News
28-Nov-2006 - LGC Forensics announces expansion plans
LGC Forensics to increase geographical spread and forensic
teams
LGC Forensics, the UK’s largest independent provider of forensic
services, is forging ahead with expansion plans in order to
accommodate new services and its growing client base, as well as
continuing to meet the exacting requirements of police authorities
involved in the procurement of forensic services for all areas of
crime investigation, from major crime to volume crime.
LGC Forensics is putting its development programme into action
with plans to increase its number of locations from six to eight
over the next year, adding the north-east and south-west to its
geographical spread. It has also embarked on a recruitment drive,
preparing to expand its team of quality scientists to maintain and
enhance the expertise of the organisation across the entire
forensic spectrum of offence and case types.
Dr Angela Gallop, Director, LGC Forensics, said: "Building
on our reputation for quality and speed in our provision to
numerous police forces, LGC Forensics is currently working on a
variety of new services to be introduced in the near future. These
include further automation of our extensive DNA facilities, new
techniques within our specialist firearms unit and, with particular
relevance to major crime, the launch of two exciting initiatives to
unite expertise in forensic pathology with forensic science. In
addition, we are currently rolling-out new pilot schemes in major
crime, the first of which address the areas of sexual offences and
homicide.
"We are basing our next phase of development having
consulted our customers closely. New and repeat business at LGC
Forensics is customer-focused, tailored to support the needs of
modern policing. In the past year, we have significantly increased
the breadth of our services, opening new facilities for the
investigation of firearms, expanding our digital crime units,
launching a gemmology service and developing the forensic
collection kits, Tape-IT™ and Map-IT™, to aid fibre
collection," she added.
LGC Forensics, the brand for the forensic dimension of LGC’s
analytical and diagnostic business, follows the acquisition of
Forensic Alliance Limited (FAL) in 2005. The integration of FAL
with LGC’s forensic services division to form LGC Forensics has
created LGC’s largest division, employing 500 staff in Teddington,
Culham, Tamworth, Risley, Runcorn and Leeds.
LGC introduced forensic DNA into its international operations in
Germany earlier this year as a result of changes in regulations
regarding the use of DNA analysis in criminal investigations. The
Köln-based Institut für Blutgruppenforschung was acquired in April
2006 and, with its excellent reputation, is the ideal partner to
spearhead LGC´s efforts to become a leading supplier of forensic
analysis in Germany.
Notes to Editors