New £6m state-of-the-art forensic laboratory planned for Scotland
A new toxicology laboratory is to be created in Scotland to provide state-of-the-art testing capabilities for police and prosecutors.
The Scottish government is providing more than £6 million for the new purpose-built forensic centre that will be able to test for a wide range of substances, including drugs and alcohol.
The laboratory, which is expected to be operational by the end of next year, will be run by the Scottish Police Authority Forensic Services (SPA FS), providing “vital sample testing” to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).
The funding enables the transition of post-mortem toxicology forensic services from the University of Glasgow to the SPA FS. Highly specialist staff will transfer over to the new unit when it opens, securing their skills in this specialist area, said the Scottish government.
The funding announcement signals the start of a procurement process that will see the creation of a new facility in the ‘Central Belt’ run by the SPA FS.
Scottish Justice Secretary Keith Brown said the new state-of-the-art facility will allow “essential post-mortem toxicology services to continue”, and will ensure the COPFS continues to meet its obligations to investigate all sudden, unexplained deaths.
He added: “This investment also enables significant operational efficiencies to be delivered with the new service benefitting from specialist scientific instruments and supplies in a purpose-built laboratory.”
SPA director of Forensic Services Tom Nelson said: “We welcome this investment by the Scottish government to support the running of the post-mortem toxicology service by SPA Forensic Services from December 2022.
“This additional service will be delivered from a new laboratory with the highly-skilled staff currently working at the University of Glasgow supported by colleagues in Forensic Services SPA.
“SPA Forensic Services will work with key partners to deliver an accredited post-mortem toxicology service which will meet the needs of the people of Scotland.”
Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain QC said the change secures the future of a service that is “vital for the investigation of unexplained deaths”.
She added: “I would like to thank the University of Glasgow for their hard work over the years, and I am delighted that their expert staff will be retained in the transition.”