The Forensic Science Service is being slowed down by March next year because of government spending cuts and therefore, with immediate effect, it has suspended all new processing of blood and urine drink-driving samples.
Whilst private firms are being searched for to step-in, police forces have been ordered to put cases on hold and keep samples refrigerated. The samples can last, undamaged, for several years when kept refrigerated.
The National Police Improvement Agency was confident work would begin again ‘early next week’ and no samples would be lost or damaged. The NPIA and the Association of Chief Police Officers said there would be ‘no impact’ on prosecutions.
MJP Motoring Solicitors
Feb, 10, 2011
Its good to know that samples will be stable for few years but they will be of no use by then. Lack of funding is doing damage to the reputation of forensic sciences so the government should resolve this issue asap.
This is temporary measure which will have no impact as far as the offender is concerned.