Quality

International Organisation for Standardisation * degree to which a set of inherent characteristics of an object, fulfils requirements

• law enforncement • defence • justice • regulator • society

• a document • established by consensus • approved by a recognised body • that provides for common and repeated use, rules, guidance or characteristics for activies or their results • aimed at achieving the optimum degree of order in a given context

• ISO 17025 accreditation (or 17020) • criminal procedure rules • rules of evidence - admissibility and relevance • common-law • professional codes - professional bodies (CSOFS) and regulatory bodies (FSR)

• scientific • legal • ethical

• scientific method - peer review, test, theory, observation • objectivity - unbiased, impartial • logic and rationality

• common law • rules of evidence - admissibility and relevance • procedural rules

• professional codes - professional bodies, forensic science regulator • moral principles - same as above

• to comply with the Codes of Coducts and Practice by independent Forensic Science Regulator • Quality Standards and Assurance processes are applied consistently and comply with appropriate ISO stands, UKAS, EU directives • clear communication and interpretation of scientific processes, procedures, strengths, weaknesses and meaning • engage with FSR process associated with proportionate prosecution requirements • to be fully aware of and complient with CPIA Disclosure and Expert Witness obligations

• there may be a greater risk that those guilt of crime may escape justice • innocent people could be convicted

• DNA contamination error that was avoidable • lack of records meant it was impossible to work out who made the mistake • shows why quality matters

• method is no good, even if it is rooted in the broader scientific method, unless it is constantly applied in the same way every time it was used • individuals who have no established approach or who do not use the same approach for each case are not following a reliable process

• method is reliable but analyst is not qualified • method is reliable, analyst qualified but method not properly applied • analyst is qualified but method is unreliable • analyst not qualified and method not reliable

• inconsistent or non-existent criteria for conclusions • not rooted in a scientific process • does not account of uncertainty • old methods - need to be modified based on new info

systematic process used to identify the underlying causes or factors that contributed to a particular forensic incident or outcome * aims to uncover the reasons why an event occurred

• John Preece - convicted of rape and murder in 1973 based on blood match and fibres • Dr Clift reported some results which were clearly wrong and reported results selectively

Calibration testing * first used in 1999 by the ISO and IEC (International Electro-technical Commission) * competent organisation * competent personnel * valid methods * impartiality

• they are technically competent • able to produce precise and accurate test and/or calibration data

• management requirements • technical requirements

Primarily related to the operational effectiveness of the quality management system within the laboratory * management systems & documentations * control of records * action to address risks and opportunities * corrective actions * interal audits * management review

Factors which determine the correctness and reliability of tests calibrations * technical records * tests or calibration items * evaluation of measurment and uncertainty * ensuring validity of results * reporting opinions and interpretations * amendments to reports * complaints * nonconforming work

• scope • normative references • terms and definitions • managment requirements • technical requirements

• to what extend do your lab activities extend • if a lab intends to extend its scope, a new audit will be required

Rules that are prescribed by: * customers * regulations * normative documents - ISO/IEC Guide 99 (basic and general concepts and associated terms), ISO/IEC 17000 (vocab and general principles)