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UK government failures over forensic science are leading to fragmentation, research gaps and possibly even miscarriages of justice, according to a parliamentary inquiry on the subject.
Crimes including rape and murder may be going unsolved because of such issues, the House of Commons science and technology select committee heard from leading forensic scientists.
And the opposite is also likely, says Andrew Miller, the committee's chairman, warning of "the risk of people being convicted improperly because of the weakness of the system”.
Controversy has raged over forensic science in the United Kingdom since it was announced in 2010 that the government-owned Forensic Science Service (FSS) would be closed. The select committee held an investigation into the issue in 2011, but their latest report revisiting the subject airs the most strident criticism to date.
Released today, the committee’s report lists a series of failures, including mishandling of the final closure of the FSS in March 2012, a lack of coherent archiving for materials from investigations, police laboratories not reaching quality standards and a continued failure to address chronic problems in funding...
Crimes including rape and murder may be going unsolved because of such issues, the House of Commons science and technology select committee heard from leading forensic scientists.
And the opposite is also likely, says Andrew Miller, the committee's chairman, warning of "the risk of people being convicted improperly because of the weakness of the system”.
Controversy has raged over forensic science in the United Kingdom since it was announced in 2010 that the government-owned Forensic Science Service (FSS) would be closed. The select committee held an investigation into the issue in 2011, but their latest report revisiting the subject airs the most strident criticism to date.
Released today, the committee’s report lists a series of failures, including mishandling of the final closure of the FSS in March 2012, a lack of coherent archiving for materials from investigations, police laboratories not reaching quality standards and a continued failure to address chronic problems in funding...