Memorandum submitted by Peter Merrill
(FC 84)
I am the Head of the Forensic Science and Technology
Branch (FS&TB) of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA).
1. I would respond to the Government's objectives
set out in the Science and innovation investment framework 2004-14
and make reference to the need for:
— Increased business-university collaboration[118]
with law enforcement agencies in harm (individuals, communities,
society) reduction initiatives and projects.
— Controls when new ideas and products
are brought to the market for use in the criminal justice system.[119]
— Focus on the changing and developing
academic environment[120]in
response to course demand and its cause and effect to establish
and funded programmes, knowledge transfer and student access.
— Core funded initiatives within the Science
and Engineering Ambassadors programme for Higher Education Institutions
(HEIs) to assist student access into the law enforcement community.
— To support the Joint MRC/DH Health Research
Delivery Group[121]
through research collaboration with law enforcement on the analysis
of pathological, biological samples.
2. COLLABORATION
It would be helpful for the needs of law enforcement
to be captured within Research Councils' public services programmes.
The ability to ensure the challenges that faces the end users
and investigators of technology used in crime, enabling crime
and the detection of crime are inclusive.
Strategic direction through the allocation and
funding exercises would help incentives the law enforcement agenda
and assist with strengthening the linkages between the public
and private sector research bases. The opportunity to promote
science and innovation within law enforcement as a key driver
for improved public services, cross-government priority setting
and strategy formation for law enforcement to meet the challenges
ahead would be of benefit.
3. CONTROLS
There is also a need for commercial products
being introduced into the market to be underpinned by robust quality
standards, validated systems and against technical specifications
developed in partnership with the end users. Those regulatory
and ethical issues that need to be considered at the emerging
stages are often not addressed until the market introduction phase
causing difficulties within the criminal justice system. This
would be avoided if criminal justice and law enforcement were
embedded within the tasking frameworks.
4. CHANGE
The number of UK forensic science courses available
continues to increase whilst employment opportunities in the forensic
sector are diminishing.[122]
Currently only 15 universities are accredited by the Forensic
Science Society (FSSoc) resulting in a large proportion of the
courses offering poor preparation for a career in forensic science[123]
and no coherent national strategy around innovation and research
with forensic disciplines.
Whilst forensic science higher education is
undergoing rapid expansion, other branches of science have been
experiencing a marked drop in popularity. There have been some
closures of chemistry departments whilst other institutions now
only offer the true sciences in support of forensic science courses.
There is an opportunity to harness the excitement surrounding
forensic science and technology (computers) to promote interest
in science more generally while providing students with the analytical
skills and scientific background required by employers. It is
also worthy of note that women outnumber men on forensic sciences
courses[124]
by a ratio of 2:1, making forensic science the most popular science-based
degree course with women.[125]
5. CORE FUNDING
There is a need to improve higher education
student access (with specific reference to PhD students) at a
local and national level in the physical sciences and engineering.
It would be helpful for HEFCE funding to universities to also
be made available to end users.
It is also important to acknowledge that in
pushing forward the boundaries of science and breaking new ground
in new technology there is also a criminal investigation requirement
to recover, analysis and present evidence that needs to develop
in parallel. Often this is not the case and criminals are able
to stay "one step ahead" by exploiting technologies.
6. HEALTH RESEARCH
Build knowledge and understanding of the harm
drug missus causes and of the most effective ways of tackling
harm are key drivers for law enforcement and government. This
is a priority to which everyone can contribute; improved knowledge
and understanding are not ends in themselves but will allow informed
decisions to be made.
The analysis of pathological-biological samples
(not those taken for diagnostic purposes) retained for medical
research purposes and other collections kept for teaching or reference
purposes have not been subject to research against law enforcement
databases. This could provide a clearer understanding of substance
abuse and provide medical researchers, the pharmaceutical and
biotechnology industries, academia and government with knowledge
and understanding of the harm caused by drugs.
118 IIF 2004-14 Ambitions for UK science and innovation. Back
119
Public confidence in and engagement with science and technology
agenda. Back
120
IIF 2004-14 A strong supply of scientists, engineers and technologists
by achieving a step change. Back
121
To ensure stronger synergies between the MRC, the Department of
Health and NHS on the translation of R&D into patient benefit. Back
122
House of Commons, Science and Technology, Seventh Report-Education
and Training & Select Committee on Science and Technology
Fourth Report. Back
123
Lambert Review: ...ensure high quality information is provided
to prospective students on course quality and employment... Back
124
Widening participation in higher education-Public Accounts Committee
andHouse of Commons Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
Committee-Jobs for the Girls: Two Years On. Back
125
SEMTA, Forensic Science: Implications for Higher Education 2004,
November 2004. Back
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