A report released by the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee today warns the government to urgently resolve a ‘shocking abdication of responsibility’ for forensic science, which they say will lead to future miscarriages of justice.
Their inquiry follows hot on the heels of the landmark report released in June 2025 by the Westminster Commission on Forensic Science – an a group of experts convened under the auspices of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Miscarriages of Justice. Their report, Forensic Science in England and Wales: Pulling out of the Graveyard Spiral, made headlines last year for its comprehensive review of the current impact of forensics on wrongful convictions, in particular due to biased police investigations, missing evidence, and a failing forensics market.
Westminster Commissioners gave Prof Angela Gallop, Katy Thorne KC and Prof Carol McCartney gave evidence to the House of Lords Committee while their inquiry was ongoing, telling peers: ‘Forensic science is not working for anyone. It is not working for the police. It is not working for forensic scientists. It is not working for lawyers. Ultimately, it is not working for the public and the criminal justice system.’
Find out more via The Justice Gap.
