Company
History
The FSS can trace its roots back to the 1930s and the pioneering work of police reformer Arthur Dixon in pushing forward the value of scientific aids in crime detection.
Dixon’s vision was for a national forensic science service that would exploit a wide range of scientific methods in the collection, analysis and cataloguing of materials. Local and regional laboratories would advise and support the police, with further research and training provided by a central establishment.
After World War II forensic science was more widely recognised for its value in crime detection, both by the police and the general public. The Home Office put in place a network of regional laboratories. Changes in the law also changed the profile of the service. The 1967 Criminal Justice Act allowed scientists to present their evidence to court in written reports, instead of having to appear in person. And the Road Safety Act of the same year gave the FSS responsibility for handling queries arising from the new roadside breathalyser tests.
DNA profiling is the most significant development yet in forensic science. In 1984 Sir Alec Jeffreys, a Professor at the University of Leicester, discovered DNA fingerprinting and since then has become a vital and successful tool in the gathering of evidence and intelligence.
The Forensic Science Service pioneered the development and implementation of DNA profiling technologies. In 1994, Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) profiling was developed for use on old and degraded material. DNA discriminating power was raised to one in 50 million, which paved the way for the establishment of the world’s first DNA Database, launched in April 1995.
The FSS designed and built a dedicated unit, trained specialist staff and ensured resources were in place to handle the expected flow of materials and information. At the time it accounted for almost a third of the company’s entire workforce. This preparation helped ensure a reliable and accurate database to be set up, supported by changes to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act to permit mouth and hair samples to be taken without consent from individuals who are charged, sported for or convicted of an offence.
The database now contains more than four million samples, a volume that is increasing by around 40,000 to 50,000 new samples every month.
In 1991 the FSS became an Executive Agency of the Home Office and merged with the Metropolitan Police forensic science laboratory in 1996. It was awarded a five-year contract to provide forensic services to HM Customs and Excise, which was renewed in 2001.
The drive for innovation continued to yield ground-breaking results, with the introduction of the National Firearms Forensic Database in 2003 and Footwear Intelligence Technology (FIT), the UK’s first online footwear coding and detection management system, in 2007.
Facilities have been expanded, and in 2006 the FSS opened a new Department of Forensic Pathology and Legal Medicine at the University of Sheffield. This provides expert assistance to police in the region with investigations into suspicious deaths and also offers a wide range of laboratory services to customers nationwide.
Since 2005 FSS has been a 100 per cent-owned Government company, or GovCo. The change in status from a Trading Fund enables it to respond quicker to changes in the forensic science market and compete more effectively with other business in the field.
CHRONOLOGY
|
1919 |
The Police Act launches a new era of police service reform and modernisation in the UK, putting into effect many of the Desborough Committee’s recommendations. |
|
1929 |
Arthur Dixon submits a proposal to the Home Secretary for the establishment of a police college, with laboratories to provide scientific research and investigation. |
|
1931 |
April –Dixon organises informal chief constables’ conference, which considers the value of scientific aids in police work. |
|
1934 |
A committee of enquiry investigates the conditions and practices of detectives in the UK. A sub-committee is formed to look specifically at the use made of scientific aids to police work. Small police laboratories are established in Bristol and Nottingham. Dixon bids for Treasury money for a Special Services Fund and receives £2,000 to help set up forensic science laboratories. |
|
1935 |
Dr H.S. Holden becomes Britain’s first Home Office provincial director, in charge of the Nottingham laboratory. The first Metropolitan Police laboratory opens, an annexe to the Hendon Police College. The project is a personal ambition of the forward-thinking Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Lord Trenchard. By the end of the year Trenchard has retired. His successor, Sir Philip Game, by contrast, shows little support for the laboratory. |
|
1936 |
Treasury funding for forensic science services increases to £20,000 |
|
1937 |
A regional laboratory opens in Birmingham. Its facilities include a pathology department. |
|
1938 |
A Home Office regional laboratory is opened in Cardiff. |
|
1941 |
The north east gains a regional laboratory, established in Wakefield. |
|
1946 |
Dr H.S. Holden is appointed director of the Metropolitan Police laboratory and its staff is replaced. The Advisory Committee on Police Special Services recommends laboratory staff are brought in line with current Civil Service grades and that funding for the forensic science service laboratories be increased to more than £42,000. The Bristol laboratory is upgraded to regional status. |
|
1947 |
Margaret Pereira is recruited to the Metropolitan Laboratory as an Experimental Officer. She progresses to become one of the most celebrated figures in the British Forensic Science Service, appointed its Controller in 1982. |
|
1949 |
The Metropolitan Laboratory moves from Hendon to New Scotland Yard. |
|
1954 |
The Wakefield laboratory relocates to Harrogate. |
|
1956 |
An additional regional laboratory is established in the north east, in Newcastle. |
|
1961 |
The Metropolitan Laboratory establishes a district Liaison Officer scheme to help stimulate submissions to the lab and build better relationships between the scientists and police officers. |
|
1965 |
The Metropolitan Laboratory is relocated in Holborn. |
|
1967 |
A central research laboratory is inaugurated at Aldermaston. The Criminal Justice Act allows scientists to submit written reports to court, rather than having to present their findings in person. The Forensic Science Service becomes responsible for queries relating to roadside breath tests, introduced under the 1967 Road Safety Act. |
|
1974 |
The Metropolitan Police Laboratory moves into new premises in Lambeth. |
|
1984 |
Sir Alec Jeffreys, a Professor at the University of Leicester, discovers DNA fingerprinting. |
|
1986 |
The first DNA profiling, MLP (Multi Locus Probe) is introduced. |
|
1990 |
SLP (Single Locus Probe) DNA profiling begins, enabling DNA to be extracted from smaller samples. |
|
1991 |
On April 1 the Forensic Science Service gains Executive Agency Status. |
|
1994 |
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) profiling is developed, for use on old and degraded material. |
|
1995 |
SGM DNA profiling allows samples to be taken from old, weak and poor quality samples. DNA discriminating power is raised to one in 50 million. In April the Forensic Science Service launches the world’s first DNA database, enabling matches to be made with stored samples from crime suspects and samples taken from scenes of crime. The National Footwear Mark System (SICAR) becomes operational. |
|
1996 |
The Metropolitan Laboratory merges with the Forensic Science Service to create a national organisation, employing around 2,000 people. |
|
1998 |
FSS Training Services launched. |
|
1999 |
Low Copy Number (LCN) DNA profiling is developed. The FSS gains Trading Fund Status. |
|
2000 |
SGM Plus profiling raises discriminating power to one in a billion. In November the number of suspect profiles on the National DNA Database passes the one million mark. |
|
2001 |
A new FSS laboratory opens at Trident Court in the West Midlands. a centre for automated DNA profiling and research and development activities. |
|
2003 |
The National Firearms Forensic Database becomes operational. Set up In partnership with the Association of Chief Police Officers, it provides a nationwide, automated system for comparing and linking firearms and ammunition recovered from scenes of crime. |
|
2004 |
Automation of the DNA profiling process enables the monthly capacity for uploading samples to more than double to 40,000-plus. |
|
2005 |
FSS status changes from a Trading Fund to a GovCo – a 100-per cent owned Government company. FSS and British Telecom unveil the world’s first mobile laboratory designed to travel to crime scenes and provide on-the-spot, real-time forensic investigation and analysis. Lincolnshire Police become the first force to use the new Forensic Response Vehicle. |
|
2006 |
FSS launches a new Department of Forensic Pathology and Legal Medicine at the University of Sheffield to assist police in the region with investigations into suspicious deaths and to provide a wide range of laboratory services to customers nationwide. FSS receives £450,000 funding from the Department of Trade and Industry to support commercial development of a DNA database package, designed to help other countries to set up their own DNA databases. |
|
2007 |
The new headquarters of Scenesafe are officially opened. Scenesafe, an arm of FSS, distributes evidence recovery products around the world FSS launches the UK’s first online footwear coding and detection management system. Footwear Intelligence Technology (FIT) is designed to help police quickly identify footwear marks left at crime scenes and link them to other crimes and suspects. 20th anniversary of the first use of DNA evidence to assist in a police investigation. The British DNA database is the world’s largest, containing 4.5million samples taken during criminal inquiries. |