Committee takes evidence on closure of Forensic Science Service
23 March 2011
The Science and Technology Committee takes evidence from the Forensic Science Service on the impact of the Government's plans to close the service.
- Watch the meeting: Forensic Science Servive
- Inquiry: Forensic Science Service
- Science and Technology Committe homepage
Meeting details
9.15am Wednesday 23 March 2011
Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Witnesses
- Bill Griffiths, Chairman, Forensic Science Service
- Dr Gillian Tully, Research and Development Manager, Forensic Science Service
- Steve Thomas, Officer for Forensic Science Service, Prospect Union
Further evidence sessions will be announced in due course.
Forensic Science Service
The Forensic Science Service (FSS) provides services to police forces across England and Wales, together with other national law enforcement agencies. It works on more than 120,000 cases per year and employs around 1,300 scientists.
On 14 December 2010, the Government announced its plans to wind-down the FSS, stating:
"...the current challenging forensics market has put the FSS back into serious financial difficulty. FSS is currently making operating losses of around £2 million per month. Its cash is due to run out as early as January next year.
We have therefore decided to support the wind-down of FSS, transferring or selling off as much of its operations as possible.
There is no justification for the uncertainty and costs of trying to restructure and retain the business."