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Police Forensic Services

Volume 400: debated on Monday 24 February 2003

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18.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of police forensic services. [98775]

Forensic science is an increasingly valuable tool in the fight against crime and its successful exploitation is key to the delivery of police reform. The use of DNA, in particular, has revolutionised crime investigation and also provides an invaluable source of intelligence.As announced by my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham) on 23 July 2002 the principal provider of forensic science services to the police, the Forensic Science Service, is currently the subject to an independent review which is looking at the delivery, performance and responsiveness of the Service and the ways in which we can maximise its contribution to the work of the police and through them to the wider criminal justice system.