Police cuts could see rise in miscarriages of justice, says forensic expert

Angela Gallop at Hay festival says forensic testing has become commoditised due to austerity

Austerity cuts in the police force could lead to an increase in miscarriages of justice, a leading forensic scientist has warned, as constraints on funding lead to in-house forensic teams performing more selective tests.

Speaking at the Hay festival, Angela Gallop, who worked on cases including Stephen Lawrence, the Cardiff Three, the Yorkshire Ripper and James Bulger, said she feared there could be a rise due to cognitive bias in the police force, as they were both investigating criminals and performing forensic tests themselves, instead of employing third parties.

Related: When the Dogs Don’t Bark by Angela Gallop review – how a forensic scientist solves crime

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