BEHIND THE EVIDENCE: FORENSIC SERVICES

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BEHIND THE EVIDENCE: FORENSIC SERVICES

Report No 4 - May 2006

Background

In 2005, the WA Police Crime Scene Unit attended almost 1 000 crime scenes and collected 25 000 forensic exhibits. Most of these exhibits were referred to PathWest and the Chemistry Centre to be tested for evidence to support criminal investigations and prosecutions.

This examination reviewed the efficiency and effectiveness of forensic investigation and analysis conducted by WA Police, PathWest (part of the Department of Health) and Chemistry Centre (part of the Department of Industry and Resources).

What the examination found…

The examination found that many aspects of forensic services are working well. However, forensic service agencies are not working successfully together to provide forensic services in a timely and effective manner to meet the needs of the justice system, particularly in relation to analysis of illicit drugs and DNA.

Delays in obtaining forensic evidence are adversely affecting the justice system, one of the most signifi cant issues being a large backlog in DNA analyses, resulting in delayed prosecutions and court adjournments.
A lack of integrated decision-making to allocate resources has resulted in bottlenecks and underutilisation of resources.
There has been little assessment of the capacity of forensic service providers to meet future demand.
Each of the principal agencies that provide forensic services is currently meeting, or is working towards meeting, external quality standards.
The security and reliability of forensic exhibits is put at risk by the absence of a single reliable State exhibit register that records exhibit details and tracks movement within and between agencies.
Some storage arrangements for forensic exhibits do not provide adequate security or occupational health and safety protection. Each of the agencies concerned has addressed or has strategies to address the issues identified.

What the examination recommended…

WA Police and PathWest should:

reduce the backlog in DNA analyses, including identifying the analyses that are no longer required and agreeing priorities for requests for analysis.

WA Police, PathWest, and the Chemistry Centre should:

consider the impact across forensic service agencies when allocating resources
develop whole-of-service capacity to meet future demand and appropriate quality standards
build on the current forensic information systems to improve access, tracking, and sharing of information
ensure ongoing assessment and resolution of risks related to the security and occupational safety and health of forensic exhibit storage facilities.

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