Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey – Decision Making Record
Report Title: Section 22A Collaboration Agreement: Forensic Collision Investigation Network (FCIN)
Decision number: 048_2020
Author and Job Role: Alison Bolton, Chief Executive
Protective Marking: OFFICIAL
Executive Summary:
PCCs are asked by the host Force, North Wales, to sign up to the Section 22A Collaboration Agreement for the formal establishment of the Forensic Collision Investigation Network (FCIN).
Background
The Forensic Science Regulator (FSR) directed in 2012 that all police forces’ Forensic Collision Investigation functions must be compliant with the FSR’s Code of Practice and Conduct and the ISO 17020 standard. The deadline for compliance is currently October 2021 with Forces who are collaborating in the FCIN having a further year’s extension to the deadline until October 2022.
In July 2019, all forces gave a commitment to support the FCIN in developing the scientific methods centrally and to realise a programme to bring the specialism into a single Network of best practice. This Network will facilitate the Accreditation process of all its members and provide efficiency in defining and carrying out scientific methods and testing. As a result of that decision and the further financial backing from all Forces in March 2020, the Network has been created, the science built and the operating model defined. This means Forces and PCCs are in a position to legally formalise the collaboration and the Host Force arrangements.
Recommendation:
That the PCC signs the S22A agreement.
Police and Crime Commissioner Approval
I approve the recommendation(s):
Signature: David Munro (wet signature on hard copy)
Date: 26/10/2020
All decisions must be added to the decision register.