ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the implications the development of forensic science holds for sociological perspectives on the professions and science. It outlines a history of forensic science in the UK and elsewhere and describes the role played by various organizations. The chapter begins with a brief overview of the emergence of forensic science in the UK, outlining the increasing distinction which arose between forensic science and medical interventions in law. The establishment of a network of laboratories in England and Wales, which gave rise to the Forensic Science Service (FSS), is also described. While the UK Home Office played a significant role in instituting forensic science in England and Wales, other interventions, such as the formation of scientific societies, have also shaped forensic science as practice and profession.
