DNA Debacle: the sequel

I’ve been busy with urgent casework these last few days, so my apologies for posting only once this week.

One of the news items that I highlighted in the June/July edition of Scenes of Crime concerned the case of Adam Scott, who was charged with rape based on DNA evidence, despite maintaining that he had never visited the city where the rape occurred.

LGC Forensics, the largest private forensics company in the UK, had recently introduced a robotic DNA extraction system at the time the rape case sample was processed.  An investigation revealed that a technician had incorrectly re-used some plastic trays, resulting in a contaminated profile.

Even before the contamination came to light, the investigating officer had expressed concerns about the DNA result.  An analysis of Adam Scott’s mobile phone records revealed that he was 300 miles away when the rape took place.  However, LGC Forensics initially refused to consider the possibility of contamination.

Charges against Mr Scott were eventually dropped, but not before he had spent 5 months in prison.

An independent report from the Forensic Regulator, whose task is to monitor the quality of procedures used in forensic science, found that Adam Scott was an ‘innocent victim of avoidable contamination’.  The report stated that LGC Forensics’ DNA rape sample procedures were ‘not adequate’, and disclosed poor record keeping by technicians and failure to follow procedures for the disposal of used plastic trays.

LGC Forensics was also criticised for not responding more fully to the discovery that the plastic trays were being re-used.  However, the Forensic Regulator conceded that the company had now taken corrective action to address the shortcomings in its contamination avoidance and checking procedures.  No other instances of contamination had occurred.  

This incident adds more fuel to the argument that the private sector is incapable of absorbing the caseload of the now defunct Forensic Science Service of England and Wales.  I don’t happen to share this view.  The private sector knows how to operate a forensic science business; the Forensic Science Service was never equipped to operate as a business.  Nevertheless, this was a regrettable and inexcusable incident of ‘human error’ and Adam Scott may well be suing for compensation.

Listen to Adam Scott's grandparents talking about the case.