Forensic Capability Network

(asked on 7th July 2020) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress the Forensic Capability Network has made in developing a long-term commercial strategy so that all digital forensic services can be provided by accredited sources.


Answered by
Kit Malthouse Portrait
Kit Malthouse
This question was answered on 13th July 2020

The Government fully supports the Regulator’s timetables for accreditation. We continue to encourage forensic science providers to adhere to these timetables and will bring forward legislation to give the Regulator statutory enforcement powers at the earliest opportunity.

We have supported the creation of the Forensics Capability Network (FCN) as part of an £28.6m investment in forensic capability. The FCN is leading improvement in quality standards and accreditation attainment through a number of workstreams. These include Digital Forensics and Crime Scene Investigation activities and provide practical support to enable the requirements of the Forensic Science Regulator Codes to be met.

The FCN coordinates and aligns work across policing to improve quality standards, share skills and best practice as well as developing a forensic market strategic plan which will ensure police forces achieve and maintain high quality, sustainable forensic services across all forensic disciplines. All of the digital work packages identified in the plan will have the requirements of the Forensic Science Regulator Codes embedded into its activities and deliverables.

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