Briefing: Impact of the Forensic Science Regulator

This briefing paper provides information on the role of the Forensic Science Regulator (FSR) and considers the impact that the quality standards introduced by the regulator will have on the preparation and presentation of expert evidence to be given by forensic engineers in the courts and other tribunals in the UK. In particular, the FSR is aware of the risk of cognitive bias, which can only be managed by the use of procedures that limit the amount of information provided to examiners and testers to that required to carry out any particular investigation. Results and the subsequent technical opinion may otherwise be affected by unconscious cognitive bias.