Consultation outcome

Forensic science: draft statutory code of practice

• From: Home Office and Forensic Science Regulator
• Published: 8 August 2022
• Last updated: 13 March 2023 — See all updates

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

Applies to England and Wales

This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

Code of practice consultation response report (accessible)

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Code of practice consultation response report

PDF, 401 KB, 56 pages

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Detail of outcome

A summary of the comments received and the main themes raised by respondents to the consultation on the draft code of practice.

New statutory code of practice for forensic science activities.

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Original consultation

Summary

This consultation seeks views on a draft code of practice (‘the code’) to be issued under the Forensic Science Regulator Act 2021.

This consultation ran from
12:15am on 4 August 2022 to 11:45pm on 31 October 2022

Consultation description

The draft code sets quality standard requirements for forensic science activities related to the investigation of crime and the criminal justice system in England and Wales.

The draft code applies to England and Wales, but the Regulator welcomes views from stakeholders from across the UK. The Regulator also welcomes views from forensic science units outside of England and Wales but to whom the code will apply in so far as they carry on activities within England and Wales.

Representations are welcome from:

• forensic units from the 43 territorial police forces
• commercial forensic science units
• professional bodies
• government departments
• interested groups
• the wider public

Following the consultation period, responses will be analysed, and the draft code will be revised as necessary. The code will then be sent to the Secretary of State for the Home Department for approval. Following this, the code will then be laid before Parliament for approval.

A response to this consultation exercise will be published on GOV.UK.

Documents

Code of practice consultation draft (accessible version)

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Code of practice consultation draft

PDF, 2.74 MB, 399 pages

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The Forensic Science Regulator Act 2021: draft statutory code of practice consultation information and response guidance (accessible version)

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The Forensic Science Regulator Act 2021: draft statutory code of practice consultation information and response guidance

PDF, 202 KB, 15 pages

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Published 8 August 2022
Last updated 13 March 2023 + show all updates

1. 13 March 2023

   Link added in outcome section to new code of practice for forensic science activities.

2. 3 February 2023

   Consultation response report published.

3. 8 August 2022

   First published.