§ Vera BairdTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which police forces use(a) the Early Evidence Kit produced by the Forensic Science Service and (b) the Tetra modules for the early securing of samples in complaints of rape and drug rape; and which use neither; [146778]
(2) what instruction his Department gives to police forces about the use of test kits to secure samples in the event of an allegation of (a) rape or (b) drug rape. [146776]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 12 January 2004]: The Forensic Science Service (FSS) have supplied Early Evidence (K106) kits to a total of 30 forces, with 22 of these having ordered more than once. Regular users of the K106 include Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, the Metropolitan Police Service, Northumbria, Staffordshire, Suffolk and Warwickshire. FSS have received new interest and preliminary orders for Hampshire, Kent, Merseyside, North Wales, Surrey and Thames Valley Police.
The Home Office does not hold information on the use of Tetra modules by police forces.
Instruction on collecting evidence and how to conduct investigations is a matter for individual Chief Officers of police.