Professor Jason Payne-James
John Jason (‘Jason’) Payne-James is a forensic physician and a specialist in forensic & legal medicine, based in the United Kingdom but with an international practice and reputation.
He was educated at Ipswich School, Suffolk, UK and graduated in medicine in 1980 from the London Hospital Medical College, University of London. After qualifying in medicine he became an anatomy demonstrator, and then undertook training posts in emergency medicine, acute medicine, orthopaedics, surgery and gastroenterology. He worked in clinical and research posts at a range of hospitals including Westminster Hospital, the Whittington Hospital, the Royal Free Hospital, Central Middlesex Hospital and Whipps Cross Hospital in London, UK. His research interests included gastroenterology and clinical nutrition. He developed an interest in clinical forensic medicine and became a forensic medical examiner for the Metropolitan Police Service and City of London Police in London, UK and became established as a forensic physician.
He was founding editor-in-chief of the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine (previously the Journal of Clinical Forensic Medicine). He was one of the first specialists in forensic & legal medicine recognised by the UK General Medical Council.
He was President of the Faculty of Forensic & Legal Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians (2015-2017). He is Honorary Clinical Professor at Queen Mary University of London; expert adviser to the UK National Crime Agency; former Chair, UK Scientific Advisory Committee on the Medical Implications of Less-Lethal Weapons (2019-2025); past-President of the World Police Medical Officers (2011-2014). He is President of the European Council of Legal & Forensic Medicine. He is Co-Chair of the Scientific Committee of the International Association of Forensic Sciences, 2026. He was Lead Medical Examiner of Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (2019-2025). He is director of Forensic Healthcare Services Ltd.
His clinical, research and academic interests include documentation and interpretation of injury; evidential sampling; sexual assault; non-fatal strangulation; restraint and less-lethal systems; miscarriages of justice; healthcare in custody and secure settings; death investigation; substance use; human rights abuses and torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment; determining cause of death. His medicolegal and expert witness practice extends across the UK and internationally and has supported investigations into miscarriages of justice (such as the cases of Alexander Monson and Jiah Khan).
He is a prolific author and editor and apart from original research has co-authored or co-edited the Encyclopedia of Forensic & Legal Medicine (1st , 2nd and 3rd editions); co-authored the 13th, 14th and 15th editions of Simpson’s Forensic Medicine; co-edited Current Practice in Forensic Medicine (1st, 2nd, and 3rd editions); The Medical Examiner System in England & Wales: A Practical Guide; co-authored Symptoms & Signs of Substance Use (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th editions); co-edited Forensic & Legal Medicine: Clinical & Pathological Aspects and contributed to many others.
He teaches and lectures widely to professional and lay audiences. He developed ForensiGraph® rulers and products. He has contributed to or presented numerous broadcast media programs, podcasts and documentaries on forensic and crime topics (such as 999 Murderer Calling; Fatal Addiction; Autopsy: The Last Hours of… ; Jack the Ripper: the Case Reopened; Mummy’s Little Murderer; Alo Ngata I Can’t Breathe; Unascertained. Some of his lectures and presentations are available online.
