2009 will be remembered as the year that the forensic landscape in England and Wales changed dramatically. The announcement of the closure of the FSS labs in Chepstow, Chorley and Birmingham, appears to draw a line right down the middle of the country. If the forensic market is considered to be a black and white battle between the government and the private sector ("good" and "evil" in the eyes of some commentators), it can be roughly seen (with no little irony) that the government are on the right hand side and that the private sector are on the left, perhaps this a portent of next year's general election result?
Given the changes of the past decade, reform of the FSS was inevitable. It can be certainly argued that if the FSS had taken the threat of an emerging private sector more seriously ten years ago perhaps changes could have been implemented that could have saved the three sites and the jobs and skills that go with them. But traditionally, the public sector is not the place where change comes easily, and ultimately the market lost its patience. Whatever will be said of 2009 in the years to come, perhaps it will be best remembered as the year that finally killed off the notion that the presence of a lab local to a police force is an advantage in a modern forensic marketplace.
Why is that? Well the police are doing more work themselves - of that there is no doubt. If the demand for crime scene attendance by scientists is met internally within forces, there is no real need for a local lab to get scientists to a scene quickly. Is the quality the same? Perhaps, perhaps not, it depends on entirely on their qualifications, training, experience and competence. This of course is a matter for the regulator and the police forces, but whilst the police demand forensic providers to be accredited, yet perform themselves without needing to demonstrate the same commitment (investment) in quality, there is inequity here. If the regulator sees his reforms through, Police Forces will not be allowed to continue to provide internal services without accreditation, but when will they have to comply - it doesn't appear to be anytime soon going on the pace of this year's push for reform. If in the meantime a Force decides not to pursue accreditation internally on a cost basis, whilst being locked into a 3-5 year contract with a provider on the other side of the country, they may find themselves without a local lab to turn to for help.
Interestingly the major players in the market appear to be adopting different strategies - which has to be viewed as healthy for all. With LGC up for sale and with sale of the FSS to follow (if you believe the Daily Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/article-1222702/Forensic-Science-Service-set-sale.html ), together with the scramble for the remaining regional tenders makes it look like 2010 will be another interesting year in the market.
