The framework is open to whole of policing, with the Medical SFR service offering improved timeliness of provision of information and evidence into the investigation, better service to victims and suspects, standardisation of process which is recognised by the courts

Since the framework was launched earlier this year forces have praised it for delivering on the promise of speeding up justice for crime victims.

DCI Jonathan Groenen from Thames Valley Police said: 

“We use the portal – it is web based and is excellent. As SFR Medical can make certain fields mandatory it reduces the chances of a request being rejected, speeding up the process.”

Katrina Farley, Ops & Police Manager for South Wales Police said: 

“It’s really quick and easy to use. The dashboard is so easy to produce reports from and it’s also far easier for supervisors to monitor.”

Tracy Alexander FKC, Director of Forensic Services, City of London Police and President of the British Academy of Forensic Sciences said:

"The City of London Police adopted SFR Medical’s service in January 2021. Since then there has been a steady uptake in the service with an increasing number of officers using it as they realise the benefit and ease of use. We’ve seen a dramatic drop in turn-around time (average <5 days) for medical evidence, which is of high quality, comprehensive and yet easy to understand. We’ve also seen an equally dramatic reduction in case progression failure, as reported by the CPS, due to missing medical evidence. Simple monthly billing has made the finance easier to manage and the SPOCs have overview of all evidence requests."

The service is provided by SFR Medical, a company founded in 2018 by NHS Emergency Medicine and Intensive Care consultant and Toxicologist Dr Johann Grundlingh and managed by the FCN.

Because the framework is web-based, force ICT departments don’t need to do anything, except for agreeing security and data protection impact assessments for their respective forces (DPIA).

FCN Senior Commercial Manager, Barbara Smedley said: 

“It’s fantastic to see the work that went in to SFR Medical is now delivering on the service, not just for the investigators involved, but for victims of crime who will see their cases being processed far quicker. SFR Medical have been consistently beating their TAT of 10 days and in many cases achieving a turnaround of less than 5 days.”

For more information about SFR Medical, visit www.sfrmedical.com or email contact@sfrmedical.com.

For more on FCN’s Streamlined Forensic Reporting service, visit www.fcn.police.uk/sfr.