UK Forensic Science Institute Launched to Aid Police Investigations

The University of Leicester (Leicester, UK) has announced the launch of a new forensic science institute to be named after Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys, the world famous geneticist. Jeffreys is credited with the development of DNA profiling and fingerprinting; techniques that are now used globally.

Developed by Dr John Bond and Dr Lisa Smith, the institute will be a multi-disciplinary centre at the University of Leicester to assist in police investigations in cases that the former UK government Forensics Science Service (FSS) would have previously handled. The UK-based service was closed earlier this year leading to concerns of whether a provider would be able to meet the demands of forensic analysis in the UK.

Jeffreys retired from the university in September 2012, but remains associated as an Emeritus Professor. He commented, “This is a very exciting new initiative, and I am so proud to have it named after me. The provision of forensic science in the UK has undergone major and potentially damaging changes in recent years, so this institute has real potential to provide much-needed breadth and depth of expertise, especially in complex casework, as well as a voice for the proper funding of forensic science research in the UK.”

The institute will be officially launched on the 19^th of November 2012 with the event open to the public.

For more information please visit:

ref="https://www.le.ac.uk/forensic-science">www.le.ac.uk/forensic-science