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Hse of Lords Report on Forensic Science published today

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(@pbeardmore)
Posts: 289
Reputable Member
Topic starter
 

Key findings from the report

The delivery of justice depends on the integrity and accuracy of forensic science evidence and the trust that society has in it. These failings must be recognised and changes made. Such action is now urgent and the Committee makes recommendations including

A Forensic Science Board should be created to deliver a new forensic science strategy and to take responsibility for forensic science in England and Wales.
The remit and resources of the Forensic Science Regulator should be significantly reformed and expanded to include responsibility for regulating the market and given a number of statutory powers to bolster trust in the quality of forensic science including issue improvement notices and fines; rescind a forensic science provider's accreditation and inspect, without notice, accredited forensic science providers.
The Legal Aid Agency should liaise with the market-regulation arm within the expanded role of the Forensic Science Regulator to set new pricing schemes for forensic testing and expert advice for defendants and that the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office should invest in research of automation techniques for data retrieval and analysis to tackle the issues with digital forensic analysis.
To return the UK to its position as world-leading, a National Institute for Forensic Science should be created to set strategic priorities for forensic science research and development, and to coordinate and direct research and funding.

https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/lords-select/science-and-technology-committee/news-parliament-2017/forensic-science-report-published/

 
Posted : 01/05/2019 12:38 pm
(@rich2005)
Posts: 535
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Oh great…..
Increase the power of the regulator to solve problems that don't really exist and get everyone obsessed with rigid process following.
Get Legal Aid involved in pricing to accelerate the race to the bottom.
Invest in research of automation to increase the race to the bottom with bulk-processed examinations and less proper investigation.
Recreate the FSS in a different form and call it the "National Institute for Forensic Science" it's like the forensic version of renationalising the railways (although the latter probably makes more sense).

I'm sure there are great intentions but it does look like it's going to be a continuation of the wasting of time and money for no meaningful benefit.

Or maybe I'm just a grumpy cynic wink

 
Posted : 01/05/2019 1:58 pm
Omnius
(@omnius)
Posts: 39
Eminent Member
 

"The Legal Aid Agency should liaise with the market-regulation arm within the expanded role of the Forensic Science Regulator to set new pricing schemes for forensic testing and expert advice for defendants and that the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office should invest in research of automation techniques for data retrieval and analysis to tackle the issues with digital forensic analysis."

Sounds like absolute clown shoes and will no-doubt be implemented poorly….

 
Posted : 01/05/2019 2:18 pm
minime2k9
(@minime2k9)
Posts: 481
Honorable Member
 

Paragraph 81
Opinions differ on the appropriateness of the accreditation regime for digital
forensics. Lorraine Turner, Business Development and Technical Director
at UKAS, stated her belief that ISO 17020 and 17025 are apt for digital
forensics as long as they are correctly interpreted because they test variables
such as whether “the organisation has in place a management system,
defined policies and processes, competent staff, suitable equipment, suitable
reporting mechanisms and appropriate methods.”

So head of UKAS says they are good, must be right then, what would they have to gain?

 
Posted : 02/05/2019 11:01 am
(@dandaman_24)
Posts: 172
Estimable Member
 

So head of UKAS says they are good, must be right then, what would they have to gain?

UKAS are a non for profit organisation 😯 oops

I did wonder why they charge so little 😯

 
Posted : 03/05/2019 8:51 am
steve862
(@steve862)
Posts: 194
Estimable Member
 

Hi all,

The end result? Money is diverted away from digital forensic budgets into regulatory bodies. So fewer examiners, with less training, less equipment, spend fewer hours on each case, using more automated methods, with all the square pegs round holes analogies being in place. Then, there's nobody left willing to provide expert services to the defence because of the cost of accreditation (within legal aid costs limits), to challenge the Crown's evidence.

I wonder how the Forensic Board will be chosen? The sceptic in me strongly suspects it will not consist of people with a strong digital forensics background. After all the current head of the National Digital Forensics Portfolio Board is from traditional forensics.

As for the Head of UKAS stating 17025 is right for digital forensics. This is a case of a person having never worked in the industry for which 17025 was intended, saying it is suitable for a different industry in which they have also never worked.

Unless there is a significant increase in budget for forensics generally, I can only see these changes making things far worse from a digital point of view.

Steve

 
Posted : 03/05/2019 1:02 pm
(@rich2005)
Posts: 535
Honorable Member
 

Hi all,

The end result? Money is diverted away from digital forensic budgets into regulatory bodies. So fewer examiners, with less training, less equipment, spend fewer hours on each case, using more automated methods, with all the square pegs round holes analogies being in place. Then, there's nobody left willing to provide expert services to the defence because of the cost of accreditation (within legal aid costs limits), to challenge the Crown's evidence.

I wonder how the Forensic Board will be chosen? The sceptic in me strongly suspects it will not consist of people with a strong digital forensics background. After all the current head of the National Digital Forensics Portfolio Board is from traditional forensics.

As for the Head of UKAS stating 17025 is right for digital forensics. This is a case of a person having never worked in the industry for which 17025 was intended, saying it is suitable for a different industry in which they have also never worked.

Unless there is a significant increase in budget for forensics generally, I can only see these changes making things far worse from a digital point of view.

Steve

Glad it's not just me then wink

 
Posted : 07/05/2019 12:39 pm
(@pbeardmore)
Posts: 289
Reputable Member
Topic starter
 

It is interesting to consider, how often does setting up a new committee/board/regulator etc actually solve the issue and how often does it make things worse?

us grumpy cynics know the answer.

 
Posted : 08/05/2019 4:14 pm
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