Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of police in-house forensic provision.

The provision of high quality, timely forensic evidence is vital for an effective criminal justice system that prevents crime, prosecutes suspects, and gives victims the justice they deserve.

Hardworking police and forensic scientists do an excellent job delivering these vital services every day. However, we are confident we can achieve more for the public.

The Government have announced the creation of a new National Centre of Policing that will bring together crucial support services, including forensics, that local police forces can draw upon, to raise standards, and improve efficiency.

We have appointed a national forensic science lead who will transform our approach by helping to create creating 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.