Academics from Northumbria University
have provided written and oral evidence for a Parliamentary investigation into
the quality and reliability of forensic science within the UK legal system.
The House of Lords Science and
Technology Select Committee sought the advice of experts from Northumbria Law
School and the Department of Applied Sciences as part of a hard-hitting report entitled Forensic Science and the Criminal JusticeSystem: A Blueprint for Change.Identifying
a number of challenges, the report
focused on issues including a lack of understanding, poor leadership,
inadequate funding and regulatory powers, and a lack of access to forensic
science experts for defence lawyers.
Dr Gillian Tully, the Forensic Science
Regulator, has warned the system in England and Wales was reaching crisis point
following sweeping budget cuts and an increasingly fragmented marketplace for
forensic science service providers.
Having taken expert evidence, including
that of Northumbria academics through the work carried in through the
University’s Science
and Justice Research Interest Group, the House of Lords Select Committee
has recommended that the Forensic Science Regulator’s role is “reformed,
expanded and resourced, and urgently given a number of statutory powers” to
regulate the forensic science market.
Sophie Carr, Associate Head of Applied
Sciences at Northumbria, said: “We are also in agreement with the Committee’s
concerns for the trustworthiness and resilience of forensic science provision
in England and Wales. As a focus for our research in expert evidence we are already working
closely with the Forensic Science Regulator, having co-authored publications
identifying the components necessary to enable critical trust in forensic
science evidence and to demonstrate the evaluative validity of expert opinions. We are also working with esteemed colleagues
at Cambridge and Dundee to provide training and resources for legal
professionals to understand scientific methodology and statistics. We are therefore well placed to assist the
House of Lords Select Committee, and as they have included a number of our
recommendations in the report our contribution has been beneficial.
Professor Carole McCartney from
Northumbria Law School, who gave oral evidence to the Committee, added: “Blueprint
for change stresses throughout the many challenges including a lack of
leadership and funding, ongoing problems with regulation and the forensic
science market. It singles out digital forensics as an area of concern, but
also covers issues with defence access to experts, and legal professionals’
understanding of forensic science. It takes a holistic view of the forensic
science landscape in the UK and recommends the creation of the Forensic Science
Board, the expansion of the role of the Forensic Regulator, increasing funding
for research and Legal Aid for experts and finally, the creation of a National
Institute for Forensic Science.
“Providing evidence to the House of
Lords reflects the depth of expertise and the quality of the cross disciplinary
research here at Northumbria in forensic science and law. The findings of our
research are not only being recommended by the House of Lords in their report,
they are also helping to shape policy.”
Dr Gillian Tully is a visiting
Professor at Northumbria and is delivering a public
lecture at the University on May 7, which will be of interest to those
with an interest in forensic science, law and policing.
