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Supporting the Wider Legal Community within the UK

[Solicitors] [Coroners] [Criminal Cases Review Commission]

The work of The Forensic Science Service® (FSS®) in support of the UK legal system extends well beyond the work for the police as its core customers. The FSS delivers support to diverse customers throughout the legal system such as coroners and the Criminal Cases Review Commission. The work undertaken can include the laboratory examination of exhibits, the evaluation of forensic evidence and giving expert witness testimony at court.

The wide-ranging expertise of the FSS places it in a unique position to provide such support. Further, the work fits within the broader objectives of The Forensic Science Service to realise the full potential of forensic science in the support of legal justice.

To handle the work from these diverse customers, the FSS has set up a dedicated Customer Services team to deal with enquiries and manage the casework. This approach provides a single point of contact for clients ensuring that the work is handled in a professional and targeted manner.

Solicitors (Criminal Law)

Within the UK criminal justice system (CJS) it is well recognised that both the prosecution and the defence need access to high quality forensic advice and support. This is an essential and integral part of a fair justice system. The FSS regularly undertakes casework for solicitors acting for defendants in criminal cases. The work can often involve a re-evaluation of the original forensic evidence in the context of new information collected by the Defence or the work can sometimes involve new laboratory examinations.

In some criminal cases The Forensic Science Service may have already conducted work on behalf of the prosecution as part of its work with police forces. Detailed procedures are in place to deal with this situation ensuring that the defence casework is always conducted at a different FSS Laboratory to where the original prosecution work was carried out. Strict confidentiality is maintained by all those involved in such cases. Thus, when a given case comes to court, it is not unusual to find scientists from The Forensic Science Service appearing as both prosecution and defence witnesses.

Coroners

The work of Coroners in investigating the causes of sudden, unexpected and unnatural deaths can often require forensic expertise in support of other pathology investigations. Deaths where the autopsy presents no conclusive cause of death can often necessitate toxicological investigations looking for drugs, alcohol or poisons. Other situations where forensic evidence can be valuable include the investigation of fires and accidents. The Forensic Science Service frequently undertakes this type of work for Coroners and scientists regularly present expert evidence during Inquests at the Coroners' Courts.

Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC)

The work of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (an independent body responsible for investigating possible miscarriages of justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland) can sometimes include the re-evaluation of the forensic evidence associated with the cases. The Forensic Science Service is often commissioned to re-examine the records associated with the collection and examination of exhibits in the light of modern knowledge and advances in technology. In some situations this can lead to further laboratory work on the exhibits. In addition, The Forensic Science Service provides training courses for the CCRC Solicitors and Commissioners helping to raise understanding and awareness of forensic matters.

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