quality standards in forensic science in the uk jeff adams
TRANSCRIPT
Quality Standards in Forensic Science in the UK
Jeff Adams
How did we get where we are? Where are we? What are we doing?
O v e r s e e i n g Q u a l i t y
Overview
O v e r s e e i n g Q u a l i t y
Scope
Public Laboratories: Forensic Science Service Metropolitan Police FSL Laboratory of the Government Chemist
Commercial Market Privatisation of the LGC Status of the FSS New Suppliers
Tendering
O v e r s e e i n g Q u a l i t y
History - The Market
Public Laboratory Period Calls for Regulation Forensic Science on Trial The Regulator The FSAC
O v e r s e e i n g Q u a l i t y
History - Regulation
Review of existing ‘regulatory standards’: Education, training and competence development Scene of incident investigation and evidence recovery Evidence examination Assessment and interpretation of results Presentation of evidence Legislation/case law/regulations Accreditation and quality assurance
O v e r s e e i n g Q u a l i t y
Landscape survey - 2007
Ad hoc nature of standard setting Gaps in the coverage of the standards Voluntary adherence Variable auditing for compliance
O v e r s e e i n g Q u a l i t y
Regulator’s concerns
Standards framework?
O v e r s e e i n g Q u a l i t y
CustodianPractitioner
registration
Accreditation
ISO 9001
CPA
Proposed development of a single standard: Forensic science industry specific Comprehensive coverage – crime scene to court Setting requirements for providers/practitioners/methods Appendices - detail for specific topics/evidence types Compatible with existing international standards Tailored to domestic context and needs Written in plain English Applicable to all public and commercial providers of forensic science services to
CJS in England & Wales FSLs/CSI units/police ‘in-house’ laboratory functions Large organisations/sole practitioners Employed by prosecution or defence
Obligatory and auditable for compliance
O v e r s e e i n g Q u a l i t y
Need for a single standard
Supplies/consumables Initial action at the scene Recovery, preservation, transport and storage of exhibits Field ‘screening’ tests Sampling Laboratory examinations/testing Assessment/interpretation of results Reporting and provision of expert opinion Quality failings
O v e r s e e i n g Q u a l i t y
Scope of the Standard
BS EN ISO 9001:2008 quality management systems
BS EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005 testing laboratories
BS EN ISO/IEC 17020:2004 bodies carrying out inspections
O v e r s e e i n g Q u a l i t y
International Baseline Standards
Consolidated common requirements Incorporated relevant additional requirements of ISO
9001/17020 /17025 Removed all redundant requirements Identified issues that were not covered:
Code of Conduct for practitioners (CRFP) basis for competence assessment (NOS) information management/security (ISO 27001:2005) management of databases sampling kits assessment/interpretation/opinions compliance with domestic legislation & ACPO/CPS/court
requirements
O v e r s e e i n g Q u a l i t y
First Draft - Single Standard
O v e r s e e i n g Q u a l i t y
Appendices
•Scene examination •Forensic pathology •Forensic medicine•Human contact trace evidence •Physical and biological trace
evidence •Audio/video evidence •Accident reconstruction •Digital evidence•Documents
•Drugs •Firearms •Fires and explosions •Handwriting •Marks •Toxicology •Contamination•Interpretation•Defence review
Published as a PAS + proforma for feedback Consult CPS on access to data for research; staged
reporting; defence access Develop appendices (where necessary) ACPO Cabinet – staged approach Review & revise Roll out Business benefits / impact Levels – base to advanced?
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What Next?
Devolved Authorities EU Proposals
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Scope
Law Commission Scientific Issues Validation Issues Strategy Other
O v e r s e e i n g Q u a l i t y
Other Work
http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/operational-policing/forensic-science-regulator/
O v e r s e e i n g Q u a l i t y
Contact