§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be able to announce his decision on the future of the Metropolitan police forensic science laboratory; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HowardOn the basis of a review initiated by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and the Home Office, I have concluded that the Metropolitan police forensic science laboratory should merge with the forensic science service to form a national organisation serving all police forces in England and Wales through seven regional operational laboratories; that direct charging for forensic science services should be extended to include services currently provided by MPFSL; and that the Metropolitan police and the City of London police should be untied from their reliance on the MPFSL as sole provider of these services. There will of course continue to be a Metropolitan laboratory.
These changes will ensure that arrangements for providing forensic science support to the criminal justice system will be the same throughout England and Wales. The merger will ensure that strong forensic science support continues to be made available to the Metropolitan police and the City of London police. Both FSS and MPFSL have traditions of excellence in the provision of forensic science support to the criminal justice system. Within an enlarged agency they will maintain and build upon already high standards of forensic science support to crime investigation in London while ensuring the continued development of effective and efficient forensic science provision throughout 427W England and Wales; characterised by its high quality, clear impartiality and availability equally to police, prosecution and defence.
The worldwide reputations which the MPFSL and FSS have established will be enhanced by bringing them together. International standing is especially important at a time when developments in forensic science are increasingly being brokered across national boundaries and overseas markets are opening up.
I intend that the MPFSL and FSS should merge with effect from 1 April 1996. Merger will be preceded by a transitional period, beginning on 1 April 1995, during which the director general of the FSS will manage MPFSL on behalf of the commissioner, and prepare, with MPFSL and FSS staff, and with the concurrence of the commissioner and the Home Office, detailed plans for the changes.