Over two evidence sessions on Tuesday 27th November the House of
Lords Science and Technology Select Committee will question
forensic scientists from a variety of small and medium sized
private providers, as well as the Metropolitan Police and the
Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences, for its inquiry into the
use of forensic science and its contribution to the delivery of
justice.
In the first session, the Committee will
explore the role of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences as
a voice for the sector. It will also investigate the way in which
different private providers view the current system of
accreditation.
In the second session the Committee
will explore what
is being done to prepare for
the increasing role of digital forensics and the level of
understanding of digital forensic science within the Criminal
Justice System.
The Session will begin at 3:25pm
in Committee Room 4A of the House of Lords. Giving evidence will
be:
-
Dr Anya
Hunt, CEO,
Chartered Society of Forensic
Sciences
-
Mr Angus
Marshall, Director
and Principal Scientist, n-gate Ltd
-
Dr David
Schudel, Forensic
scientist, Keith Borer Consultant
Questions the Committee are
likely to ask include:
-
Is the Criminal Justice System being
equipped with robust, accurate and transparent forensic
science?
-
What are differences between what
forensic science provision is available to the prosecution and
defence?
-
What are the risks of a market approach
(for example what happens if a provider goes out of business)
and what is the impact on admissibility, reliability and
credibility of forensic science evidence?
-
What is the level of understanding of
forensic science within the Criminal Justice System amongst
lawyers, judges and
juries?
The second session will begin at
4.25pm and the Committee will
question:
-
Mr Mark
Stokes, Head
of Digital, Cyber & Communications Forensics Unit,
Metropolitan Police
-
Dr Jan
Collie, Managing
Director and Senior Forensic Investigator, Discovery
Forensics
-
Professor Peter
Sommer, Professor
of Digital Forensics, Birmingham City
University
Questions the Committee are
likely to ask include:
-
What is the level of understanding of digital
forensic science within the Criminal Justice System amongst
lawyers, judges and juries?
-
What role do technological solutions, such as
machine learning, have in dealing with large amounts of data
from digital devices?
-
How can the privacy of complainants and witnesses
be protected, while also securing the necessary digital
evidence for successful prosecutions, or
exonerations?
-
Where are the gaps in research and
understanding of digital forensic science?
