Lord Stevens opens new facilities for LGC Forensics

Former Met Police Commissioner Lord Stevens officially opened LGC Forensics’ new Specialist Services facility at The Heath in Runcorn, Cheshire at the end of February.

The center is extensively equipped to analyse fire debris, chemical traces and marks including footwear marks, glass and paint from crime scenes. The new labs were brought to life at the opening event for guests from UK police forces in a case study, which followed the analysis of items including DNA and firearms involved in a burglary.

Lord Stevens said: “With the ever-present threat of terrorism and other challenges in modern policing, responsive and intelligent support from forensic science providers is now a necessity, not an option. Specialist services such as those I have opened for LGC Forensics in chemical traces and marks embody this vital relationship.”

The company also formally opened an additional Digital Crime Unit in Runcorn, which specialises primarily in the forensic analysis of mobile phones and computers.

Commenting on the expansion in the services offered to police, fire investigators and other law enforcement agencies, LGC Forensics Director Dr Angela Gallop said: “The addition of these purpose-built new laboratories significantly enhances the capacity of LGC Forensics to serve customers in this rapidly evolving market, particularly those forces based in the north west.”

The new facilities for digital crime and chemical traces and marks augment existing expertise at Runcorn in forensic drugs, toxicology and DNA analysis. Combined with the facilities at Risley, north west forces now have the full range of forensic services available locally. LGC Forensics currently serves the UK with complex and rapid forensic science support from the facilities in Cheshire and, on a wider scale, from Teddington, Culham, Tamworth and a specialist firearms facility within the Royal Armouries, Leeds.