Angela Shaw, Sue Pope, Ian Evett, Kevin Sullivan and Julie Allard of PFS attended the Forensic Science Regulator Conference on the 5th March 2019 at Aston Villa Football Club, Birmingham. Dr Gill Tully introduced the programme of speakers with the theme of Quality in Forensic Science: an approach for the whole CJS. Excellent presentations were given by the Rt Hon Nick Hurd MP, Minister for Policing, Max Hill QC, DPP, Professor Christophe Champod, Professor of Forensic Science at University of Lausanne, Professor James Fraser, Professor of Forensic Science at Strathclyde University, Dr Jeff Adams, FSR Unit, Andrew Price, Head of EMSOU-FS and Mark Stokes, Head of Digital Forensics, MPS. The speakers reflected that forensic experts must exercise integrity and transparency at every stage of the forensic process and that collaboration between stakeholders in the forensic market place is important to continue to advance and improve upon quality standards with the aim of achieving and maintaining accreditation.
A parallel session in the afternoon was held on medical forensics with very useful discussions chaired by Mary Newton, Independent Sexual Assault Advisor, with staff from sexual assault referral centres regarding best practice for taking medical samples.