Latest news with #forensicScience
Times
3 days ago
- Times
Forensic science cuts will mean ‘more miscarriages of justice'
Miscarriages of justice will increase without urgent action to avert the 'long-running crisis' in the forensic science service, which experts warn is in a 'graveyard spiral'. Forensic science is praised for enabling miscarriages of justice to be overturned, including the convictions of Andrew Malkinson, who served 17 years in prison for a rape he did not commit, and Peter Sullivan, released 38 years after being wrongly convicted of murder. But scientific evidence 'can be highly persuasive, even when wrong' and 'mistakes, omissions, unreliable science or misinterpretations of forensic evidence can cause catastrophic wrongful convictions', a recent report argues. The report from the Westminster Commission on Forensic Science warns that 'reckless policy decisions' compounded by spending cuts have diminished the capacity to overturn miscarriages of justice as well as preventing them by reliably assisting with crime detection and prosecution.
The Herald
13-06-2025
- The Herald
Police investing in more investigators, forensic skills and new recruits
An additional 675 forensic science laboratory analysts and crime scene experts are undergoing workplace training at station level. Their mandate will be to improve and expedite evidence collected at crime scenes. Some will be deployed to capacitate the four forensic labs. ALLOWANCES 'As a way of retaining skills and talent within our high-risk environments, we are introducing a scarce skills allowance for the national intervention unit,' Masemola announced. 'We will also increase the scarce skills allowance for the counter assault team.' The two units respond to high-risk crimes ranging from cash-in-transit armed robberies to ATM bombings. The allowance will also be extended to hostage negotiators, police divers and airborne law enforcement officers who work in the air wing unit and are deployed to assist ground units during operations, and to coastal skippers and vessel handlers, who are responsible for conducting inspections on vessels that come into the country at all seaports. Last year, the ranks of the special task force unit were adjusted to an entry level of warrant officer with an increase in their scarce skills allowance as a retention strategy. PROGRESSION Masemola said during this financial year, police management is considering progressing 10,000 constables and sergeants who have been at their rank for more than 11 years. An additional 1,000 warrant officers will also be considered for progression to a higher salary band. CALL CENTRES He said 575 call centre operators have been trained and deployed to serve as call takers at 10111 centres across the country. Masemola said this has greatly assisted the service to ensure a more rapid response to crime-related emergencies. STATION COMMANDERS At local level, 150 station commanders' positions have been filled. 'We have also introduced a mandatory station commanders induction course over and above the station management learning programme for all newly appointed station commanders to assist in enhancing the much-needed skills and knowledge required to run a police station.' VEHICLES AND RECRUITMENT Budget has been set aside to procure more vehicles for provinces. Priority will go to police stations and units to enhance police visibility and police response. At the end of this month, the police service will, through an online recruitment process, advertise to recruit 5,500 trainees. Their training will commence between January and February 2026. Eligible candidates need to be under the age of 35. Among the intake of 5,500 police trainees, some will graduate in August while the rest will graduate in December. TimesLIVE
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Miscarriages of justice more likely due to forensic science crisis, report finds
The forensic science sector is in a 'graveyard spiral', according to a parliamentary inquiry that has warned of biased criminal investigations, a rising risk of wrongful convictions, and murder and sexual offence cases collapsing due to missing evidence. The three-year inquiry set up by the all-party parliamentary group on miscarriages of justice has outlined how a series of 'reckless policy decisions' over the past decade have brought forensic science to a point of crisis. A near-monopoly in the commercial sector means there is now a dangerous single point of failure and the increasing reliance on in-house police laboratories risks compromising scientific impartiality, the inquiry found. 'Forensic science in England and Wales as currently configured isn't working for anyone – not for the police, not for the lawyers or for the courts, not for the scientists themselves, and not for the general public who get caught up in the criminal justice system,' said Prof Angela Gallop, co-chair of the Westminster Commission on Forensic Science. 'Like a plane hurtling downwards in what has become known as a 'graveyard spiral', with the pilot in desperation making increasingly erratic decisions, it can only be a short time now before it impacts the ground.' Since the closure of the Forensic Science Service in 2012, work has been divided between commercial providers and, increasingly, in-house police laboratories. However, the inquiry said there were now real concerns about bias due to the expanding types of investigations the police conduct, paired with inadequate legal aid funding for defence experts. The report recommends an immediate halt to the expansion of police in-house forensic provision and, in the long term, removing forensic science provision from police oversight. 'The increased risk of miscarriages of justice is self-evident and the potential for investigative failures leading to further injustices is continuing to grow,' said Gallop. The report also highlights the imminent collapse of the forensics market, which is heading toward a 'last man standing' monopoly after the UK's largest forensics provider, Eurofins, acquired the second largest provider, Cellmark, which was on the brink of insolvency last year. Eurofins now delivers more than 85% of external science provision, the report estimates, a proportion that could rise further, creating the risk of a single point of failure. Another concern raised is the police handling of crucial evidence used to prosecute the most serious crimes, with a growing number of cases dropped due to 'disappearing material' including DNA samples, CCTV footage, weapons, drugs and mobile phone data. Missing evidence was recorded as the reason for 30,552 prosecutions being dropped between October 2020 and September 2024, the report reveals. This included 70 homicides and 554 sexual offences, and represented just over 2% of all prosecutions nationally. The Metropolitan police had 4.6% of cases dropped because of missing evidence. Prof Carole McCartney, a criminologist at the University of Leicester, who helped compile the figures, said: 'The most obvious cause for alarm is that each of these cases is potentially a victim who will never see their perpetrator in court or see their case brought to justice. 'And if we're not retaining evidence, people who are victims of miscarriages of justice can't get out of prison and cold cases will stay unsolved if you lose the evidence. It's a fundamental part of the criminal justice process.' The inquiry adds to continuing criticism of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), after the cases of Andrew Malkinson, who spent 17 years in jail for a rape he did not commit, and Peter Sullivan, whose murder conviction was overturned last month after 38 years. The report describes a culture of 'complacency in respect of a lack of scientific knowledge and understanding' among CCRC staff and recommends the recruitment of permanent staff members with scientific backgrounds. Kim Johnson MP, the chair of the APPG on miscarriages of justice, said the Post Office Horizon scandal and the exonerations of Malkinson and Sullivan highlighted the need for urgent reform of forensic provision. 'These cases are not isolated incidents but symptoms of deep, systemic failings in our criminal justice system,' she said. 'We owe it to victims, their families, and the wider public to demand transparency, accountability, and meaningful reform. We must see the government act on this report without delay to restore trust and prevent future injustices.' A CCRC spokesperson said that in response to an independent review of its handling of the Malkinson case it had taken a number of steps to improve its forensics provision, including training sessions for staff. It said its Forensic Opportunities Programme, announced last year, was analysing pre-2016 convictions to assess whether advances in DNA technology could identify an offender and that it had recently recruited a full-time forensic science and evidence adviser. A government spokesperson said: 'We understand the importance of high-quality, timely forensic evidence for an effective criminal justice system that prevents crime, prosecutes suspects and gives victims the justice they deserve. 'In November 2024 at the NPCC/APCC summit, the home secretary acknowledged that the adoption of forensic science across the board has been uncoordinated. That's why we are appointing a national forensic science lead who will transform our approach by helping to create a new model of delivery with the police and forensic leaders to raise standards and improve efficiency, and ultimately build greater public confidence in our criminal justice system.'
The Guardian
09-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Miscarriages of justice more likely due to forensic science crisis, report finds
The forensic science sector is in a 'graveyard spiral', according to a parliamentary inquiry that has warned of biased criminal investigations, a rising risk of wrongful convictions, and murder and sexual offence cases collapsing due to missing evidence. The three-year inquiry set up by the all-party parliamentary group on miscarriages of justice has outlined how a series of 'reckless policy decisions' over the past decade have brought forensic science to a point of crisis. A near-monopoly in the commercial sector means there is now a dangerous single point of failure and the increasing reliance on in-house police laboratories risks compromising scientific impartiality, the inquiry found. 'Forensic science in England and Wales as currently configured isn't working for anyone – not for the police, not for the lawyers or for the courts, not for the scientists themselves, and not for the general public who get caught up in the criminal justice system,' said Prof Angela Gallop, co-chair of the Westminster Commission on Forensic Science. 'Like a plane hurtling downwards in what has become known as a 'graveyard spiral', with the pilot in desperation making increasingly erratic decisions, it can only be a short time now before it impacts the ground.' Since the closure of the Forensic Science Service in 2012, work has been divided between commercial providers and, increasingly, in-house police laboratories. However, the inquiry said there were now real concerns about bias due to the expanding types of investigations the police conduct, paired with inadequate legal aid funding for defence experts. The report recommends an immediate halt to the expansion of police in-house forensic provision and, in the long term, removing forensic science provision from police oversight. 'The increased risk of miscarriages of justice is self-evident and the potential for investigative failures leading to further injustices is continuing to grow,' said Gallop. The report also highlights the imminent collapse of the forensics market, which is heading toward a 'last man standing' monopoly after the UK's largest forensics provider, Eurofins, acquired the second largest provider, Cellmark, which was on the brink of insolvency last year. Eurofins now delivers more than 85% of external science provision, the report estimates, a proportion that could rise further, creating the risk of a single point of failure. Another concern raised is the police handling of crucial evidence used to prosecute the most serious crimes, with a growing number of cases dropped due to 'disappearing material' including DNA samples, CCTV footage, weapons, drugs and mobile phone data. Missing evidence was recorded as the reason for 30,552 prosecutions being dropped between October 2020 and September 2024, the report reveals. This included 70 homicides and 554 sexual offences, and represented just over 2% of all prosecutions nationally. The Metropolitan police had 4.6% of cases dropped because of missing evidence. Prof Carole McCartney, a criminologist at the University of Leicester, who helped compile the figures, said: 'The most obvious cause for alarm is that each of these cases is potentially a victim who will never see their perpetrator in court or see their case brought to justice. 'And if we're not retaining evidence, people who are victims of miscarriages of justice can't get out of prison and cold cases will stay unsolved if you lose the evidence. It's a fundamental part of the criminal justice process.' The inquiry adds to continuing criticism of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), after the cases of Andrew Malkinson, who spent 17 years in jail for a rape he did not commit, and Peter Sullivan, whose murder conviction was overturned last month after 38 years. The report describes a culture of 'complacency in respect of a lack of scientific knowledge and understanding' among CCRC staff and recommends the recruitment of permanent staff members with scientific backgrounds. Kim Johnson MP, the chair of the APPG on miscarriages of justice, said the Post Office Horizon scandal and the exonerations of Malkinson and Sullivan highlighted the need for urgent reform of forensic provision. 'These cases are not isolated incidents but symptoms of deep, systemic failings in our criminal justice system,' she said. 'We owe it to victims, their families, and the wider public to demand transparency, accountability, and meaningful reform. We must see the government act on this report without delay to restore trust and prevent future injustices.' A CCRC spokesperson said that in response to an independent review of its handling of the Malkinson case it had taken a number of steps to improve its forensics provision, including training sessions for staff. It said its Forensic Opportunities Programme, announced last year, was analysing pre-2016 convictions to assess whether advances in DNA technology could identify an offender and that it had recently recruited a full-time forensic science and evidence adviser. A government spokesperson said: 'We understand the importance of high-quality, timely forensic evidence for an effective criminal justice system that prevents crime, prosecutes suspects and gives victims the justice they deserve. 'In November 2024 at the NPCC/APCC summit, the home secretary acknowledged that the adoption of forensic science across the board has been uncoordinated. That's why we are appointing a national forensic science lead who will transform our approach by helping to create a new model of delivery with the police and forensic leaders to raise standards and improve efficiency, and ultimately build greater public confidence in our criminal justice system.'
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Karen Read's Lexus: Jurors get look at SUV she is accused of using against cop boyfriend
Editor's note: This page contains a summary of updates on the Karen Read retrial for Wednesday, May 14. For the latest updates on the Karen Read trial, visit USA TODAY's coverage for Thursday, May 15. Shards of glass sticking from the rear bumper. The passenger side taillight smashed. Scratches, chipped paint, dents and what appeared to be human hair. Photos shared on Wednesday at the trial of Karen Read, a former finance professor accused of hitting Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe, 46, with her SUV and leaving him for dead, show the damaged state her vehicle was in then. Prosecutors say Read, 45, hit her boyfriend of about two years with her black Lexus in a drunken rage. Read's lawyers say she was framed for the death which happened in January 2022 outside the Canton, Massachusetts home of a fellow cop. Jurors on Wednesday – the 15th day of testimony – saw the closest picture yet of the condition Read's vehicle was in after O'Keefe's death. Maureen Hartnett, a forensic scientist with the Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory called to the stand by prosecutors, testified about her examination of Read's vehicle just days after O'Keefe's death on January 29. Read's lawyers grilled the forensic scientist over whether she found blood or biological material under the SUV— Hartnett testified that she did not. Hartnett's testimony comes after weeks of testimony in which jurors have heard about Read's drinking the night before O'Keefe died, a bombshell admission that Read made to a star witness and cryptic text messages between witnesses for the prosecution. Testimony in the case out of Dedham, Massachusetts comes after Judge Beverly Cannone abruptly called for a break in court proceedings Tuesday. Cannone apologized to jurors, stating that "sometimes during trials things come up that are completely unavoidable." She did not confirm what led to the break. The Norfolk County case is Read's second trial over O'Keefe's death. A trial in 2024 ended in a hung jury. The years-long whodunnit legal saga has garnered massive intrigue from true-crime fans across the country, spurring an array of podcasts, movies and television shows. Here's what you missed on Day 15 of the trial. Maureen Hartnett, a forensic scientist with the Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory, walked jurors through her examination of Read's SUV on Feb. 1, 2022. Crime photos from that day show the rear passenger taillight of Read's car smashed, with much of the red cover missing. Shards littered the back bumper. White scratches, chipped paint and dents were visible above the right rear taillight. Hartnett said she found what appeared to be a piece of hair on the vehicle, too. She sliced open a cardboard evidence box sealed with red tape, put on black gloves and lifted the damaged taillight from Read's car for the jury to see. Later, during cross examination, Read's defense attorney questioned Hartnett about whether she tested for blood, or other biological materials underneath Read's car. She said she did not find blood, or anything of note, underneath the vehicle. Read's defense attorney, Robert Alessi, further pressed about the bloody snow found beneath O'Keefe that police officers collected in red solo cups. Hartnett said she did not believe DNA analysis was conducted on swabs she collected from the red and brown stained cups. Alessi then tried to cast doubt on the reliability of evidence collected from the back of Read's car that had remained in place for several days after the car was seized by police. Hartnett confirmed during questioning that taillight shards were found resting on the bumper and not 'embedded' into it. Alessi questioned whether the small pieces would have stayed in place during the roughly 45-minute drive from Canton to Dighton, Massachusetts, where police collected it as evidence. Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Zacharay Clark said he arrived at the Canton Police Department around 9 a.m. the morning of January 29, 2022, to help investigate O'Keefe's death. He testified about his process for photographing Read's Lexus SUV. He said a test of Read's front tires for friction ridge impressions, the imprints created by the skin pattern on hands and feet, found 'no useable impressions." A second state trooper, Sgt. Evan Brent, said he witnessed Proctor and other Canton Police officers on Feb. 3, 2022, uncover items from the snow on the lawn where O'Keefe's body was found. Brent traveled with Proctor to O'Keefe's home on Meadows Road, where he photographed a Chevy Traverse in the driveway and the garage doors, neither of which he said had visible damage. Read's defense attorney emphasized that Brent's visit to O'Keefe's home occurred five days after O'Keefe's body was found and asked Brent to confirm that he 'didn't know who had access to that Traverse during those five days.' Brent responded, "Correct." Prosecutors called O'Keefe's niece to the stand. O'Keefe became the guardian of his niece and nephew after his sister and brother-in-law died. No audio or video recording of her testimony is allowed because she is under 18. Prosecutors played two clips of interviews with Read conducted in 2024. In the first, from her sit-down with NBC's Dateline, Read said that she and O'Keefe would not have broken up if he had not died. In the second, from an ID docuseries, Read said that O'Keefe likely did not know about her text exchange with Brian Higgins, an agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - who was at a restaurant where the couple went drinking the night before O'Keefe died and the home where O'Keefe was found in the snow. If O'Keefe had known about the texts, she said the couple likely would have broken up. CourtTV has been covering the case against Read and the criminal investigation since early 2022, when O'Keefe's body was found outside a Canton, Massachusetts home. You can watch CourtTV's live feed of the Read trial proceedings from Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Massachusetts. Proceedings begin at 9 a.m. ET. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What to know about SUV Karen Read allegedly used to hit boyfriend
