History
IAFR – Promoting the best practice in forensic radiography since 2005
The History of IAFR
The Association of Forensic Radiographers (AFR) was founded in 2005 and it changed its name to the International Association of Forensic Radiographers (IAFR) in 2008.
1996
Radiographers from the UK and other countries respond to call for assitance with United Nations War Crimes Investigations in Croatia. International radiography teams form part of UN investigations in Bosnia, Kosovo and Croatia under leadership of Mark Viner from 1996-2002.
1998
Formation of the Forensic Sub Group of the Trauma Imaging Group (TIGFR) by Mark Viner, Wayne Hoban, Bruno Tonello & Catherine Leong
1999
Official launch of TIG(FR) and recognition of TIG and TIG(FR) by the College of Radiographers (UK) as specialist interest groups for Trauma and Forensic Imaging
1999
Publication of Forensic Radiography Guidelines by College of Radiographers in association with TIG(FR)
1999
Guidance notes for the use of radiography in emergency mortuaries produced by TIG(FR) for emergency planning teams
1999
First annual Forensic Radiography Conference organised by TIG(FR) & College of Radiographers
1999
UK Military Radiographers under direction of Major John Beamer form part of forensic team deployed to Kosovo
2000
First UK post-graduate course in forensic radiography developed in conjuncion with TIG(FR) at the University of Central England in Birmingham
2000
TIG(FR) Forms a forensic radiography response team
2000
Northern Region Forensic Radiography Response team formed under the leadership of Catherine Rock and Katie Whittam
2001
Northern Region Forensic Radiography Response Team responds to Selby Rail Crash
2002
UK radiographers deployed to Kosovo as part of CIFA team
2003
TIG(FR) Run the UK's first mass fatality team training course for radiographers in association with X-Ograph Limited, co-ordinated by Emily Hines
2003
TIG(FR) store of radiography equipment for emergency mortuaries openned at Kenyon International Emergency Services. TIG(FR) offers emergency response team to UK local authorities.
2003
TIG(FR) advise the London Mass Fatalities Working Group on emergency plans for London
2004
TIG(FR) asked to provide equipment and radiography staff as part of London Mass Fatality Plan in the event of an incident
2004
TIG(FR) hold forensic emergency planning seminar for Home Office representatives and Emergency Planners at the College Of Radiographers
2004
TIG(FR), Military radiographers & northern region response team combine to form AFR
2004
AFR forms the UK Forensic Radiography Response Team (UKFRRT)
2004-2005
AFR run training course for Iraqi Radiologists as part of Foreign and Commonwealth funded project run by the Inforce Foundation
2004-2005
UKFRRT radiographers respond to the Tsunami as part of LRT plan and CIFA response
2004
AFR asked to assist the Home Office National Mass Fatalities Working Group
2005
AFR officially launched at UK Radiological Congress in Manchester in June
2005
UKFRRT responds to 7th July London Bombings. Mobilises a total of 27 radiographers and state of the art equipment generously provided by X-Ograph Ltd, GE Medical and Ferrannia Inaging systems.
2005
AFR Innaugral General Meeting held at the 6th annual forensic conference (AFR/COR)
2005
Second UK post-graduate course in forensic radiography (City University, London) developed in conjunction with AFR
2006
AFR reaches 300 members in UK & overseas
2006
AFR recognised as special interest group for forensic imaging by ISRRT
2006
AFR work with UK Home Office to procure specialist imaging equipment for UK Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) Team
2007
USA members work towards forming a USA branch of AFR
2007
Irish Institute of Radiography forms forensic group affiliated to AFR
2007
First UK post-graduate programme leading to masters degree in forensic radiography deveoloped at Teesside University in conjunction with AFR
2007
UK DVI team inaugurated with UKFRRT to provide radiography response
2008
After two years discussion and prepartion with AFR, CFRP announce that radiographers are eligable registration as Forensic Practitioners in the UK
2008
First AFR international meeting at ISRRT Conference in Durban, South Africa
2008
Publication of 2nd edition of College of Radiographers Forensic Radiography Guidelines in association with AFR
2008
AFR changes its name to the International Association of Forensic Radiographers in recognition of it's increasingly international membership and role
2008
AFR participates in First International Symposium on Forensic Imaging in Dublin organised by University College Dublin, Cranfield Forensic Institute & The Irish Forensic Radiography Group (AFR)
2008
IAFR organises training for radiographers in Mass Fatality Incident response as part of the UK DVI team on behalf of the UK government
2009
IAFR radiographers receive commendations from the Metropolitan Police for their role in the training excerise "Operation Torch"
2009
IAFR undertakes a survey of current standards and forensic radiography practice in the UK
2009
IAFR hosts a fact-finding tour of UK forensic facilities by the President and Forensic Group Chair of the American Society of Radiological Technologists (ASRT)
2009
IAFR organises highly successful and oversubscribed forensic imaging session at the European Congress of Radiology, Vienna
2009
IAFR Conference in Manchester is attended by delegates from the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands and Australia who hear keynote speaches by Patron Prof. Gil Brogdon and ISRRT General Secretary who praises the work of IAFR
2010
IAFR sponsors competition winner Dan Parr and committee representative Denise Elliott attend the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Meeting in Seattle, USA
2010
IAFR produces two DVD presentations exploring the work of UKFRRT and the achievements of its members
2010
IAFR publishes results of its survey of current standards and forensic radiography practice in the UK
2011
IAFR organises training for UKDVI radiographers at Cranfield Forensic Institute on behalf of the UK Home Office
2012
IAFR announces development of two distance learning programmes at ECR
2012
IAFR organises forensic dental radiography training for UKDVI radiographers at Teeside University on behalf of the UK Home Office
2014
IAFR works with SCoR to produce revised guidelines for Forensic Radiography, Guidance for providing forensic CT services & an Education Framework for Forensic Radiography (in progress)
2014
Prof. Michael Thali becomes Patron
2014
IAFR conference in September
2015
Joint international congress with ISFRI in Leicester
2015
Working with Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences to re-establish accreditation for forensic radiographers in the UK
2015
Increase in international members on the committee
2015
Synergy/Imaging and therapy practice published a special IAFR 10th anniversary forensic radiography edition – papers submitted by committee members
2015
10th anniversary of the official launch of IAFR
2016
IAFR named as radiography team of the year recognising excellent work from its members
2016
Joint IAFR-ISFRI conference Amsterdam in May
2016
Formation of sub group of IAFR in Australia has begun
2016
Working on bone age estimation guidelines with ISFRI
2017
IAFR took lead role in writing the ISFRI DVI position statement on the use of radiography in DVI incidents
2017
Successful IAFR/ISFRI conference in Denmark in May
2017
DVI response training was provided by IAFR in Ireland in May
2017
DVI workshop in Melbourne
2018
IAFR have become more international – with presentations at ECR and presentations to 750 French radiographers
2018
ISFRI conference Melbourne
2018
Introduction of webinars to our members – very popular with an attendance for many international members
2019
CT DVI training at Moreton-in-Marsh April 2019 – in conjunction with UKDVI and Alliance Medical - very successful weekend
2019
ANZ branch very much established and organising training and activities
2019
Japanese branch has been started
2020
15 year anniversary of the founding of the AFR
2020
Dr Mark Viner awarded honorary membership of IAFR for his dedication to the association
2020
IAFR International Forensic Imaging Guidelines produced and published in the Forensic Imaging journal and are available online
2020
Progress has been made in the IAFR contributing to a Forensic Imaging book as part of Clarks Radiography series
2021
IAFR organises a session about roles of forensic radiographers in different countries during the joint online congress with ISFRI
2021
IAFR undertakes a survey of current state of forensic radiography practice in the Nordic Countries
2021
The UK Branch of the IAFR is formed and they have their first AGM in August
2021
The new website of IAFR is published
2021
IAFR signs a MOU with UKDVI and Alliance Medical
2022
IAFR organises a plenary session about COVID-19 and post mortem imaging at the ISFRI congress in Tokyo, Japan
2022
ANZ Branch publishes a series of articles in the ASMIRT magazine
2022
IAFR eLearning platform for webinars and courses is opened at Thinkific
2022
IAFR signs a MOU with the ISRRT
2023
IAFR organises a scientific session at the ISFRI congress in Toulouse, France
2023
IAFR signs a MOU with the Society of Radiographers of South Africa (SORSA)
2023
IAFR publishes a review article about the roles of forensic radiographers in different countries
2024
IAFR signs a MOU with the Society of Radiographers in Finland (SORF)
2024
And more...