Written evidence submitted by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (FST0008)

 

  1. The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is the national accreditation body for the UK. UKAS is recognised by government to assess, against internationally agreed standards, organisations that provide certification, testing, inspection and calibration services. UKAS is independent of government but is appointed as the national accreditation body by the Accreditation Regulations 2009 (SI No 3155/2009) and operates under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, on behalf of government as a whole.

 

  1. UKAS has been involved in assessing laboratories undertaking forensic analysis since the 1980s and the scope of accreditation now covers a broad range of forensic examination and testing activities including fingerprint comparison, digital forensics and scenes of crime.

 

  1. UKAS accreditation not only provides authoritative assurance of the technical competence of an organisation to undertake specified activities but also reviews particular aspects relevant to the Criminal Justice System, for example, continuity of evidence, management of case files and storage of exhibits. Accreditation determines the competence of staff, the validity and suitability of methods, the appropriateness of equipment and facilities, and the on-going assurance and confidence in outcomes through internal quality control.

 

  1. Accreditation to international standards ISO/IEC 17025 and/or ISO/IEC 17020 demonstrates the technical competence and impartiality of the laboratory with respect to its defined scope of accredited activity. 

 

  1. UKAS were given the opportunity to contribute to this Home Office Forensic Strategy through the working group tasked with considering aspects relating to Legitimacy; and are pleased to see that the value of accreditation has been clearly recognised within the strategy.

 

  1. UKAS is very supportive of the role of the Forensic Science Regulator (FSR) and is committed to assisting the FSR in the assurance of the scientific quality standards in forensic science, therefore, it is pleasing to note in the Forensic Strategy that proposals will be developed to give the FSR statutory powers and to put the current remit and the associated Codes of Practice on a statutory basis.

 

  1. UKAS considers that the role of accreditation as a mechanism to demonstrate the competence of an organisation is in keeping with the goals of this strategy; and that the drive for a national approach to forensic science delivery would be supported by the implementation of quality systems meeting the international standard ISO/IEC 17025 or ISO/IEC 17020. This has the potential to support the drive for greater consistency of service across the mixed landscape of forensic provision, whether that is through public or private sector organisations.

 

  1. Since the last submission that UKAS made to the Science and Technology Committee in March 2013 we have ensured that forensic organisations successfully met the deadlines set in the EU framework decision 2009/905/JHA for DNA and Fingerprints.

 

  1. However, there are undoubtedly challenges ahead with more areas going forward for accreditation in accordance with the Statement of Requirements in the FSR Code of Practice. A key element in the success of meeting these deadlines will be in the preparedness of the organisations for assessment and their ability to demonstrate compliance to all aspects of the standard including technical competence.

 

  1. UKAS strongly supports the view expressed in the strategy that any development of technology to be used as part of ‘real-time analysis / forensics’ should not result in any compromising on quality, and would therefore suggest that the same requirements for accreditation are applied to these activities as would be expected in the laboratory environment. This is particularly helpful in demonstrating the competence of organisations to deliver these new and enhanced services.

 

  1. In late 2014 and early 2015 UKAS was able to assist the Biometrics Commissioner by undertaking some visits to review compliance of Forensic Science Providers with the requirements of the Protection of Freedoms Act, specifically relating to the analysis and destruction of DNA samples. Through these visits we were able to provide assurance to the Commissioner and subsequently UKAS has been tasked with the incorporation of these requirements into their routine visits to suppliers to the National DNA Database.

 

  1. In conclusion, UKAS welcomes the publication of the Home Office Forensic Science Strategy and hopes that through our on-going relationship with the FSR we can play a key part in the strengthening of public and judicial confidence in the forensic services provided from crime scene to court.

 

March 2016