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| Three crime scene labs to close | Three crime scene labs to close |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Union officials have attacked an announcement by the government-owned Forensic Science Service that it will close three of its seven laboratories. | Union officials have attacked an announcement by the government-owned Forensic Science Service that it will close three of its seven laboratories. |
| The FSS, which analyses crime scene evidence for England and Wales police forces, said it would shut sites in Lancashire, Gwent and West Midlands. | The FSS, which analyses crime scene evidence for England and Wales police forces, said it would shut sites in Lancashire, Gwent and West Midlands. |
| The Prospect union said it was "deeply disappointed" by the loss of 700 jobs. | The Prospect union said it was "deeply disappointed" by the loss of 700 jobs. |
| But FSS Chief Executive Officer Dr Simon Bennett said the move was vital to "maintain a sustainable business". | But FSS Chief Executive Officer Dr Simon Bennett said the move was vital to "maintain a sustainable business". |
| Extra pressure | Extra pressure |
| Under the plans announced by the FSS, laboratories in Chorley, Lancashire, Chepstow, Monmouthshire, and Birmingham, West Midlands, would close. | |
| In a statement, the FSS said each of its four remaining laboratories would concentrate on specific crime "streams" such as DNA, sexual offences and major incidents, such as terrorism. | In a statement, the FSS said each of its four remaining laboratories would concentrate on specific crime "streams" such as DNA, sexual offences and major incidents, such as terrorism. |
| No-one has seen the crime rate go down Helen KennyProspect | No-one has seen the crime rate go down Helen KennyProspect |
| Previously, Prospect had warned that the cuts would put extra pressure on the criminal justice system and leave large areas of England and Wales without public sector forensic cover. | Previously, Prospect had warned that the cuts would put extra pressure on the criminal justice system and leave large areas of England and Wales without public sector forensic cover. |
| Helen Kenny, the secretary of Prospect's FSS branch, said: "Our members are deeply disappointed by this decision and that the union's alternative case, to retain seven sites but with a trimmed headcount, has been dismissed. | Helen Kenny, the secretary of Prospect's FSS branch, said: "Our members are deeply disappointed by this decision and that the union's alternative case, to retain seven sites but with a trimmed headcount, has been dismissed. |
| "The cuts are driven by claims that the workload has diminished, which we don't accept - no-one has seen the crime rate go down." | "The cuts are driven by claims that the workload has diminished, which we don't accept - no-one has seen the crime rate go down." |
| Ms Kenny said the union would consider what action to take in light of the announcement. | Ms Kenny said the union would consider what action to take in light of the announcement. |
| She added that although the 700 job losses meant a reduction in the original estimate of 800, some 50 members of staff had left since the start of the consultation process in June. | She added that although the 700 job losses meant a reduction in the original estimate of 800, some 50 members of staff had left since the start of the consultation process in June. |
| But Dr Bennett said the service needed to take account of the fact that the market was changing. | But Dr Bennett said the service needed to take account of the fact that the market was changing. |
| He added: "As the largest provider, we aim to continue to fund valuable research and development, to bring ground-breaking techniques to crime fighting, but at the same time, the new, leaner structure will focus on what matters: providing the best and most cost-effective service possible to support the police." | He added: "As the largest provider, we aim to continue to fund valuable research and development, to bring ground-breaking techniques to crime fighting, but at the same time, the new, leaner structure will focus on what matters: providing the best and most cost-effective service possible to support the police." |
| The service deals more than 120,000 cases a year. | The service deals more than 120,000 cases a year. |
| In 2005 it changed status from a government agency to become a government-owned company in 2005, meaning that it had to bid for work against other forensic service providers. | In 2005 it changed status from a government agency to become a government-owned company in 2005, meaning that it had to bid for work against other forensic service providers. |