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Introduction: The Forensic Science Service®

• is a trading name of Forensic Science Service Ltd., which is a UK Government owned company (GovCo).

• is the market leader in the supply of forensic science services to police forces in England and Wales, as well as being a source of training, consultancy, and scientific support for overseas and private sector customers.

• is in the vanguard of forensic science technology and has an unrivalled reputation for the integrity, impartiality and accuracy of its findings.

• has 11 facilities throughout the country.

• employs a stringent quality management system, compliant to international quality standards ISO9001 and ISO17025. The FSS is accredited to carry out a range of scientific tests and processes under a multi-site Group Accreditation by UKAS and registered as compliant to relevant standards by BSI based upon independent external audit.

• dealt with 130,000 cases, attended approximately 1,800 crime scenes, and appeared as expert witnesses in court on 2,500 occasions in 2004/05.

• invests in scientific research through its Research & Service Development unit, which is recognised as being at the leading edge of research into forensic science techniques.
  

What we do

Our organisation is designed to meet the needs of specific police investigations. This allows us to deliver tailored solutions in key areas to meet the demands of the law enforcement agencies. These include:

• Property crime - providing support in the investigation of burglary, fraud, robbery, fire investigation, theft of vehicles and theft from vehicles offences.

• Serious crime - providing support in the investigation of murder, suspicious death, sexual offences and other serious offences against the person.

• Drugs - providing intelligence in the investigation of a range of drug-related offences including supply, possession, importation and exportation, production and cultivation.

• Road policing - providing support for drink and drug driving offences and accident investigation.

• Organised crime - providing support to police, HM Revenue & Customs and the National Crime Squad, including investigation of terrorism.

• International crime - providing support to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, British Council and overseas law enforcement agencies.

• Hi-tech crime - providing support in the investigation of computer or electronic related crime and fraud.

• Commercial – development and supply of DNA expert systems software, provision of a range of evidence recovery kits and packaging, plus paternity testing services.

The FSS mission is:

To retain and reinforce our leading position as the principal provider of forensic science to the UK criminal justice system (UKCJS), and use this platform to become the leading provider world-wide, thereby enhancing long term shareholder value.

The FSS vision will challenge the way forensic services are delivered and who delivers them, and is: Real-time scientific solutions, supporting safer communities.

The FSS values are objectivity, responsiveness, reliability, innovation and collaboration.