Science and Technology Select Committee
Forensic science and the criminal justice system: a blueprint for change
3rd Report of Session 2017-19 - published 1 May 2019 - HL Paper 333
Contents
Figure 1: Forensic science from crime scene to court
Chapter 2: Oversight, leadership and responsibility
Piecemeal governance and oversight of forensic science
Police and forensic science service-provider fragmentation
Oversight, responsibility and accountability
Chapter 3: The forensic science market
The shape of the current market
Terms and conditions of contracts
Other features of procurement contracts
Effect of procurement models on smaller and niche service providers
Options for different procurement models
Forensic Science Market Regulator
Chapter 4: Ensuring trust in forensic science
The place for accreditation: ISO 17020 and ISO 17025
Effect on small and niche providers
Accreditation of police forces
Chapter 5: The use of forensic science in the criminal justice system
Discrepancies between prosecution and defence provision
Understanding of forensic science in the criminal justice system
Streamlined Forensic Reporting
Chapter 6: Research and development
Scientific basis for forensic science
Forensic science analysis methods and ‘source attribution’
Forensic science interpretation: assessing the ‘activity level’
Forensic science interpretation: human judgement and decision making
Research by commercial providers
Summary of conclusions and recommendations
Appendix 1: List of Members and declarations of interest
Appendix 4: Seminar held at the House of Lords on 4 September 2018
Evidence is published online at https://www.parliament.uk/forensic-science-lords-inquiry and available for inspection at the Parliamentary Archives (020 7219 3074).
Q in footnotes refers to a question in oral evidence.