Forensic Services Director's Report

Members considered the report which detailed recent activities within Forensic Services. Fiona Douglas (FDouglas) highlighted a number of key points as detailed in the paper.

In discussion the following matters were raised:
• Member sought an update against the new operating model, how the budget is adapted to that, and how it is relatable to new drug driving legislation. FDouglas responded that it was difficult to implement large scale without investment and as such implementation has had to be prioritised. Most areas have now been implemented although not all posts have been recruited. Work has been ongoing on a long-term toxicology model around demand forecast which will help underpin stability in the area.
• FDouglas assured Members that improvements were being made in key areas such as scene tasking and volume crime DNA. Members were also assured that Forensic Services had the capability to respond to new statutory timescales, with the current outsourcing arrangements in place.

The Authority RESOLVED to:
• NOTE the report.