News
11-Dec-2006 - Two firsts for LGC Forensics: The Forensic
Pathology Alliance and the Victim Identification and Mass
Fatalities Unit
Pathology now offered as a seamless speciality with forensic
science and, also for the first time, a comprehensive, controlled
approach to victim identification and mass fatality
LGC Forensics, the UK’s largest independent provider of forensic
services, has announced two exciting new developments as a result
of a special collaboration with Forensic Pathology Services (FPS) –
the largest group of Home Office registered pathologists in the UK
(i.e. the Greater London and South East practice area of the Home
Office Register of Accredited Forensic Pathologists).
Together they provide a capability that extends and enriches the
technical support available for the full range of suspicious death
investigations, from individual deaths through to mass fatality.
Tim Wilson, former head of the Home Office Forensic Science and
Pathology Unit, was official guest of honour at the launch held at
the Association of Anaesthetists, London on 8 December 2006.
At the launch, Dr Angela Gallop, Director, LGC Forensics, said:
“LGC Forensics prides itself on its ability to unite forensic
specialists in response to the needs of investigators. We believe
we have gone one step further with the launch of Forensic Pathology
Alliance and through the introduction of the Victim Identification
and Mass Fatalities unit. For the first time in the UK,
investigators are able to deploy a powerful, combined team of
experienced and appropriate specialists in forensic science and
forensic medicine - and through a single point of
contact.”
There are overlaps and synergies between forensic pathology and
almost every area of modern forensic science. The Forensic
Pathology Alliance (FPA) was established to exploit these for the
benefit of investigators and the courts, and for society in
general. In particular, the FPA efficiently unites forensic
pathology with the full spectrum of forensic science disciplines at
LGC Forensics to facilitate a more holistic approach to
investigations. From this broad pool of forensic expertise,
investigators can draw seamlessly on closely related areas such as
toxicology, histopathology and ecology in conjunction with
pathology, as well as other less obviously associated areas.
The Victim Identification and Mass Fatality (VIMF) unit pulls
together a highly qualified team at LGC Forensics of
archaeologists, anthropologists, histologists, DNA analysts,
radiographers (through the Association of Forensic Radiographers),
plus former police officers with extensive experience in the
investigation of incidents including mass fatalities. This talented
and optimised team of experts can be deployed from a single point
of contact in the event of any disaster that may require the
identification of victims. This extends to situations involving
extensively fragmented or decomposed remains following, for
example, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, homicide cases – all
pertaining to suspicious deaths, and major travel accidents.
In support of the FPA, LGC Forensics has opened three new
state-of-the-art toxicology laboratories, the first fully resourced
histopathology laboratory licensed under the Human Tissue Act, a
national archive for pathology specimens, and it provides a
dedicated courier service for transporting samples which complies
with all the requirements of the Criminal Justice system.
The VIMF unit at LGC Forensics is also positioned to provide
bespoke training courses in the recovery of human remains, and in
the development of scientific techniques to improve victim
identification. Investigators requiring further details about the
Victim Identification and Mass Fatality (VIMF) unit should email:
vimf@lgcforensics.com.
Notes to Editors