Research and analysis

Science for the justice system

Recommendations from the Science and Justice Forum.

• From: Home Office
• Published: 20 September 2019

Documents

Letter from Dr Julie Maxton CBE to Sir Philip Rutnam (accessible version)

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Letter from Dr Julie Maxton CBE to Sir Philip Rutnam

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Details

In 2017 the Science and Justice Forum, chaired by Dr Julie Maxton CBE (Executive Director of the Royal Society), was established to bring together representatives from the criminal and civil justices systems to discuss the changing nature of science and its impact on the justice system. This letter to the Home Office Permanent Secretary sets out her findings.

Her recommendations were subsequently reflected in the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee report: ‘Forensic science and the criminal justice system: a blueprint for change’.

Recommendations included:

• that UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) create a mechanism for setting strategic priorities for forensic science research and for developing and coordinating research and funding in this field
• that UKRI urgently and substantially increase the amount of dedicated funding allocated to forensic science for both technological advances and foundational research

Published 20 September 2019