SAVING THE FORENSIC SCIENCE SERVICE LABORATORY

The news that the Forensic Science Service (FSS) Lab is to close in the spring of 2011 with the loss of 168 workers jobs is a bitter blow, despite an all political party campaign to retain the FSS Laboratory on Usk Road, in Chepstow. This is a bad decision in so many different ways aside from the loss of 168 well paid quality jobs which will be a bad blow to Chepstow and the surrounding area. Any new restructured Forensic Science Service will be based in London, Cambridgeshire, the Midlands and North Yorkshire, which might benefit the FSS in the short term, but will not bring any extra degree of efficiency or savings to the fight against crime in Wales.

Sadly I think that this appears to be merely the first step towards privatisation; as these changes to the FSS have been driven and justified on the grounds of improving efficiency and the introduction of competitive tendering for forensic service; this is madness especially at a time when it makes more sense to retain the skills in house. Ironically if control of Policing had been devolved to Cardiff then perhaps the National Assembly might have been able to prevent the loss of this important service, the facility and the jobs.

SAVING THE FORENSIC SCIENCE SERVICE LABS IN CHEPSTOW

The threat to the Forensic Science Service (FSS) Laboratory in Chepstow, which is the only facility of it’s kind in Wales, does little to help with the fight against crime and threatens 168 well paid very skilled jobs.

Every effort must be made in the National Assembly and at Westminster to fight to retain the unique services and skills and the jobs in Wales. The jobs loses at the FSS Laboratory on Usk Road, in Chepstow would be a real blow to Chepstow and the surrounding area, as would the loss of FSS services be to Wales.

The restructured new service would be based in London, Cambridgeshire, the Midlands and North Yorkshire, which may benefit the FSS in the short term it, will not bring any extra degree of efficiency or savings to the fight against crime in Wales.

The changes to the FSS have been driven and justified by the introduction of competitive tendering for forensic services within the UK, which is madness especially at a time when it makes more sense to retain the skills in house.