Defendants in criminal trials are facing charges of hundreds of pounds before
being allowed to see key forensic evidence that may prove their innocence.
Guidance from
the Home Office's forensic science regulator, Andrew Rennison, is being
exploited by private firms to generate lucrative sources of income.
The costs are likely to
fall ultimately on the government's Legal Aid Agency, which pays
for representation of many defendants who appear in criminal courts.
Concern about a shift in charging practices has been raised by independent
forensic scientists, who are increasingly being confronted by demands for
payment before being allowed to examine DNA, firearms and other material pivotal
to the outcome of criminal cases.
Read more here.
No comments:
Post a Comment