What is the Future for the Study and Practice of the Forensic Sciences in Britain ?

I t is a matter of simple observation that in the present state of the forensic sciences contradictory trends are a t work. In recent years there has been in many quarters, but especially in Britain and in the United States, an increasing literature of forensic science. Yet this is occurring a t a time when academic instruction in these fields is, a t any rate in the United Kingdom, apparently in decline. Previous editorials have drawn attention to the deplorable fact that forensic medicine has ceased to be a subject of study a t several Universities, and that great difficulties exist in the way of training the forensic pathologist of the future. A crisis situation is foreseen in a few years' time when most of the present forensic pathologists come to retire. In this situation only the London teaching hospitals, Shefield and certain Scottish Universities have so far been able to retain their forensic medicine departments while facilities for laboratory training of forensic scientists is also fairly strictly limited. In Scotland forensic medicine is still traditionally taught to most medical and law students though even there it began to degenerate when the Regius Chair in Edinburgh remained unfilled. Only in Strathclyde University is there any formal course of instruction for forensic scientists as such. Where the materials are increasingly available on which teaching and research in forensic science might proceed it is a pity that fewer students are enabled to set themselves to the task.

To be honest, however, there are shortcomings also in the literature. Most lawyers, for whom the science is primarily conceived, are too busy to take it seriously. Too little interchange of ideas takes place between the English- speaking areas where the publications circulate with which most of the members of this Society are familiar, and the French and German and Eastern European areas where much good work is done. Though Continental literature takes a fair cognisance of the published work of the English-speaking parts of the world it is too rarely that this situation is reciprocated. Even within the English- speaking domain there is evidence of partisanship and preference which restricts in some degree the exchange of ideas and information and reduces the spread of a common pool of knowledge. And the continuing duplication of the major societies remains a byword.

I t is interesting to speculate whether British entry into the Common Market, which would increase the mobility of labour and break down many of the barriers presently restricting communications with Continental countries, would also improve the exchange of personnel and of technical information and experience, and reduce the difficulties of evaluating and applying the work being undertaken elsewhere.

On the legal side there is no doubt that entry into the Common Market would profoundly affect some areas of the law such as commercial and industrial law, and would exert a more subtle influence on other aspects of law such as evidence and procedure. Whether the influence of Continental attitudes to the cririna. process, the concept of expert evidence as a guiding force for the Court ratl.er than a partisan wcapon, and the rationalising and drawing together of the British legal systems in face of the broadly similar Continental sj.stems woul~: occur is a matter of speculation, but such tendencies would surely exist.

I t does seem that a wider knowledge of foreign languages and perhaps a greater degree of Continental study and exchange training will be required of the future forensic scientist whether or not formal entry to the Common Market

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is achieved. In such a situation it is interesting to learn that this Society is shortly to reconsider the terms of its Constitution under which the Council has guided its affairs since 1959. There can be few who would dispute that the Forensic Science Society has made a significant contribution to the practice and the literature of the forensic sciepces in Britain throughout that period.

But what measure of achievement q n the Society claim in obedience to the primary statement of the purposes of its existence as these stand in its Con- stitution which opens with the words : "The object of the Society shall be to advance the study and application of forensic science"? Is there not room here for a renewed initiative and a greater emphasis upon the fundamental duty which rests on every generation to pass on what it knows to those who follow?

A.R.B.