Forensic Science Service

Forensic Science Service Ltd
AbbreviationFSS
FormationDecember 2005 (former executive agency established in 1991)
DissolvedMarch 2012
Legal statusGovernment-owned company
PurposeIntegrated forensic science for English and Welsh criminal investigations
Location
Region served
England and Wales
Membership
Forensic scientists
Chief Executive
Dr Simon Bennett
Main organ
FSS Board
Parent organization
Home Office
AffiliationsHM Revenue and Customs, Crown Prosecution Service, HM Coroners, Ministry of Defence Police and British Transport Police
WebsiteFSS

The Forensic Science Service (FSS) was a government-owned company in the United Kingdom which provided forensic science services to the police forces and government agencies of England and Wales, as well as other countries.

The UK Government announced the closure of the FSS in December 2010, citing monthly losses of up to £2m as justification. The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee - Seventh Report (FSS) took evidence between 23 March 2011 and 27 April 2011 Science and Technology Committee. The FSS finally closed on 31 March 2012. The FSS archives – a collection of case files and retained casework samples such as microscope slides, fibre samples and DNA samples – has been retained to allow review of old cases. Forensic work is now contracted out to the private sector or carried out in-house.