A GWENT forensic expert who helped hunt down Bosnian war criminals is the first to join a new register of Britain's top specialists in the field.

Ian Brewster, (pictured) head of scenes of crime for Gwent Police, is the first forensic expert in the UK to achieve registration with the Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners - a body set up to regulate and improve criminal analysis.

He believes the new register will lead to greater achievements in the specialism: "It is vital that we maintain high levels of competence and encourage development."

Mr Brewster has 31 years' experience in analysing crime scenes - including 25 years with the Royal Military Police - and was a member of the Special Investigation Branch in Berlin and Northern Ireland.

He moved to Gwent Police in 1995 after leaving the army, and joined the divisional scenes of crime at Newport.

Mr Brewster's first murder case, was of Tyrone France, a local man whose remains were found on a bonfire in Wentwood Forest in 1996.

He played a major role in the investigation and later received a commendation from the chief constable.

Two years later Mr Brewster moved to police headquarters in Cwmbran to head a new forensic department.

Among investigations carried out was the disappearance of Sandie Bowen from her Llandogo home.

Her body was never found but forensic research pointed to her husband, Mike Bowen, who was charged with her murder and subsequently jailed.

Also in 1997 Mr Brewster led a team of investigators from Gwent Police to Bosnia to track down war criminals as part of the International Crime Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Their work in assisting pathologists with methods of identification and the recovery of exhibits led to the prosecution of two war criminals.

The CRFP's chairman, Professor Evelyn Ebsworth, said: "Only those who show they are thoroughly competent can achieve registration.

"It is an honour for Ian to be the first - in any speciality - to do this, and I congratulate him warmly."