Conference for future of forensic science

A two-day conference organised by the Universities of Northumbria and Teesside in partnership with the National Policing Improvement Agency will address the theme Forensic science users and providers – where can the line be drawn between them?

The event aims to raise awareness at a strategic level within the police service, forensic science providers, government and higher education as to the future direction for both forensic and crime scene science, highlighting and debating the issues, implications and opportunities provided.

Keynote speakers at the conference will include Chief Constable and Chief Executive Peter Neyroud of the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA), Chief Constable Tony Lake, Lincolnshire Police and ACPO forensic science portfolio holder, Mike Baxter, Chief Constable Cumbria Police and Chair of the National Fingerprint Board.

They will be speaking alongside a host of other leading experts from organisations such as Skills for Justice, Jill Dando Crime Science Institute, Forensic Science Service (FSS) and LGC Forensics.

Some of the important issues to be addressed include:

¦How does the Police Service wish to use forensic science in the future?

¦How might forensic science be used, procured and quality assured in the future and by whom?

¦What will the role of the Chief Forensic Science Adviser and Forensic Science Advisory Council be?

¦How will information from dispersed environments and providers be managed?

¦What are the implications for current forensic and police providers of forensic science?

¦What skills and competencies will be required in the future and by whom? Who will assess
them and how? What are the implications for training and education providers?

A spokesperson for the conference said: “As policing is changing at a national level, forensic science is going through a period of rapid change not only in terms of where it takes place, as it moves from the laboratory to the crime scene, but in how it is procured, used and quality assured.

There is widespread recognition of the need for provision of some form of regulatory function and this need for regulation is assumed in work being carried out on the ACPO strategy for the future of forensic science and that of the Forensic Science Procurement Steering Group.

The conference comes at a time when Home Office Minister, Joan Ryan has agreed in principle that creating a forensic science regulatory function is the most appropriate way of overseeing quality, standards and integrity in forensic science and maintaining public confidence.

The spokesperson added: “Forensic users have a range of opportunities for the use of forensic science but they need to be flexible and innovative in taking it forward. Identifying and managing the relationship between the forensic user and provider community will be critical for optimal success.”

The conference will be held at Northumbria University, Newcastle June 26-27 2007. For further information contact Professor Julie Mennell, Northumbria University on 0191 227 4585, julie.mennell@unn.ac.uk