ABSTRACT
While forensic science has been partially shaped by the discussions and activities of expert communities, policy has also played a key role. This chapter focuses specifically on UK forensic policy and outlines how the forensic landscape has evolved across jurisdictions. It describes the history of initiatives in England and Wales to introduce a degree of marketization to the provision of forensic services. Numerous parliamentary inquiries during the last two decades have, however, raised concerns over these policies. Inquiries have also criticised UK government on other areas relating to biometric data, such as the retention of facial data and the use of facial recognition technology. More recently, Scotland has adopted its own distinct path toward governing the use of biometric data in policing. Through charting such developments, this chapter describes a fragmented landscape in which private forensic providers have struggled to maintain business, alongside in-house police laboratories. The landscape which is described here encompasses a variety of initiatives and roles. In outlining a series of strategies and legislation issued by UK and Scottish governments, this chapter questions to what extent a cohesive vision for forensic science and biometrics can be discerned.
