News
28-June-2007 - LGC calls for new focus on forensics
market
Current procurement risks stifling innovation in the
sector
The effective delivery of forensic science in solving crime is
being threatened by difficulties and delays in reform of police
procurement of forensic services, a leading forensic scientist has
told police chiefs.
Dr Angela Gallop, director of LGC Forensics, Europe’s leading
independent forensics company, said that the introduction of
competition into the market for forensic services in recent years
had significantly contributed to the detection of crime. However,
the economics of providing the innovative forensic analysis needed
for modern crime fighting was becoming increasingly uncertain
without a more open, transparent market.
Speaking at the ´Shaping the future of forensic science´ conference
at Northumbria University, Dr Gallop warned that the current
proposals for the procurement system risk creating a situation
where police forces are effectively able to prescribe prices to
suppliers. This would discourage investment and innovation in the
forensics sector and ultimately lead to lower quality
services.
Dr Gallop said that more competition between suppliers over the
past decade has helped reduce turnaround times, lower prices and
drive up quality. However, the system, while imaginative, still had
significant flaws which worked against the interests of customers
and suppliers. She said there is an urgent need for more dialogue
and cooperation to create a market structure based on mutual
trust
Lack of trust
"We welcome efforts to reform the procurement system.
However, there is a fundamental need for greater trust and
partnership between police forces and forensic service companies to
ensure that we get the best out of the skills and expertise of
forensic science. We need to follow the example of other public
sector procurement programmes which have succeeded in promoting
open competition while ensuring that the buying power of the public
sector does not distort or destabilise the market."
She said the police need to know they can rely on having safe and
robust scientific evidence and a value for money service. Similarly
providers need to trust that the items submitted for examination
will have been properly handled and that their investment in
innovative science will be rewarded through a fair and open
market.
"The root of the problem is that the Government buys, sells and
sets the standards in the market. The Government should be looking
to protect the public by having the most cost effective and most
reliable forensic science in the world – regardless of who provides
the service," she said.
Undervalued
Dr Gallop also called for an independent study to identify how
forensics saves police time in the identification of suspects. She
said the full contribution of forensic science in crime detection
was still undervalued, despite its crucial role in bringing justice
in cases such as Damilola Taylor and the Cardiff Three.
Dr Gallop said the tendering process needs to take account of the
broader value of forensic services. She also called for market
testing in order to ensure that there is a level playing field
between commercial providers and the in-sourcing of forensic
services by police forces, and regular reviews to ensure the
standards of work by in-house teams are robust and independently
verified.
On the need for greater regulation, Dr Gallop said: "We very
much welcome the appointment of Adrian Cory as interim regulator.
There is a clear role for a regulator to ensure consistent quality
standards across the market. However, we need to avoid any moves
towards heavy-handed economic regulation as this would be expensive
for everyone and ultimately counter-productive."
Notes to
Editors