MET Is First Police Force To Become UKAS Accredited For Forensics

The Metropolitan Police Service has become the first police force in England and Wales to gain UKAS accreditation. Under ISO/IEC 17025:2005 the force is now accredited for forensic activities undertaken in the Evidence Recovery Unit laboratory in Elephant and Castle, London.

The move follows a recommendation last year by the Forensic Regulator, Andrew Rennison, that all providers of forensic science services gain UKAS accreditation in order to deliver confidence in their results. The scope of the new accreditation covers the identification of body fluids, search and recovery of fibres and hairs, blood pattern analysis and the determination of a physical fit between two or more items.

The accreditation was formally presented at New Scotland Yard by UKAS Chairman Lord Lindsay.

Lord Lindsay said: "Gaining UKAS accreditation is a considerable accomplishment as it verifies that an organisation has been able to demonstrate that it holds the requisite competence and that it operates in accordance with the requirements of the internationally recognised standard. This is of particular importance in relation to the delivery of forensic science as it is crucial that we are able to have confidence in the reliability of the information presented to the criminal justice system."

Gary Pugh, Director of Forensic Services for the Metropolitan Police Service, said "the forensic staff at the ERU have made significant contribution to several high profile cases and the accreditation is important endorsement of their skills and contribution."

Andrew Rennison commented: "The attainment of UKAS accreditation is a significant achievement by the Metropolitan Police Service and is a goal I am expecting all other police forces and forensic science providers to have achieved by 2013."

For further information about accreditation of forensic science activities within the criminal justice sector please contact:

Rob Bettinson, Accreditation Manager
rob.bettinson@ukas.com or

Katherine Monnery, Assessment Manager
katherine.monnery@ukas.com