Science committee says forensic system is fragile, monopolised and failing justice
Forensic science in England and Wales is in serious decline and risks causing further miscarriages of justice unless urgent action is taken, according to a new report from the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee.
Publishing its report Rebuilding forensic science for criminal justice, an urgent need on 17 February 2026, the Committee concluded that the system is not working effectively for police, forensic practitioners, lawyers or the public. It echoed evidence from Professor Angela Gallop, who told the inquiry that forensic science is not functioning as it should, and said it found little to contradict that assessment.
The Committee described a commercial market that is near monopolised, dysfunctional and fragile. More than 80 per cent of external forensic services are now provided by Eurofins. Peers warned that such concentration carries risks for quality, resilience and long-term stability, particularly if the company were to leave the market. They also raised concerns about the challenge for the Forensic Science Regulator in overseeing a near-monopoly provider.
At the same time, an increase in house forensic provision by police forces has created inconsistencies across the 43 forces in England and Wales. Ministers acknowledged limited visibility over national capacity, quality and spending. The Committee warned that police led analysis risks unconscious bias and argued that any future national forensic science service must operate independently from policing structures.
Evidence storage arrangements were also criticised. Since the closure of the Forensic Science Service in 2012, responsibility for storing forensic material has been dispersed across police forces and private providers. The report found inconsistent standards, including cases of lost or improperly stored exhibits. Such failures can undermine prosecutions and prevent retesting of evidence on appeal.
The Committee also highlighted concerns about equality of arms in the courtroom. Defence forensic experts are underfunded and face lower legal aid rates than those instructed by the prosecution. Peers warned that this imbalance threatens fairness and increases the risk of miscarriages of justice. They called on the Ministry of Justice to review the rates payable to defence experts.
Digital forensics remains a significant challenge. Backlogs exceed 20000 devices and have shown little improvement since the Committee raised concerns in 2019. The report calls for a programme of research and development to establish trusted artificial intelligence and digital tools capable of addressing delays and identifying emerging threats such as deepfaked evidence.
Lord Mair, Chair of the Committee, said continued neglect risks becoming a national scandal. He urged the Government to act immediately rather than wait for wider policing reforms, recommending the creation this year of a National Institute for Forensic Science to oversee standards, preserve specialist skills and safeguard independence.