CSI Surrey: University 'crime scene flat' opened by Vera actor, Brenda Blethyn OBE

Blethyn, who stars as Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope in the long-running crime drama Vera, attended the opening of the fully renovated flat on 21 February 2024. 

The new facility is part of the University's new BSC Criminology with Forensic Investigation course, which launched in September 2023. The course is designed to help students gain as close to hands-on experience of navigating and processing issues as commonly found during crime scene investigations. 

Associate Professor Claire Rhodes, BSC Criminology with Forensic Investigation course leader from the University of Surrey, said:  

 "The course is 60% criminology and 40% forensic investigation. Crime scene methods and analysing how you can apply them in a controlled environment is an important part of the course and our new crime scene flat helps us put part of the course into a practical setting. 

 "Learning the art of forensic science means understanding how the theoretical skills can be applied in 'real-life' settings." 

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Notes to editors 

• Associate Professor Claire Rhodes is available for interview upon request.  
• For media enquiries, please get in touch with the University's press office via mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk