Forensic Science Service

Written evidence submitted by the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians of London (FSS 86)

Re: Winding-down the Forensic Science Service

The Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine was established in April 2006 and has been founded to achieve the following objectives:

• To promote for the public benefit the advancement of education and knowledge in the field of forensic and legal medicine;

• To develop and maintain for the public benefit the good practice of forensic and legal medicine by ensuring the highest professional standards of competence and ethical integrity.

The Faculty includes three different professional groups:

• Forensic practitioners

• Medically qualified coroners

• Medico‐legal advisers to the medical defence organisations.

We are grateful for the opportunity to comment on this proposal and wish to make the following observations –

• We have worked closely with FSS in developing best practice on forensic sampling and in some very specific circumstances;

• We do have some concerns that new developments may not occur as a consequence of the winding-down of the FSS;

• In our view it is absolutely essential that continued R &D takes place;

• The Faculty would draw particular attention to certain aspects of the FSS e.g. current and ‘cold case’ reviews;

• Their contribution to research e.g. database providing guidance on persistence data;

• Their reservoir of knowledge and expertise which although theoretically ‘transferrable’ may be problematic in practice;

• Whether there are sufficient other providers of forensic services to take up the work, which will now not be done by FSS;

• Will arrangements be made in relation to future collaborative working.

I hope these constructive comments are of assistance and you are able to take them into account in the review.

I confirm that we have no interests to declare and would be pleased to submit any additional information you deem beneficial.

Dr C George M Fernie LLB MB ChB MPhil FFFLM FRCGP DFM

Registrar

Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians

16 February 2011