The Forensic Science Regulator is the regulator of forensic science activities within England and Wales' legal system.[1] The regulator is advised by the Forensic Science Advisory Council. The post dates from 2008.[2]
The office of Forensic Science Regulator was originally created without any statutory powers.[3]
The first Forensic Science Regulator was Andrew Rennison.[4] Dr Gillian Tully was appointed to hold the post for three years from November 2014.[5] In November 2017 Dr Tully was re-appointed for a further three years until November 2020.[5] In her 2018 annual report, Tully urged the UK Government to put the role of the Forensic Science Regulator on a statutory footing.[3]
An Act to make provision for the appointment of the Forensic Science Regulator; to make provision about the Regulator and about the regulation of forensic science; and for connected purposes.
The Forensic Science Regulator Act 2021 made the role of the Forensic Science Regulator a statutory one and requires the Regulator to prepare and publish a code of practice and allows the regulator to shut down labs that do not meet quality standards.[6][7] The Act also introduces new statutory powers for the Regulator to investigate and issues compliance notices where they have concerns about how a forensic science activity is being conducted.[7] The statutory code of practice was published in 2023.[8]
The regulator and its regulations has been criticised for being overly burdensome and for too much time being spent on compliance.[9]
.svg){kind=small}
