New £23m forensic science facility opens in Dundee

The first purpose-built forensic science laboratory for Scotland in almost 15 years officially opened this week.

Replacing facilities at Tayside Police headquarters, the £23.3 million laboratory will be the professional home to more than 100 forensic science experts and 30 information and communication technology (ICT) specialists from the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA).

The five-story, 50,000 sq ft facility will provide many of the latest crime-fighting technologies and will feature a photographic studio, biology, drugs and chemistry laboratories, fingerprint and scene examination units, the DNA robot, and the Scottish DNA Database.  

The new facility has been named after the late Doctor Donald Rushton, a pioneering forensic pathologist, who was one of the first people to introduce forensic science into the Dundee area.

Tom Nelson, director of SPSA Forensic Services, said for years forensic science experts have been working in spaces that were cramped and overcrowded. The new facility provides them with a bespoke working environment that fits their specific needs and is also adaptable to changing demands.    

“The laboratories and enhanced facilities will enable us to take forensic science in new and exciting directions, supporting advances in academic and technical knowledge, while providing an effective service to our customers across Scottish policing.     

“Much work has been done to develop this state-of-the-art facility and I am delighted with the final result which can be counted among one of the best in the UK.”

Specialist areas for the examination of large items such as doors and vehicles are also a new feature in the facility.  The rooms, which have been fitted with black magnetic walls and infra-red lighting, will enable scientists to carry out specialised examinations and techniques and interrogate a wide variety of materials that are not possible at a crime scene.

The provision of a wet examination room will facilitate the use of new techniques for the recovery of fingerprints on plastics, while general search labs will be used for body fluid examinations and DNA analysis.   

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill opened Rushton Court this week.

“The Scottish government is fully committed to providing a well resourced police service, but that commitment does not stop with delivering more police on our streets; we recognise the crucial role played by the SPSA in bringing criminals to justice,” Mr MacAskill said.

“I am proud of the excellent work done by SPSA’s expert forensic scientists. Forensic science has come a long way since Dr Rushton started his pioneering work in Dundee in the 1960s and I am delighted that the Scottish government has been able to provide this state-of-the-art facility in the city.

“Scotland’s forensic scientists are at the forefront of new techniques in the use of DNA to identify individuals and provide the police with leads to investigate.

“DNA is a fantastic tool which can solve crimes of all levels. It is more important than ever that we provide these scientists with the tools and facilities they need to support police forces across the length and breadth of Scotland.

“These facilities will improve our ability to gather and analyse evidence found at crime scenes and to help solve the full range of crimes, from house break-ins to the most serious crimes of all.”

There are currently three other forensic science laboratories based at Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow.