Engineers in 2024 for his outstanding contribution to Fire Engineering over the last 31 years. He achieved Preliminary Certificate in 1994, Graduate in 2001, gaining passes in the 4 papers of the Graduateship Exam (Fire Safety, Fire Ops, Fire Engineering Science, Fire Management) before elevating to Member in 2017. He has been a paid-up member of the IFE since 1994. Chris is the local branch President and Secretary of the Thames Valley IFE group. Chris gained Fellowship of the Royal Society Of Public Health (FRSPH) in 2018 for his many years promoting public safety.

Chris is a holder of a 5th Degree (Dan) Black Belt in Shotokan Karate and has studied martial arts generally since 1978. He was previously on the board of Karate England.

Chris appeared on Master Chef when it appeared at the Fire Service College during episode 19 of series 19 to critique the food.