On Tuesday 30th October the House of Lords Science and Technology
Select Committee will question a Chief Crown Prosecutor at the
Crown Prosecution Service as well as the Chair of the Criminal Bar
Association on the UK’s use of forensic science in the criminal
justice system. The Committee will also be questioning leading
academics on forensic science.
The Committee will explore with the
witnesses the level of understanding of forensic science amongst
lawyers, judges and juries, and how this understanding can be
improved. The Committee will also discuss the capacity of the
criminal justice system to deal with the increased evidence load
that digital forensics
generates.
The evidence session will begin
at 3:30pm in Committee Room 4a of the House of Lords. Giving
evidence will be:
-
Adrian
Foster, Chief
Crown Prosecutor, Crown Prosecution
Service
-
Chris Henley
QC, Chair,
Criminal Bar Association
-
Abigail
Bright, Junior
Representative, Criminal Bar
Association.
Other questions the Committee are
likely to ask include:
-
Is the Criminal Justice System being equipped with
robust, accurate and transparent
forensic science?
-
Is the current training available for lawyers and
the judiciary in handling forensic science evidence is
appropriate?
-
What role should the Forensic Science Regulator
have?
Giving evidence to the Committee at 4.30pm
will be:
-
Professor Dame Sue
Black, Pro-Vice Chancellor
for Engagement, Lancaster University
-
Professor Niamh Nic
Daéid, Director of
Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science, University of
Dundee
Questions the Committee are
likely to ask include:
-
What is the scientific evidence base for the use of
forensic techniques in the reconstruction of crimes, and their
investigation and prosecution?
-
Is the current market for forensic
services in England and Wales
sustainable?
-
What are the differences between the systems in
England and Wales and Scotland and Northern
Ireland?
