Forensic capability landscape

The NPCC Forensic Capabilities Requirement defines the frequently required forensic capabilities and enabling functions that a police force should have access to. It will be a point of reference for investigators and the wider policing community to understand what forensic capabilities and opportunities are available to them. This is a dynamic list and will evolve to reflect changes to existing forensic capabilities and the inclusion of new ones.

The NPCC Forensic Capabilities Requirements consists of three components:

The physical and digital components list capabilities that each force should have access to, whether that be within force, through a force collaboration or provided by a forensic service provider. The enabling functions will support the delivery of the physical and digital disciplines, ensuring all activity is conducted in an auditable and quality-assured manner by competent staff using appropriate facilities and equipment.

Capabilities fall into three areas:

Identification of forensic opportunities at a scene or incident

• Provide advice to the police service with regards to securing, preserving and capturing forensic evidence and gathering materials or data that could provide forensic information relating to the case.

Examination, Analysis, Identification and Interpretation

• The use of appropriate scientific methods to capture and log forensic evidence.
• Where required these should be accredited to the requirements set out by the Forensic Science Regulator. This will include sourcing the best way to process the scientific information either within force, utilising a forensic service provider or via another specialist capability. Whichever route is chosen it should meet the needs of the case in terms of timeliness and cost. 

Forensic Outputs

• Trusted outputs that feed into investigations and the wider criminal justice system, ensuring that the outputs from the scientific examination, analysis identification and interpretation are communicated clearly, provide the context and parameters for the wider police service to understand and delivered in a timely manner as to ensure the fair progression of a case through the criminal justice system.