Follow-up inquiry into the state of forensic science in the UK continues

On Tuesday 18 November, the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee will continue its inquiry into the state of forensic science in the UK. 

This inquiry is a follow up to its 2019 inquiry and the recent work from the Westminster Commission on Forensic Science, which described the sector as being in a ‘graveyard spiral'. 

The Committee will hear from the Director of the UCL Centre for the Forensic Sciences––Specialist Adviser to the Committee's previous inquiry––and representatives from forensic service providers Key Forensic Services and Eurofins Forensic Services. 

At 10:15 the Committee will hear from: 

• Professor Ruth Morgan, Professor of Crime and Forensic Science and Director of the UCL Centre for the Forensic Sciences 

At 11:15 the Committee will hear from: 

• Dr Des Vanhinsbergh, Managing Director at Key Forensic Services 

• Dr Mark Pearse, Director at Eurofins Forensic Services 

The public evidence session will take place from 10:15 am in Committee Room 4, Palace of Westminster on Tuesday 18 November 2025 and can be viewed live on parliamentlive.tv. 

Topics for discussion include: 

• R&D and training challenges for forensic science 

• The fragmentation of forensic science  

• The forensic science market 

• The procurement model for forensic science 

• Digital forensics and AI 

• The role of the police; the Forensic Science Regulator; and the National Institute for Forensic Science 

• Regulation and accreditation of forensic science