Forensics in crisis. Crisis in the lab. 2/3.

Linda Geddes reports on the crisis in forensics. She learns about the specialists techniques which have been used to convict killers, paedophiles and rapists which are in danger of being lost especially in the area of fibres analysis. Umesh Kuller Singhan groomed a young girl over the internet by posing as a friend. He orchestrated a meeting and sexually assaulted her. Angela Gallop is CEO of a private laboratory called Forensic Access who has worked on a number of high profile cases. The problem is that the police services can select the relevant tests; the selection of the tests is not always in consultation with forensics experts - textile fibre testing being less popular and thus falling out of favour. It was fibre testing which convicted the rapist. Chris Simms, Chief Constable National Police Chiefs' Council, corroborates Geddes' findings - all the funding is going into digital forensics. However, there has been advances in eg. ballistics testing, a service which is now in-house has led to a speedier response to crime analysis. However, an anonymous police laboratory worker is unhappy about the move to expediency and cost. Bob Green, University of Kent a former crime scene manager is also concerned about the crisis. Police forces have always kept finger printing in-house, although greater objectivity and more scientific analysis is desirable. Private laboratories have to be accredited; police laboratories do not have to be accredited, although they are required to reach quality standards. The problems arise with the selection of the relevant evidence and deploying the most relevant testing. The move to get the science closer to the crime scene leads to problems with bias.