Forensic Services

Major Crime Overview

Cellmark now provides a comprehensive forensic service for a range of casework including both major and volume crime investigation, rape and sexual assault as well as a number of other crime types that require specialist biology and chemistry investigation such as serious assault cases.

Despite increasingly sophisticated attempts by criminals to outwit forensics scientists, Peter Bull, from the University of Oxford, is quoted in New Scientist saying that "...such is the variety and sensitivity of the techniques available to investigators. A forensically savvy criminal might set them on a false trail initially, but that's the best he can hope for. "If you want to commit the perfect murder there's one thing I'll ask you," he says. "Do you feel lucky, punk?"

Case Management

The presence of multiple evidence types and interpretation requirements means that each major crime case submitted to Cellmark's Abingdon & Chorley laboratories is allocated a Reporting Scientist. The Reporting Scientist will assess each case upon receipt, devise an examination strategy, manage the scientific aspects of the case and ultimately compile a statement detailing their findings and interpretations.

Regular communication is maintained with the police investigating team ensuring that any new developments and/or additional information is kept in context to any findings in the case.

A number of other scientists and technicians - examining scientists - may work a case, but the ultimate responsibility for the scientific interpretations and conclusions for the final report remains with the reporting scientist.