The Practicalities of Forensic Science Provision to the

The Practicalities of Forensic Science Provision to the Criminal Justice System

Content • Brief overview of Agency’s role and functions • The complex stakeholder environment • The forensic flowline • Case example of integrated examinations

FSNI A small but complex scientific organisation working in a large, complex and largely non-scientific stakeholder environment. Mission: To provide effective, impartial and efficient forensic science services to support justice Vision: To be recognised as a leading provider of comprehensive, integrated forensic science services, with a reputation for excellence, quality and timely delivery Corporate Goal 2010 -13: To demonstrate excellence and value for money to our customers and stakeholders through 5% efficiency improvements per year

FSNI Overview • Agency of the Northern Ireland Department of Justice • Independent from Police and other CJS organisations – Especially important in NI context • Total resource budget 2010/11 = £ 11. 1 m. • 94% cost recovery from paying customers • PSNI = 90% of work, funded by SLA (0. 7% of PSNI’s budget) • Other customers: Historical Enquiries Team, State Pathologist, Police Ombudsman, other public and private • Some Defence cases in other jurisdictions, e. g. ROI FSNI’s work impacts society, victims, perpetrators, the peace process and public confidence

FSNI Overview • International reputation • >200 staff (~65% scientific grades) • Broader range of disciplines than most other single labs – – – Road Traffic Collisions (RTC) Special Fingerprint Unit (SFU) Physical Methods: Glass, Fibres, Paint, Toolmarks, Foot/Tyre Marks Questioned Documents & Thin Films Firearms Microchemistry Fires & Explosives Alcohol, Drugs & Toxicology DNA Biology Electronics • One of the broader scopes of ISO 17025 Accreditation

FSNI’s Directorates Work flow Business Development Laboratory Services Reporting Services Corporate Services Finance & ICT Customers & Stakeholders Quality

Why is Forensic Provision Complex? • Each year: 5, 000 cases; 20, 000 exhibits; 80, 000 sub exhibits • Technology, instruments, flow-lines, processes and sequencing – Case integration • Joint Examinations • Sequential Examinations • Physical environment controls and decontamination procedures – Red and Blue zones: Source areas (bulk) and Sensitive areas (trace) • • • Quality Accreditation & Integrity Customer/Stakeholder environment Quasi-market environment Legal overlay; Independence, Expert Witness, FOI, Disclosure Information Assurance / Security Specialist competences: load balancing and capacity planning

Stakeholder Environment Private Customers NI Court Service UKAS Defence Lawyers & Experts PONI Coroner PPS FS Regulator Strategic Partners SPD Judiciary Policing Board SOCA CJI HMIC FSNI PSNI Assembly Justice C’ttee NIPS Do. J Directorate of Justice Policy Public & Media Do. J Minister ENFSI Suppliers AFSP HMRC HET NI Assembly; MLA’s CAS NPIA FSSoc Universities & Schools

Strategic Context • 80% of FSNI work is on Serious Crime • Most forensic disciplines are also applicable to volume crime • Priority One Cases (Murders, Rapes, Terrorism, etc. ) turnaround within 72 hours • Resources constrain both quantity and depth of forensic science • FS organisations are both capital- and intellectual labour-intensive • Malfunctioning market in E & W has reduced UK capacity and risks dumbing down the science • FS organisations have intrinsic difficulty with lateral resource movement and lag times for expansion/contraction • Scientific Ethos: Quality is paramount – ISO 17025; 2005

Role of Forensic Science Facing two ways Support Police Investigation Fast (hours and days) Cooperative Creative Compromising Cost conscious Provide Expert Witness to the Courts Slow (months) Independent Rigorous Objective Cost blind Doing one must not compromise the other

Forensic Processes • Evidence Recovery – Scene Handling, Forensic Strategy, Exhibit Selection, Packaging, Storage, Tracking – Swab, Tape Lift, Shake Out, Vacuum, Extract, Visualise • Analysis – Detection, identification, quantification – Manual tests – Instrumental Analysis • Investigative advice to Police – Input to Forensic Strategy – Suggestions for further submissions or tests – Identification of possible suspects – Evaluation – Findings, Context, Peer Review, Advice to PPS – Facilitation of Defence – External examination, disclosure • Report and Expert Witness to Court – AFSP principles: Robust, Logical, Open, Objective – within Competences For FSNI operationally, the actual “Lab work” (by DOLS) is sandwiched between the Forensic Strategy and the Evaluation/Reporting (by DORS)

The Forensic Science Flowline Crime Occurs Police Attend Crime Scene Crime Confirmed (S)IO Appointed Police Reports Traditional Police Activities Police Forensic FSNI Activities Expert at Crime Scene and follow-up locations Crime Scene Manager Control FSNI Customer Services Unit Reception Police Submission Exhibits Scientific Support Manager Tracking QC File creation

The Forensic Science Flowline Crime Occurs Police Attend Crime Scene Crime Confirmed (S)IO Police Reports Unit Exhibits FSNI Reports Reception FSNI Tracking Scientific Support Manager Police Requirements FSNI Proposals Control FSNI Customer Services Submission QC Secure File creation Storage Crime Scene Manager (S)IO Appointed Traditional Police Activities Police Forensic FSNI Activities Expert at Crime Scene and follow-up locations Files Evidence Recovery Unit Lead Scientist & FSNI Reporting Officers Instructions & Results Sub-exhibits Analytics DNA T R Ambient, Chilled, Frozen, Secure I A G E Specialisms Police Facilitation Original Items returned

The Forensic Science Flowline Crime Occurs Police Attend Crime Scene Crime Confirmed (S)IO Police Reports Traditional Police Activities Unit Exhibits FSNI Reports FSNI Tracking Scientific Support Manager Police Requirements FSNI Proposals Reception Submission QC Secure File creation Storage Crime Scene Manager (S)IO Appointed Control FSNI Customer Services Police Forensic FSNI Activities Expert at Crime Scene and follow-up locations Files Evidence Recovery Unit Lead Scientist & FSNI Reporting Officers Instructions & Results Sub-exhibits Analytics DNA T R Ambient, Chilled, Frozen, Secure I A G E Specialisms Police FSNI Scientific Case prep Advice Defence Public Prosecution Service Original Items returned Facilitation FSNI Expert Witness Courts

Casework: Initial Stages • Urgent examinations – May be required e. g. where person in custody or to progress the early stages of an investigation. – Results to be available within hours/days of request – E. g. Blood Pattern Analysis/Footwear Comparison/ DNA Analysis/Microchemistry – May be done at Scene or at Lab

Initial Incident Potential Assessment • Case conference with the SIO, MCFA • Lead Scientist with Specialists from appropriate disciplines. • Agree potential evidence from each item • Agree strategy for examination of each item • Major cases may require multiple case conferences

Example Case: 4 Suspects arrested 29 March following reports of suspicious activity Hidden mortar found 5 April in area • Items submitted to FSNI – The device: - launch tube, mortar explosives, wiring and electricals, taping – Mobile Phones – Car in which the suspects were stopped – Tools, pliers, wires trippers, circuit tester, tapes – Batteries – Suspects’ clothing & gloves – Items from house searches – Fibres from gatepost at scene of mortar find

Mortar Case: some of the linkages Gatepost at scene of Mortar find Fibres Coat from Suspect A Paint Flakes Car Mortar Tube + Fibres Semtex Mortar bomb Semtex Jacket/Glove from car DNA Gloves from Suspect A Suspect B

Mortar: Suspects’ Clothing Examination • Examine for paint, DNA, fibre source, explosive residues • Specially designed clean controlled area – One person takes all samples • Samples forwarded to specialist sections for examination

Mortar: Device Examination • Potential bulk explosives contaminant • Designated Clean area for Fibres/paint/DNA recovery • Joint DNA/Fingerprint recovery with specialist lighting and chemical treatments for fingerprint visualisation • Followed by Specialised Fingerprint visualisation techniques • Physical determination of device function & comparison with others

Mortar Case: Forensic challenges • Explosives a major contaminant: – Bulk sources must be confined & kept remote from clean trace areas – Meticulous cleanliness and controls must be maintained during trace explosives recovery • DNA must be recovered under clean conditions, in a way that preserves fingerprints and doesn’t interfere with explosives or other trace material • Fibres and paint can drop off and be easily lost if not recovered in initial examination.

Mortar Case: Forensic challenges • SFU examination is a sequential process that aims to allow DNA recovery yet preserve any potential fingerprints. • Tape ends and instrument marks must be preserved for any subsequent physical fits. • Electronic data from phones must be recovered as soon as possible to be effective for the investigation, yet its recovery must not compromise DNA/fibre/ fingerprint recovery.

DNA Recovery and Databasing • Trace analysis at FSNI • Comparison to suspects or search of N Ireland or National DNA database • Discuss strategy for dealing with unidentified profiles, e. g. familial searching?

Mortar Case: Result • Guilty pleas by all 4 suspects • Forensics pivotal to case outcome • Quality, including: validation, calibration, competence, chain of integrity and contamination control would all have had to withstand Defence challenge

Summary • Forensic delivery is much more than the sum of the individual parts (the actual tests) • Planning, sequencing, integrating and interpretation are vital • Logistics are as critical as the science itself • Quality system plays central role • Integration is itself a core skill which must be maintained like any other competence • What is the forensic cost V benefit to society and the CJS of the conviction of 4 active terrorists?