 | |
| Abbreviation | FSS |
|---|---|
| Formation | December 2005 (former executive agency established in 1991) |
| Dissolved | March 2012 |
| Legal status | Government-owned company |
| Purpose | Integrated 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 |
| Affiliations | HM Revenue and Customs, Crown Prosecution Service, HM Coroners, Ministry of Defence Police and British Transport Police |
| Website | FSS |
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.