ISO and accreditation

ISO and FSR interlink and work together

what does FSR do and ensure?

the provision of forensic science services across the criminal justice system is subject to an appropriate regime of scientific quality standards- independent body that ensures services are high quality and fit for purpose

why do standards matter?

if evidence handled sloppily, miscarriages of justice, inaccurate lab results

every step must be:

• Traceable-who handled evidence?, when?, what did they do?

• Repeatable-if someone did same test with same method, should get same result

• Defendable- able to explain and justify methods and conclusions in a court of law

without this, risks of becoming unreliable, untrustworthy and inadmissible

what does the ISO standards and accreditation provide?

provide the agreed framework for good scientific practice

ISO

international organisation for standardisation

what does ISO do?

Provide framework for evidence collection at scene

Documentation, packaging and storage

Tests in a lab

Reported and interpreted

• Ensures that regardless of who does work, outcome meets internationally recognised level of credibility

why is the ISO important?

Legal and regulatory compliance

Adherence to international standards

Enhances credibility

Ensures quality and consistency

accreditation

external conformation that person, team or lab meets ISO standard. In UK, handled by UKAS- united kingdom accreditation service

what does accreditation do?

Determines competence of staff

Validity and suitability of methods, appropriateness of equipment and facilities

Ongoing assurance and confidence in outcomes through internal quality control- doing validation and tests, fit for purpose

UKAS

united kingdom accreditation service

what does UKAS do?

Yearly visit to check standards are upheld

Official national body checking and confirming labs, inspection bodies and organisations are working to right standards

importance of UKAS?

Ensures results are accurate and repeatable

Giving confidence to police, lawyers and judges

Checking science is fair and professional

They are Impartial

Objective, transparent, effective

Assess competence of organisations

Employ highly competent assessors and technical experts in all fields

Use assessors proven to be reliable and ethical in approach to accreditation and respective technical fields

ISO 17025

testing labs

Ensures lab results are scientifically valid and legally defensible

Features:

• All methods validated and proven reliable

• Equipment calibrated regularly

• Technicians qualified and regularly assessed

• Each test repeatable and documented

• Labs internal audits and corrective actions if things go wrong

ISO 17020

organisations that perform inspections (field)

Framework for CSI's to follow, procedures, methods and documentation. Promoting uniformity and reliability in forensic investigations

Features:

• Methods standardised and documented

• Staff trained and competent

• Equipment must be maintained and calibrated

• Clear audit trail, what and whom?

• All evidence maintain continuity and chain of custody

Every step must be recorded

What was collected and by whom, where, how it was packaged, where it went next

ISO 15189

medical labs deliver quality levels of performance and competence

Still relevant when:

-medical samples become forensic evidence e.g. blood or swabs from sexual assault cases

• Forensic case involves healthcare labs- post-mortem or tox

• Forensic pathology or clinical forensic medicine

Benefits of accreditation:

• Improved trust + credibility

• Legal admissibility

• Standardisation and consistency

• Better quality control

• Continuous improvement

• Accountability and transparency

• International recognition

QMS

quality management system

what is QMS?

QMS is a set of rules, checklists and processes that help people in FS:

• Do their job right way, every time

• Follow standards like ISO

• Avoid mistakes

• Keep records

• Make sure evidence can be trusted

what does QMS help?

• Prevent errors

• Keep evidence safe and traceable

• Prove you followed procedures

 

what do the QMS’s ensure?

Ensure personnel are competent

Train FS unit members

Is place where job is occurring fit for purpose- correct facilities

Avoid contamination- clean vans week, deep month.

Monitor- swab storage room to check for contamination

Test methods and method validation

Control of data- anything in system kept as per policy

SOPs

standard operating procedures

what is a SOP?

Set of step-by-step instructions describing how to carry out any given process

Document any deviations from SOP in MO section on scene report

why do SOPs matter?

• Ensure consistency across different teams

• Support accreditation requirements

• Help ensure evidence is admissible in court

• Protect against human error and contamination

• Provide defensible record if decisions are challenged in court