Forensics closure a ‘significant risk’, say MPs
In closing the Forensic Science Service, the government is overlooking the future of forensics in the UK and sidelining its most important adviser, according to an MPs’ report.
Andrew Miller, chairman of the Commons Science and Technology Committee which wrote the report, said: “In deciding to close an organisation with science in its title, the Home Office sidelined its own Chief Scientific Adviser.”
The committee criticised the exclusion of Professor Bernard Silverman, saying it showed the “weak scientific culture in the Home Office”.
Prof Silverman’s exclusion “says volumes about its attitude to science. But more worryingly, the Chief Scientific Adviser’s acceptance of his exclusion raises questions about his effectiveness within the Home Office,” according to Mr Miller.
The committee also describes as “unacceptable” the lack of transparency over the size of the forensics market, and the Home Office’s failure to consult with Andrew Rennison, the Forensic Science Regulator.
‘Significant and unacceptable risk’
The committee warns that the plan to give more forensic work to police labs posed a “significant and unacceptable risk to criminal justice”.
Mr Miller said: “The elephant in the room was police in-sourcing to largely unaccredited labs, which had been eroding the market away from the FSS and private providers.”
We call on the Government come up with a sensible strategy for forensic science research. Andrew Miller, Commons Science and Technology Committee
The report says it is of “great concern” that many of these police labs are not accredited to the same quality of the FSS facilities and other private sector providers. The Government’s lack of awareness of providers’ concerns about police expenditure on forensic science was “worrying”.
“We were shocked when conducting this inquiry at how little consideration the Government had given to the wider impacts of the FSS closure before making its decision,” said Mr Miller.
“We now call on the Government to stabilise the market, curbing police in-sourcing, and come up with a sensible strategy for forensic science research and provision in England and Wales.”
‘Not the full story’
The 1,650-strong FSS makes an operating loss of £2m per month, but the report highlights the fact that this is not the “full story” because it ignores savings expected to be delivered. The average monthly loss over the past year has been lower, according to the report.
The report says that this demonstrated a “disappointing” lack of market knowledge. It also says it is “difficult” to evaluate the proposed closure of the FSS from the taxpayer’s perspective.
The deadline for the closure of the FSS is March 2012, but this is “unlikely to ensure an orderly transition”. The report urges the Government to extend the deadline by at least six months.
In response, crime prevention minister James Brokenshire said: “It mis-states a number of very significant points. Our focus remains on providing continued high quality forensic services to the justice system now and in the future.
“We remain confident that our plans for winding down the FSS will deliver this.”