Forensic Science Service

Written evidence submitted by S J Griffith (FSS 44)

1. I make this submission as a private individual. I am, however, a member of the Fire Investigation Unit based at the London Laboratory of the Forensic Science Service Ltd.

2. The Unit is staffed by forensic scientists who are dedicated full-time to fire investigation and, as such, is unique in the public sector. The work is highly specialised and the Unit's knowledge, research and experience accumulated over the last thirty years is unparalleled.

3. I have very grave concerns about the proposed winding down of the Forensic Science Service, particularly the serious impact it could have on niche disciplines, including fire investigation. The expertise within such disciplines has become increasingly expensive to maintain as in-sourcing and alternative no-cost provision has been sought by the police. I am concerned that the lack of profitability associated with offering these services will lead to a reduction in the quality.

4. I feel it appropriate to restrict my comments to my discipline as I have had first hand experience of the impact of an unstable market on this specialism. That said, I can see no reason why other niche forensic disciplines within the FSS might not have been affected similarly.

5. Over at least the last five years the routine demand for fire investigation has been in steady decline, including the investigation of fatal incidents. This is largely the result of constabularies using Fire Service investigators, who are free to police and offer services ranging from investigation of the scene and examination of physical evidence up to the provision of witness testimony within criminal and Coroner's courts. No private forensic provider can compete effectively against this position, particularly at a time when it is envisaged that police budgets will be reduced year-on-year.

6. The Fire Service are neither regulated nor accredited in the same way as other forensic providers are required to be. A recent national survey presented to the Chief Fire Officers' Association showed that 70% of Brigade investigators have other roles and responsibilities in addition to the investigation of fires. This seems incompatible with the provision of robust, high quality forensic work.

7. My experience is that the police still call the scientists from my Unit to deal with high profile, technically difficult incidents (including anti-terrorist work), presumably in recognition of the quality of expertise we provide on such occasions. Should the collective breadth and scope of knowledge and experience contained within my Unit be lost with the closure, it is difficult to see where equivalent, proven expertise will be found in the future. Additionally I cannot see how the forensic fire investigators of the future will either gain or maintain sufficient experience to ensure that they carry out work competently, as fire investigation now makes up only a very small proportion of the work of commercial forensic science providers.

8. Given the stated reduction in police spend and desire for full commercialisation of the forensic market, it is difficult to see any future, sustainable or otherwise, for specialised forensic disciplines. I would ask the Committee to investigate thoroughly the implications for the CJS if specialist disciplines are wholly lost through the closure of the FSS.

S J Griffith

8 February 2011