Forensic science is, by its very nature, a painstaking, meticulous process. Often the tiniest of things can yield the biggest clue to a crime. But as the field becomes increasingly competitive, commercial considerations have become more commonplace. For a police force investigating multiple murders or an act of terrorism, carrying out forensic tests can be like having a very expensive taxi meter running.

Thus both the Forensic Science Service (FSS) and the police are becoming more savvy about charging and purchasing. Its adaptation of a no-win, no-fee testing service may raise concerns that it is financially motivated to produce positive test results. However, the FSS is aware those results will have to be robust enough to withstand scrutiny in court.

More rivals are setting up business. Not all are equipped to offer the vast range of services that the FSS does, but they are capable of taking work away from the FSS even if they are not always big enough to take on the large contracts. The agency is being squeezed and we will soon have a smaller FSS and a more commercialised forensic science industry.

The risk in creating a more open market is that relationships between forensic scientists and the police could be eroded. The more that forensic science is seen as a series of transactions, the less it will be seen as part of a holistic approach to solving crime. Aware of that, and pressed by tight budgets, the police are bringing more forensic science services in-house.

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