| In February 2007 Gene Morrison, a resident of | | | | witness. |
| Hyde, Manchester, was jailed for deceiving the UK | | | | Prior to 31st March 2009, the CRFP was known |
| legal system and posing as a genuine forensic | | | | to be the main body in the field of forensic |
| scientist. In 26 years he worked on over 700 | | | | regulation of individuals to ensure that the correct |
| cases, all of which will now have to be reassessed | | | | and legitimate legal information was given in |
| as miscarriages of justice may have occurred. At | | | | forensic science-aided cases, and to guarantee |
| this time there was no governing body to | | | | that there were no miscarriages of justice, as |
| regulate the validity of forensic scientists across | | | | with Morrison. It had 2730 individual registrants, |
| the UK, allowing Morrison to buy his fake | | | | some of whom were registered in more than one |
| qualifications from a fraudulent university. When | | | | forensic field, with approximately 30 new forensic |
| Morrison began this facade, in 1977, he had | | | | practitioners joining each month. Each individual |
| purchased a BSc in forensic science, a Masters | | | | registered had to have their membership |
| with Excellence in Forensic Investigation and a | | | | revalidated every 4 years, to ensure that their |
| Doctorate in Criminology, and when asked why he | | | | practice was up to date with the quality |
| had faked his qualifications in court Morrison | | | | standards. The CRFP registration covered all |
| responded with "Looked easier". | | | | aspects of the legal system, from the defense to |
| All forensic science services used to be conducted | | | | the prosecution, as well as elements outside the |
| by the Forensic Science Service (FSS), however, | | | | criminal justice system, such as the civil and |
| recently many services can now be provided by | | | | family courts. |
| different independent companies. Due to this a | | | | The CRFP did not however cater for all of the |
| recommendation from the Parliamentary Science | | | | forensic practitioners, for example those who did |
| and Technology Committee prepared the role of | | | | not attend court on a regular basis. To be |
| the Forensic Science Regulator and presented it | | | | considered for registration, an applicant needed to |
| to the Government. The idea was that the | | | | have proof of a certain number of court |
| Regulator would be an independent body that | | | | attendances. This meant that some forensic |
| would ensure that the same qualities of services | | | | practitioners, such as Forensic Archaeologists, |
| were adhered to across the UK in relation to | | | | would never be able to become registered, as |
| forensic science services to the Criminal Justice | | | | there were not as many relevant cases that |
| Service (CJS). | | | | entered the courts compared to say Forensic |
| The Regulator is advised by the Forensic Science | | | | Toxicologists or DNA experts. Even though the |
| Advisory Committee (FSAC), all members of | | | | CRFP was considering extending a form of |
| which have a broad amount of skill and | | | | registration to trainee forensic scientists, this still |
| experience to call upon when needed. Some of | | | | did not cover the disciplines that did not enter into |
| the decisions that the FSAC would make would | | | | the court system, which may have lead to the |
| be to "validate and approve new technologies and | | | | assumption that these people were not legitimate |
| applications in the field of forensic science" | | | | in the view of the CJS. |
| (Operational Policing, 2009). At present there are | | | | So to review, it is clear that the CRFP's form of |
| 16 members on the committee, all of which are | | | | accreditation was essential for expert witnesses |
| from different departments of forensic science | | | | but not generic for all forensic practitioners, and |
| and legal background. | | | | seemed to be segregating legitimate practitioners |
| In November 1997 the Council for the | | | | for illegitimate reasons. Non-expert witness |
| Registration of Forensic Practitioners (CRFP) was | | | | forensic scientists only had the option of being |
| set up after a recommendation by the Forensic | | | | members of forensic societies, rather than |
| Science Working Group (FSWG), Chairman Lord | | | | receiving accreditation for their role. The |
| Jack Lewis. Lord Lewis stated that an independent | | | | changeover on 31st March to accreditation being |
| registration council should be established for | | | | monitored by the Forensic Science Regulator and |
| forensic practitioners, to allow the public and | | | | Chief Executive of the NPIA (National Policing |
| Courts to gain confidence that the forensic | | | | Improvement Agency), will hopefully provide an |
| scientist giving evidence was fully qualified and up | | | | accreditation that will apply to all forensic |
| to the standards needed to be a legitimate expert | | | | practitioners equally. |