Guidance

Pathology delivery board criteria registration (accessible version)

Updated 25 September 2020

As amended April 2020

1) The Registration and Training Committee (“the committee”) of the Pathology Delivery Board (“the board”) is responsible for making recommendations to the home secretary on who is suitable to be admitted to the Home Office Register of Forensic Pathologists (“the register”).

2) A candidate for admission to the register must satisfy the committee that the candidate:

• (a) is fully registered with the General Medical Council;
• (b) has a current Licence to Practise;
• (c) has a legal right to work in the United Kingdom;
• (d) is of good character;
• (e) is solvent;
• (f) is not a patient under the Mental Health Act 1983;
• (g) has disclosed all completed, current or pending criminal investigations, cautions or convictions (in whatever jurisdiction) relating to the candidate;
• (h) has disclosed all completed, current and pending disciplinary investigations or outcomes into the candidate carried out by any medical, legal or other professional or regulatory body (in whatever jurisdiction);
• (i) has disclosed any disqualifications to be a company director;
• (j) holds specialist registration with the General Medical Council in one of the following four areas:
  • i. Histopathology with a sub-specialism in Forensic Pathology;
  • ii. Forensic histopathology;
  • iii. Forensic Medicine; or
  • iv. Histopathology;

• (k) has demonstrated current knowledge and understanding of:

  • i. the obligations for disclosure in criminal proceedings and in particular the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 as amended and the obligation to retain, record and reveal;
  • ii. the Human Tissue Act 2004 as may be amended;
  • iii. the standards required by the Code and Practice and Performance Standards for forensic pathologists in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, (October 2012, or as may be amended) issued by the Forensic Science Regulator, the Home Office and the Royal College of Pathologists (“the college”);
  • iv. Coroner’s legislation as it affects the role of the pathologist;
  • v. Coroner’s rules as it affects the role of the pathologist;
  • vi. the Criminal Procedure Rules 2012 as amended and in particular Rule 33 (Expert evidence);
  • vii. the Crown Prosecution Service’s Guidance for Expert Witness contained in Appendix K to the Disclosure Manual;

• (l) has successfully completed an appropriate assessed courtroom skills training course in relation to the criminal justice system in England and Wales;

• (m) has had sufficient experience of working in the criminal justice system in England and Wales (and shall take into account relevant experience outside the jurisdiction;

• (n) has signed the current Protocol for Membership of the Home Secretary’s Register of Forensic Pathologists; and,

• (o) has a written offer to join a group practice recognised by the home secretary;

• (p) has no other professional or legal commitments that would prevent the candidate from providing an effective service to a police force;

• (q) has set up, or has applied for a secure network email address, for secure email communication with criminal justice organisations. These include and may be limited to: gsi, gsx, cjx, pnn, cjsm.net, gov.uk and nhs.net. The Home Office will act as a sponsor to anyone who wishes to set up a csjm.net email address.

3) For candidates who only have specialist registration in forensic medicine or histopathology (without forensic pathology), the committee will also require written advice from the college that the candidate has undertaken training, passed qualifications and gained experience equivalent to entry on the specialist register in histopathology (forensic pathology).

4) Before admitting a candidate to the register, the committee must request and receive three satisfactory references from persons nominated by the candidate, and which relates to the candidate’s recent professional and personal fitness to be on the register. The committee will send to each nominated referee copies of the candidate’s application documents and ask the referee to verify the application documents to the best of their ability.

5) Before making a recommendation to the home secretary to admit a candidate to the register, the committee shall, through the Home Office, obtain initial BCE (Enhanced Basic) security clearance for the candidate. it is a condition of continued membership of the register that the admitted forensic pathologist shall comply with the requirements to be able to maintain such security clearance.

6) The committee may at its discretion ask for further information from a candidate to demonstrate compliance with the criteria. Such information may include copies of recently completed post mortem reports and may be given by way of personal appearance by the candidate before the committee. When a person is applying for readmission to the register the committee may require a personal appearance by the candidate.

7) If the committee decides not to recommend a candidate for admission to the register, they should notify the candidate and may at their discretion provide guidance to the candidate.

8) If the committee decides to recommend a candidate for admission to the register, this will be submitted for ratification to the chair of the board, or in the chair’s absence, the secretary to the board.

9) Where and institution, as defined in the Suitability Rules, imposes the sanction of removal from the register, that person is permanently barred from applying for readmission to the register under Rule 36 of the Suitability Rules.

10) This process and criteria shall come into force with immediate effect on approval by the board.

Version: 6

Last amended: 19 May 2020

Approved by: Pathology Delivery Board Approved on: 03 June 2020

Next Review: two-year intervals Contact Officer: Rachel Webb

Email: pathology@homeoffice.gov.uk

Version History

Version Number	Date Approved	Approved By	Brief Description
6	03/06/2020	Pathology Delivery Board	Requirement for secure email account added at (2q)
TDB 2013	2013	Pathology Delivery Board	Update to reflect change to Disciplinary Rules, now called Suitability Rules
01/07/2010	01/07/2010	Pathology Delivery Board	Update of process and criteria document
17-09-09	17/09/2009	Pathology Delivery Board	Update of process and criteria document
12-08-05	12/08/2005	Pathology Delivery Board	Update of process and criteria document
PDG/20/04 A	07/07/2004	Policy Advisory Board for Forensic Pathology	Policy Advisory Board for Forensic Pathology