After completing a degree at Swansea University Keith did an an MSc in Forensic Science at Strathclyde University (the only course of its kind at the time, although there are now over 200 degree and post-graduate courses in Forensic Science in the UK).

He joined the City of Glasgow Police Laboratory as a Forensic Biologist in 1968, when there were only 7 people in the whole department (there are now 180!). In 1975 the laboratory became the Strathclyde Police Forensic Science Laboratory, and eventually he became Deputy Principal Scientist of the laboratory. In 1998 the Laboratory amalgamated with Scenes of Crimes and he took overall responsibility for the whole Department as Director.

He has been married to his wife Fiona since 1969 and they have three grown-up children, Gareth (27), Stuart (25) and Elaine (22). They live in a suburb of Glasgow, where they have lived since 1969.