Scotland`s one-stop forensic service
A new streamlined forensic science service has been launched in Scotland to bring together the work of crime scene experts and laboratory professionals.
A new streamlined forensic science service has been launched in Scotland to bring together the work of crime scene experts and laboratory professionals.
The one-stop shop for the police and criminal justice system is based in Glasgow and is the first of its kind in the UK. The new Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) will have responsibility for the new service.
The creation of the SPSA Forensic Services pulls together our existing forensic and fingerprint capability and scene examination officers, placing us at the forefront of evidence capture and analysis, an SPSA spokesperson told Police Professional.
By making these significant changes, we provide for the first time a fully integrated Scottish national service from crime scene through to court`. This new service will allow us to enhance effectiveness, consistency and focus, developing our specialist skills in the areas most required by our customers throughout the criminal justice system.
This new national forensic service for Scotland forms one of the key business areas of the newly formed SPSA. Introduced in April 2007, the SPSA provides expert policing and support services to Scotlands eight police forces and criminal justice community.
The Director of the SPSA Forensic Services, Tom Nelson, hopes it will become a world leader.
As a new organisation we know that our success will be measured by our ability to meet the needs and expectations of all our stakeholders and we are committed as an organisation to meeting those mutually agreed needs, he said.
Campbell Corrigan, head of CID at Strathclyde Police, said: “Any senior investigating officer, investigating a crime whether it is serious or otherwise, always relies on the forensic aspects of the investigation.
“The technology provided is almost beyond belief. In my personal experience, it is the golden nugget at the end of the day.
The new service is a committed member of the Scottish Institute of Policing Research and will also play an active role in the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI), which has representation from most of the principal service providers throughout Europe. The aim of ENFSI is to promote co-operation between its members and their Institutions.
The spokesperson added: The creation of a national forensic service also provides new opportunities for combined research and development within our own organisation and also with universities involved in this area of work.
We have formed Scientific Advisory Groups (SAGs), which are a new development bringing together experts from each of our service locations, allowing them to share areas of expertise and generate best practice. These groups are defining the future shape of the organisation, driving forward the science and service enhancements, while making recommendations to ensure consistency across Scotland.
The outcomes from the DNA SAG are already having an impact outside Scotland as we share our experiences with our colleagues throughout the UK.
The impetus for establishing the service came about from the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill, which received Royal Assent in July 2006. The Act made provision for the creation of a new Scottish Forensic Service within the SPSA.