Forensic Archive Ltd (FAL) is a Government-owned company formed to retain and manage casefiles from all investigation work previously undertaken by the Forensic Science Service (FSS), which on the direction of the Government, ceased to provide operational casework services in March 2012. FAL provides a service to the criminal justice system enabling access to casefiles and retained items linked to historic cases.
Private individuals, appellants and defence solicitors, for example, cannot access the archive; their first port of call should be the original investigating police force.
What can be found at the venue?
Records or archive
Related crime and punishment profession / organisation
Forensic scientists
Significant collections relating to regional crime and punishment organisation or to a particular individual
The Forensic Archive was established in 2012 to look after more than four million items relating to forensic examinations and investigations carried out by the Forensic Science Service on behalf of the Criminal Justice System. The material, some of which dates back to the 1930s, includes millions of casefiles, frozen material (such as DNA extracts) and retained items including microscope slides, fibre tapings and recovered hairs.
Does the venue have an online collections catalogue?
No
Details of opening for public access and / or research services
Private individuals, appellants and defence solicitors, for example, cannot access the archive; their first port of call should be the original investigating police force.
The service is provided to authorised users as follows:
Police Forces in relation to archived material originating from work previously performed by the FSS on their behalf.
Investigating bodies in relation to archived materials which were originally commissioned by such body, including HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), National Crime Agency (NCA) and replacement bodies and the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in relation to all archived material.
The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) in relation to all archived material.
The Forensic Information Database Service (FINDS)and replacement bodies in relation to all archived material.
Coroners in relation to archived material which relates to cases under their jurisdiction.