COLLECTING digital evidence, fingermarks and DNA is crucial to police investigations – and Cleveland Police is celebrating an accreditation for its forensic work.

The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) visited the force and has now awarded it an accreditation against ISO/IEC 17025, the international standard for testing laboratories.

UKAS accreditation determines the technical competence and impartiality of forensic testing, examination and inspection services, improving confidence in the quality of evidence within the Criminal Justice System.

The accreditation process scrutinised forensic laboratory work, including digital evidence, fingermarks and DNA recovery.

It shows the force has a robust internal audit processes and follows a Forensic Code of Conduct.

Staff in the labs are tasked with forensic examinations in relation to a range of criminal investigations from drugs and fraud to sexual offences and murder.

Since June 2019, Cleveland’s forensic laboratories have a monthly average of 160 case submissions, and over 1,900 cases in the last year.

The Northern Echo:

Mandy Johns, the police’s head of forensic investigation, said: “We are pleased to have maintained accreditation for our Forensic Examination and Digital Forensics Laboratories.

“Our work is victim-focussed as we’re fully aware the way we access material and prepare evidential items can have a significant impact on cases at court.

“This recognises we are meeting international standards of best practice and operating to the best of our ability. I’d like to thank the team for their hard work.”